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Grandmom asked me to sharpen her hatchet. What's worth doing is worth over-doing (i.imgur.com)

submitted 3 months ago by ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee to c/pics@lemmy.world

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[-] v4ld1z@lemmy.zip 24 points 3 months ago

How sharp is it?

[-] ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee 51 points 3 months ago

Not very - it doesn't need to be. Sharpened and re-profiled it with a 80 grit flap disc on angle grinder and took it to polishing wheel + leather strop. The shine is just for the looks.

[-] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 33 points 3 months ago

Good. You probably don't want a hatchet to be that sharp. You're not going to be doing anything delicate with it. Sharp blades have the edge bend or break easily.

[-] ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee 33 points 3 months ago

Yeah, edge that sharp serves no purpose on axe. It'll bend and then be dull again. Shallower point with the burr removed is more durable and stays sharp(ish) for much longer.

[-] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 5 points 3 months ago

Thx, I was looking for this bit of context - somehow the possibility you made it sharp "bcs it's better" made me uneasy.
I'm glad it's done properly.

[-] n3m37h@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago

All depends on the quality of the metal, the angle of the apex and the direction you sharpen the blade in.

Parallel bad, perpendicular good

[-] Bridger@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 months ago

Never used a carving hatchet, eh?

[-] MyDogLovesMe@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago

Completely disagree! I’m into axe’s. Have been four years. Shit, anything with an edge.

I’ll tell you something straight up, a dull axe is dangerous. A dull axe glances. A sharp axe sticks.

Period.

[-] Geometrinen_Gepardi@sopuli.xyz 7 points 3 months ago

What grit was the polishing wheel and what effect did the strop have after polishing?

[-] ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee 17 points 3 months ago

I have no idea. It was one of those black fibre ones that you attach to a drill. I had originally used it to polish stainless steel after welding. Stropping is the difference between reflecting light and reflecting image