Project by hutchmp | posted 11-02-2020 02:33 AM | 1896 views | 1 time favorited | 9 comments | ![]() |
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I’ve always been frustrated sharpening my axes with a stone so I decided to build a sharpener with the same concept as a knife sharpener like the one from Smith’s which makes it simple to keep a consistent angle on the blade.
My goal was to be able to get an accurate angle on both sides of the head which is difficult to do by hand with a stone especially if you have to take a lot off to get at deep nicks. I built a prototype using 2-inch Styrofoam and a dowel rod bored into a deck rail picket. It worked pretty well, but I learned a few things along the way and built the final system.
The second time around I use Kaizen foam as the base to help secure the axe head. I was much easier to get a consistent depth and I made it big enough to be able to flip the axe over and sharpen the other side. It holds it pretty well and I backed it up with a Velcro strap. You can use this for multiple different axes or other tools. Just make a Kaizen foam jig for each tool and you can swap it out.
The key angles I focused on were keeping the axe handle and bit level. I built a handle stand with Velcro and put a wood block cut exactly to the right height to keep it level and provide support. I used plywood and square steel to make the sharpening arm. I covered the plywood with Plexiglas and polyethylene to provide stiffness, flatness, and a material easy to clean adhesive off of. Use the sharpening arm and a angle gauge to mark the hole locations to the angles you want for the movable draw support bars. You can add 4 different grits of sandpaper and rotate the sharpening arm as you move through them. I use a spray adhesive on the back of the sandpaper to secure them.
This thing works extremely well! I was able to get a very sharp and consistent edge on both sides in 10 min.
I hope this spurs some ideas and helps those jocks out there that dislike sharpening axes (or other tools) with a stone or grinder for that matter.
Regards,
Hutch
-- Hutch
9 comments so far
Doug
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#1 posted 11-02-2020 12:45 PM
That’s cool! I have an old Plumb (I think it’s a Plumb) axe that could definitely use some TLC. May I use your idea to make one for myself? Really neat idea. Thanks for sharing.
-- Doug
hutchmp
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#2 posted 11-02-2020 02:49 PM
Sure can Doug, enjoy!
Hutch
-- Hutch
NickyMac
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#3 posted 11-02-2020 04:45 PM
Nice!
-- - Nick
SubVette
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#4 posted 11-02-2020 06:39 PM
Smart idea and it gives you consistency. What do you use the axes for beside the obvious cutting wood. I watched a guy in Seattle carve a log into a bear with accuracy. Never would have thought he could do that with an axe!
-- John in Florida
Jamie
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#5 posted 11-02-2020 06:57 PM
Great idea. I have successfully sharpened my hatchets on my tormek but the long handle axes are all over the place. I like your leather handle saver. My axe has a piece of bike tire wired on.
-- Jamie, Red Deer
hutchmp
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#6 posted 11-02-2020 07:15 PM
John…..Just use it for chopping wood. I’ve also seen the carving / woodworking axes, they are pretty cool. They take a totally different blade profile to do that style of cutting.
Regards,
Hutch
-- Hutch
hutchmp
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90 posts in 4451 days
#7 posted 11-02-2020 07:19 PM
Jamie,
Thanks, I made it myself. I also put on a piece of galvanized metal under the leather for additional protection. It works really well and you can’t even tell it’s there.


-- Hutch
swirt
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#8 posted 11-03-2020 02:18 PM
Nice work on the design.
-- Galootish log blog, http://www.timberframe-tools.com
Grumpy
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#9 posted 12-31-2020 11:36 PM
Nice job and congratulations on your ‘Daily Top 3’ award.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
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