Sharpen a machete?

[jestah93]

I know many of you probably know how to properly hone your straight razor, but do you know how to sharpen a machete?
I purchased this from REI a few months back and have been using it to take care of some major overgrowth and brush at my parent's house
http://www.rei.com/product/808172/gerber-gator-machete

Just want to know if there is a good way to sharpen it (or if I even can)

Thanks gentlemen!

 

[ricardo9505]

wow. cool machete. my parents are from the caribbean. had farmland so i wielded a machete rather decently. i used a honing steel block but damn if i can remember what grit the stone was. i needed it sharp (it had tons of mileage on it) so my cousins would hone it first on some rock. limestone maybe? not sure. from shrubs to cutting sugar cane stacks, to coconuts, it was always nearby.

 

[Gunney]

I know many of you probably know how to properly hone your straight razor, but do you know how to sharpen a machete?
I purchased this from REI a few months back and have been using it to take care of some major overgrowth and brush at my parent's house
http://www.rei.com/product/808172/gerber-gator-machete

Just want to know if there is a good way to sharpen it (or if I even can)

Thanks gentlemen!

Its a hacking tool, you could sharpen it with a rock if you had to, and it'd still work!

Take a stone and a pair of gloves and simply follow the blade bevel along the length of the blade. I don't think a sharpening tool would really work, since it has such a giant bevel, but a stone or even a bench grinder would work well. I really do recommend the gloves, but if you can pull the tool along the stone, instead of vice-versa then maybe you don't need them.

For the spine, I simply use the diamond-dust rod off of something like a Smiths Tool... but then again you might be able to use a rock too lol...

Next time tho, I would recommend a regular machete, and use it for its purpose, and get a saw for sawing... this thing is sorta like those old Rambo-Knives that have the giant saw backs, the compass and matches in the handle, and the bottle opener on the sheath....

The key to remember is that it does not have to be razor sharp. It is a hacking tool, not a shaving instrument....

 

[ricardo9505]

love the saw on that sucker. that's more of what I call a "colin", more katana blade like, slim and up even.

this is more of the farm machete we use. It's good for using horizontally and scooping out dirt (wide tip at end) when harvesting yucca, or for a thorough cut when cutting down plantain trees for regrowth

 

[jestah93]

love the saw on that sucker. that's more of what I call a "colin", more katana blade like, slim and up even.

this is more of the farm machete we use. It's good for using horizontally and scooping out dirt (wide tip at end) when harvesting yucca, or for a thorough cut when cutting down plantain trees for regrowth

That's awesome to hear about life in the caribbean! I was actually using it for something similar to that tonight: There was a whole area where these 4-5 inch stalks were totally rotten and just needed to come out. I could break them off very easily but they left a soft chunk under the dirt, so I was was scoop/cutting them out from under the earth.

Good times using this bad boy

 

[Gunney]

That's awesome to hear about life in the caribbean! I was actually using it for something similar to that tonight: There was a whole area where these 4-5 inch stalks were totally rotten and just needed to come out. I could break them off very easily but they left a soft chunk under the dirt, so I was was scoop/cutting them out from under the earth.

Good times using this bad boy

Didn't quite realise there is a lot of corn stalks in Chicago... or am I going to read about your 'farming endeavours' in tomorrow morning's newspaper?

 

[jestah93]

Didn't quite realise there is a lot of corn stalks in Chicago... or am I going to read about your 'farming endeavours' in tomorrow morning's newspaper?

Like I said, good times...
Jk.

My parents are quite a ways from the city itself, and they're more of these weird baby tree/bush/sapling stalks, as opposed to corn. HOWEVER, I am heading downstate later this week where there is nothing BUT corn stalks, maybe someone could use my services down there?

 

[VerbaVolant]

I know many of you probably know how to properly hone your straight razor, but do you know how to sharpen a machete?
I purchased this from REI a few months back and have been using it to take care of some major overgrowth and brush at my parent's house
http://www.rei.com/product/808172/gerber-gator-machete

Just want to know if there is a good way to sharpen it (or if I even can)

Thanks gentlemen!

http://www.rei.com/product/859780/smiths-axe-and-machete-sharpener

 

[rickboone1]

There are many ways to sharpen it. An easy way would be a dremel tool.

 

[Shaving_CHENG]

I would start with a metal file and move to sand paper; that's how I've always sharpen farm / gardening tools.

 

[Mike H]

Call me old school - use a File (Hyperlink)

 

[Slash McCoy]

A file. simply turn it more or less peroendicular to the machete and draw it down the blade a few times. flip the blade and repeat. A new machete will take a lot of filing. Also dont bother sharpening the entire blade. You only use the last 40 percent of the blade. Keep a file with you during periids of heavy use fir retouches. I once owned a farm in Belize and I have literally hundreds of hours with a 28" Colima in my hand. A stone is not needed. Choose your bevel angle carefully and take care to maintain it. I like to finish withtwo light and careful strokes at a slightly higher angle wich makes a longer lasting compiund bevel. Keep your file well oiled in the field. A brass bristle brush or a file card will help to unload the file and keep it cutting.

Worn machetes can be cut down into utility ir kitchen knives thiugh the steel is a bit soft. Worn files can be made into excellent knives if you know what yiu are doing so dont toss them, especially American ir English made files.

 

[Duo3478]

really depends on how keen of a edge you want on it. a simple metal file works really well and they will cut a edge fast. However if you leave it at that it will be a really "toothy" edge that would need to be sharpened more often do to the micro serrations folding over and breaking off with this style of edge. The Gerbers are not made of any type of super steels or anything all that fancy and are more a Latin style machete so they are thin compared to like a golok or a parang. so a little keener of a edge will provide better performance and more longevity out of this tool. I would go with a Diamond file as it will be nicer on the edge. or you can make a " Backwoods Block" by gluing wet sandpaper to a 2x4. they work really well

 

[thebikingengineer]

I would start with a metal file and move to sand paper; that's how I've always sharpen farm / gardening tools.

This.

 

[Mick]

It does not need to be super sharp.

More than likely it will never need anything unless you whack a rock with it.

A fine file might be enough to keep it sharp enough.

 

[YetiDave]

I've got one of these that needs a bit of a sharpen - http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/97MKM/MAGNUM_KUKRI_MACHETE.aspx

I'll have to try a file

 

[tattewell]

Always used a vice and a file...

 

[JaggerDragger]

I use a file as well

 

[Recluse]

...file here as well. In fact, just finished filing and edge after a several hour battle with salmon berry bushes and devils club.

 

[VerbaVolant]

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