throwing axe

Maintaining a throwing axe or a bushcraft axe is essential to do to keep it powerful and sharpened. The reason is that only sharp blades are efficient, effective, and safe to use.

Well, in this article, we will tell you how you can sharpen your throwing axe by using different methods. The step by step guide will help you understand these methods easily. So, continue reading till the end and make yourself able to sharpen an axe at your own.

How to Sharpen A Throwing Axe With A File?

Here is what you need to do in this method:

Things You Require to Do So:

    • 10 inches mill file.
    • A buckle or even bench vice.

Push File Procedure:

Simply follow these below-mentioned steps to sharpen an axe with a push file procedure:

    1. Your axe should be secured in your lap or even in a vice.
    2. You can utilize a sharpie and paint the whole bevel for using it as a guide.
    3. Take out your 10 inches mill file and keep it near to the blade.
    4. After that, you should make the angle of the file and then the angle of the bevel in the same way.
    5. Push for an extended time. There should be consecutive strokes about 5 to 10 times along the blade.
    6. Then, equal strokes should be performed on the other side of the blade.
    7. If you observe that the blade is still damaged, you will have to perform further strokes.

Check out the essential guide for throwing knives for beginners!

How to Sharpen An Axe Utilizing A Whetstone/Oil Stone?

Now let us tell you what you should do to sharpen an axe using a whetstone or oil stone:

throwing axe

Things You Require to Do So:

    • Honing stone.
    • A lubricant, such as oil or water, depending upon the availability.

Whetstone/ Oil Stone Procedure:

Following are the steps that you should consider in this axe sharpening method:

    1. The lubricant should be applied to the coarse part of the stone.
    2. Place the head’s edge of the axe on the stone. Further, the angle of the bevel should match the angle of the stone.
    3. Moderate pressure should be applied and start working out on the throwing axe head in a circular motion. Moreover, you should count the number of strokes.
    4. Complete your procedure from one side of the edge of the axe to the other side.
    5. A small amount of paste will be observed. Never try to wipe this off.
    6. One entire pass should be performed by working the entire side back to the initial point.
    7. Now, you can flip to the other side. More, you should start working on the head of the axe, with a similar number of circles.

After completing your work on the blade of the axe with the coarse side, the stone can be used for the fine side applying the same procedure, which is given below: First of all, the oil should be applied on the fine side of the sharpening stone.

    • The angle of the stone should be similar to the angle of the edge of the bevel. Then, you should place the axe head edge on the stone.
    • A medium level of pressure should be applied and the process should be done in small circles. Once again, you have to count the number of strokes.
    • Begin from one side of the edge of the axe and then move forward to another side.
    • A complete pass should be performed by working on the whole edge back to the initial point.
    • Now, you should work on the other side of the throwing axe head edge. Moreover, the number of strokes should be the same.
    • Redo the same procedure for 2 to 3 times on each of the sides so that you can obtain a fine-honed axe.

How to Sharpen An Axe With A Puck?

Here’s how you can sharpen your axe with a puck:

Things You Require to Do So:

    • Honing puck.
    • Lubricants according to the availability.

Puck Procedure:

Below is a step by step guide to follow this axe sharpening method:

    1. Position the handle of the throwing axe between your legs and the head part of the axe would be lying on your lap.
    2. Then, you have to apply any kind of lubricant on the coarse part of the sharpening puck.
    3. The honing puck should be placed on the face of the axe head and its angle should match with the angle of the bevel.
    4. You should start your work in a small circle moving toward the opposite side of the blade and also count the number of strokes.
    5. A little residue of the lubricant and the metal will be observed. You should not wipe this off.
    6. Later, when you reach your starting point, repeat the same quantity of strokes on the other side of the axe head.

Now, the blade edge of the axe is sharp enough to cut anything. So, you can go further to the fine side of the stone. The axe should be on the position as it was before. The process is described below:

    • You need to apply sharpening oil to the fine side of the puck.
    • The angle of the stone and the angle of the bevel should be matched. Afterward, bring the stone to the axe head.
    • Apply a little pressure and use the puck in a small circular motion along the edge of the axe blade. And then, you have to count the number of strokes.
    • Now, move forward to the other side of the throwing axe head and you should perform the same number of strokes as you have performed on the other side.
    • Repeat the whole procedure for about 3 to 5 times on each side for obtaining a honed edge.

Conclusion:

Thus, above are the few simple methods that you can use to sharpen your throwing axe. The good thing is that all these methods can be performed by anyone and you don’t need a professional to do so.