Axe Sharpening For Bushcraft, Woodcraft & Camping - How, What and Why
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- This is an in-depth video on how I go about sharpening axes, and demonstrating methods I also show my students on courses. I discuss various options and combinations of sharpening equipment. Throughout the aim is to be efficient with the sharpening, often with only limited equipment, which is paritcularly relevant for remote camps and self-propelled trips. We also don't want to spend a fortune on sharpening kit. I look at using bench stones, modified bench stones, specialist axe stones, small pocket stones, as well stropping. I finish with a few words on protecting your axe after you have finished sharpening it.
LINKS:
My Wilderness Axe Skills and Campcraft book - wildernessaxeskills.com/
Online Bushcraft Courses - www.onlinebushcraftcourses.com/
Frontier Bushcraft Woodcrafter Course - frontierbushcraft.com/courses/...
Bushcraft Knife Sharpening: Achieving The Correct Bevel Angle - • Bushcraft Knife Sharpe... - Jak na to + styl
Ah, Kirtley is posting again, good
Ah good, it's an axe video!
Aye! It's a sharpening video to boot, great!
:-) Three stars...
Good to see you back Paul !
Thanks :-)
So interesting to see how differently someone can do a task with much the same gear. Not a gearhead but appreciate that there's always something to learn. Thanks for taking the time Paul. Waiting for a quiet few holiday moments to properly read your book. Saving it like a precious gem!
Thanks Matt. I'm glad the video was illuminating. Enjoy the book (and your holidays) :-)
Nice to see you back. Your book is excellent BTW
Hey, thanks! I'm glad you like it :-)
Excellent compliment to the new book / thx so much !!
Thank you. I'm glad you thought so. Cheers.
Paul this is this BEST explanation of axe sharpening I have ever seen both on the net and face to face. I am 66 years old .
Great respect to you!!!!
You Always learn something new. Last finishing touch with the Short Side of DC4, explained why Mears did it in His car Window. Thanks Paul.😄
Hi Mike, thanks for your comment. I'm glad the video joined a couple of dots for you. I appreciate the feedback. Cheers.
Awesome demo Paul, and great to see you back. Thanks a lot, take care mate 👍🙂
Thanks Mike. It's good to be back. Cheers.
Glad to see you back, another well presented and informative video.👍
Thanks Phil. It's good to be back with a new video. More in the pipeline....
I watched this, bought a DC4, worked my axe into razor sharp condition.
Two thing I learned from the instructions on the DC4 packaging:
1) Don’t wet it with oil nor water.. we’ll all right 😮
2) The back of the DC4 leather sheath is designed to be used for stropping! 🤘🏻🤩 Brilliant at times.
Careful with that axe paul.
Good to see you back and out in the wildwood
Haha yes indeed Billy :-) It's good to be back with some videos.
Great info Paul, good to see you back.
Thanks John.
I just received his new wilderness ax skills and campcraft book last week a very quality book !I would recommend it the pictures are quite clear! And extremely detailed Content!
Edward, I'm very pleased to read you like the book. Thank you for your positive words. Warm regards, Paul
Very cool video!
Sitting here in 104f weather seeing you in a watch cap makes me jealous. Received the book and it’s very well presented.
I learned a lot from this video, thank you.
Thanks Rob. I'm glad it was informative.
Thanks for the video! Truly great advice ! ☀️
Great guide! Thank You :)
Thnxs 4 uploading 🇺🇸
Thanks for this, Paul; great content as usual. Just launching into your new book and, of course, into the woods!
Thanks sharing, a lot of learning
Excellent video. It makes a great partner for the section in the book. 👍
Thank you!
Thanks for the new video Paul. Really enjoyed watching it.
Thanks Rod. I'm glad you liked the video. Cheers.
Thank you so much for this video, I learned a lot to sharpen and properly care for my GB Hand Hatchet and GB Wildlife Hatchet. I’ll follow on your post. Blessings from the Philippines.
Nice video. Book is great, get a copy.
Thank you for posting this Paul. I was lucky enough to get on a weekend course last year with Henry who took the same care and skill to show knife sharpening.
Just got the book and looking forward to diving into it
Thanks for your feedback Chris. I hope this dovetails nicely with what Henry showed you on the Bushcraft Essentials. Enjoy the book.... let me know what you think once you have had chance to digest it. All the best, Paul
Good morning Paul! ☕️ Excellent video, very informative and will surely be helpful for my Gransfors Scandinavian Forest Axe!! ~Thank you!! All the best 👍
Hi and thanks for the feedback. I'm glad this was useful to you. Thanks for watching and let me know how you get on with sharpening your Scandi. All the best, Paul
@@PaulKirtley … Will do, absolutely!! Have a great weekend!! All the best, Amante
Thank you for the expert technique. I appreciate the care and respect you have for your tools. I'd be terrified to be the person whacking that axe into the ground :)
Thanks Chris. It's definitely good to keep all these axes in as good a condition as possible. The two smaller axes are my personal tools, which don't get loaned out, but we have a bunch of axes that are there for students to use, allowing them to try a whole range of sizes and types for different tasks. But yes, I do prefer people to take care with them as much as possible, while recognising it's a learning experience for them :-)
Excellent demonstration, I really enjoyed this and the voice over explanation
One tool I feel is worth considering is a farmers file. One side double cut and one side single cut. Makes it very easy to remove metal and by draw filling with the single cut side you get a surprisingly nice finish. Almost ready for the strop immediately. Sure it's another thing to get, but they are quite cheap.
Hi Carl, I agree, a file is a good addition. I have a Bahco file for this job and definitely include it in my kit for winter trips. I felt I had included enough in the above video, plus for most people they will have the stones already... You make a very good point though. Maybe part 2 of the video series.... Warm regards, Paul
Yeah, a file might be more for part 2... They are useful for re profiling as well as sharpening the already existing edge.
@@PaulKirtley For in the field I carry a chainsaw raker file. They are small, decently aggressive and inexpensive.
This was great information thank you
Thanks Sara. I'm glad it was helpful.
Very much appreciated content as always thank you.
Thanks Patrick.
Thanks for sharing paul grate advice and I got my book it's fantastic
Hi Lawrence, thanks and glad you like the book. Cheers.
Great content Paul, as always, very informative. Thanks for sharing. Atb, Paul.
Cheers Paul. I'm glad you appreciated it. Thanks!, ATB.
nice demonstration thanks
Thanks Anthony. I'm glad you liked it.
Awesome companion to the excellent book. If you like this video then go buy the book.
Thanks Paul..Just got the book and it looks great..
Thank you Frederick. I hope you enjoy it :-)
Great tips that are clearly explained. Thank you.
Thanks Rodney. I'm glad you appreciated the video.
Thank you so much I've been using this method to sharpening my axes works great what a great edge
Excellent. The best, most comprehensive, practical and useful axe sharpening instruction here on You Tube. Thank you!
That was very interesting & easy to understand.
I've learned a lot from this, thank you 👍🏻
You are very welcome Adam. I'm glad it was helpful.
Very nice editing, good camera angles and the content is done with professionalism.
I'm gonna order the book soon, thank you for your work.
Kevin, thank you on all counts. I'm glad you appreciated the video. Warm regards, Paul
Sharpening axes and sometimes even knives like this is great, but for me at least, it's definitely something I had to develop a feel for, the tacky dragging cut of fine grit is a very tactile, nuanced practice when done well. Of course having a good starting methodology gets you on the right path, though you still have to put in the leg work to get there. I'm still improving in this regard, but thanks in part to great videos such as this, practice, and having a keen interest, I like to think I'm well on my way. Cheers.
Thanks for mentioning your book at the end of the video. I wasn't aware of it and am definitely interested in picking it up.
Should be arriving by Saturday. Cheers.
Thanks Paul, great video and the book is a really well-put-together resource. Enjoying it very much.
Thanks Russell. Thanks also for your book review. Much appreciated. I owe you an email too....
@@PaulKirtley No rush, concentrate on the day job!
Paul, great video, very comprehensive. Having been on the Woodcrafter course it was as if I was there!
However you can’t beat actually attending one of your excellent courses for the ultimate training experience.
Book is great as well BTW thank you.
Hi Stewart, it's good to hear from you. Thanks for your positive words about the book. It's good to know this video and the book all dovetail with your experience on the Woodcrafter course :-)
I feel calm, centered and very satisfied after watching this video... therapy! Thanks Paul. Formerly Cyclist01222.
I'm glad the video had this additional benefit. Thanks for letting me know :-)
What an excellent compendium of knowledge your channel is, I will always recommend your channel first to people new to bushcraft/camping :)
Thank you Jordan. That's kind of you. I appreciate the support. All the best, Paul
Thanks for the great video! I'm still a newbie and learning and I would love to be able to learn how to sharpen my knives and my hatchet. Very excited as soon as I saw a 45 min video on the topic from you. Camping season is up and running now that Canada is reopening and I'm learning a lot from all of your videos of the past as well...
Hi Richard, it's good to hear from you. I'm glad you liked this video and I hope it is useful to you. Wishing you a good summer and some great camping in Canada. Keep in touch! All the best, Paul
Paul, I'm somewhat of a new subscriber to your channel and website and I have been nothing but impressed. Another great video - most informative. Any thoughts on Sentry Tuf-Glide as a protectant to knives and exposed metal surfaces? I understand that it bonds to the metal for longer protection. Thanks!
Brilliant stuff Paul👍👏 thanku, are you bringing back the question time format?
Hi, yes I will be. I did a trial last year and it was well-recieved, so I'll be doing them again going forwards, as well as some more practical videos such as the one above. Glad you liked it :-)
@@PaulKirtley great stuff Paul, look forward to it!😊
This is exactly the knowledge I needed
Thanks for the feedback Steve. I'm glad this hit the spot.
@@PaulKirtley Well man, you just gave my hatchet a second life! :D After carving birch for wooden cup it was starting to get soo dull... Your method is awesome, in just few minutes I can already feel the sharpness coming back.. I was doing it so wrong
@@uuguul You are very welcome. I'm really happy you've already achieved a better result with your hatchet. :-)
Excellent video, very well explained and demonstrated. I'm pleased to see I'm doing it about right!
When I use the GB puck I always leave the rubber on the side I'm holding, helps keep those finger tips away from the edge.
Hi Dave, thanks for your feedback on the video. And I'm glad it confirmed what you were already doing. Many people do leave the rubber casing on one side of the puck. I do too if its cold outside and I don't want to get cold, damp fingers. Otherwise, I like the more direct feel of holding the stone directly, but that's just personal preference on my part. As you say, there is also a safety aspect, in keeping finger tips that little bit further way from the axe's edge. Thanks for mentioning it. Cheers, Paul
Hmmmm, to be honest I thought I wouldn't learn much from this video. How wrong was I! A very good and informative 44 minute watch, interesting all the way through.
Hi Tim, I appreciate your honesty. Thanks for sticking with it and I'm glad it was worthwhile. All the best, Paul
@@PaulKirtley to be honest, "sticking with it" wasnt an option, this video proves there is always an upward learning curve for anyone, despite (in their own world) having their axe shaving sharp. BTW I dont have your book, but tbh it's now on the NEED list, and one on some stage soon one will soon will be mine 😁
That's kind of you and I hope you enjoy the book when you get hold of a copy. I read somewhere (I think it is a Japanese saying, translated) "Everyone you meet knows something you don't". I like this for a number of reasons - it keeps one humble, it highlights that everyone should be valued and it reminds you to ask questions and find out what others know. In the process you tend to help each other out with knowledge too. Keep in touch. All the best, Paul
Long video, but good video!
Hi Paul. Glad to hear the business is going strong after covid. I have a question: what is your opinion on the Morakniv camp axe?
Thanks Chris. I haven't used the Morakniv camp axe so don't currently have an opinion. Sorry I can't be more helpful with that :-(
Thankyou for the thorough demonstration and explanation caring for our axes. Just wondering what you thought of the "Work Sharps Guided Field Sharpener" and the "Lansky Puck" for beginners like me?
Thumbs-up and a comment
I use a file, diamond stones, and a hone steel
I just can't be my Small Forrest Axe hair popping sharp. It'll cut paper very easily. Is it the stock convex edge that's maybe too wide on my particular axe to get that shaving sharpness with? It seem to still do great for it's actual purpose, ha ha ha... but coming from knives I always go for shaving sharp? Thanks so much Paul.
Hi Paul, what grades was the axe puck?
Hi Brad, Gransfors state this about their current production stone - "The coarse, 180-grit side is used for repairing damage from hard wear, whereas the finer, 600-grit side is used for fine grinding."
@@PaulKirtley Thanks very much. I just got a small forest axe on your recommendation but I was a little unsure of how to properly maintain it, now I'm sure I won't have any issues, just need to get a puck now. I would never have thought to remove metal from the back of the edge to maintain the shape.
Thanks again Paul
Ignorant question: What happens if you change the bevel? What's the problem with that?
It’s been a minute…..
It's good to be back making videos :-)
Videos where humans do stuff like this make me think humans are cool creatures.