Daily Kos has become known as one of the best places on the blogosphere for axe grinding, and this is an important skill to learn.
We have many diarists here who can show you the proper way to grind an axe, but I'm here to provide a brief overview for those of you who still don't feel like you have the entire process memorized.
With a few tips and a little hands-on experience, anyone can work a dull, dented axe into a fine edge, ready to tackle a season's worth of yard work.
First thing, you'll want to examine the sharpness of your axe. A razor edge is not necessary, or even advisable. However a dull blade can also be dangerous.
Remember, you're splitting wood, not cutting it. The point is to have a sharp enough axe to accomplish this, so as to take full mechanical advantage of the tool without having to apply too much energy.
Before getting started on the actual sharpening process, it's important to have a clean axe. Use a stiff brush and hot, soapy water to remove any soil, dirt, tree sap or other debris from the axe head.
If your blade has significant nicks and dents, consider starting with a file. Use a file with guards and wear leather gloves, as a slip could injure you. Clamp the axe to a comfortable height and file into the edge of the axe -- not away from it. Turn the axe over and repeat this process exactly on the other side.
Next comes the honing process. This should be done immediately after the filing. Use a natural whetstone like a Hard Arkansas stone or a manmade Carborundum oilstone. Both, when whetted, will float away metal filings.
Use the stone in a circular motion, working into the edge and toward the middle portion of the axe head. Work both sides an equal amount of time, paying attention to the "burr," which is a bit of metal at the end of the blade that you can feel on one side. The burr should be pushed back and forth by your honing, until it works off and it less evident.
As a final honing step, you can also strop the blade with a bit of leather, or a soft wood such as pine. The stropping removes that last bit of burr.
Finally, apply a bit of machine oil to the axe head to form a protective coating against oxidation.
The traditional way to test the sharpness of an axe blade is to carefully run the back of your hand against the blade to see if it is sharp enough to knock hairs off. However it's safer to use your fingernail. Run a fingernail slowly down the edge and pay attention to how this feels. The edge should "bite" into your fingernail slightly, not slide smoothly across it.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a carpenter or a lumberjack! Advice given here was taken from certified Real Internet Sites. However, use it at your own peril.
Finally, here's Pantera:
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