Machete Sharpening.

One thing you will need to think about before you do the sharpening, is what task do you have in mind for the machete? This is because different jobs will call for a different level of sharpening and degree of angle when sharpening the blade. Cutting tall grasses or other types of non wood like brush, a smaller angle of say 20 to 25 degrees would be the best angle. This would give you a very sharp edge for the cutting, and because of the softness of the material being cut, you would have little risk of blade chipping. If you need to cut branches or strong wood like weeds, a bigger angle of say 25 to 35 degrees is your best bet. This edge will be more durable, and be able to take the beating of repeatedly chopping the material being cut.

It is highly recommended that before putting a machete to work, sharpen it. This is even more important if the blade is already dulled or has had a chance to rust a bit. Below we will make some suggestions on sharpening the blade to get maximum work done with your blade.

One of the best ways to sharpen a machete is to use a belt sander that has some give in the belt. Using a light amount of pressure is all that is needed when using a belt sander, and it is quite easy to maintain a straight edge with the belt wheel. Don’t forget, the friction and grinding will generate heat within the blade. Do not touch the blade with bare hands during sanding, and let the blade cool before handling.

As for using grinding wheels, such a wheel is fine for removing dullness of the machete. Good to remove small chips and rust. Such grinding wheels are not so expensive. Usually under $50, and they are great for sharpening all tools used in the garden or on your land. Just be careful again regarding the heat generated, and if you are no experienced with grinding wheels, call on a friend who is and take a lesson.

Using a heavy hone is another way of sharpening your machete blade as well as a mill files. Best to put the machete in a vice at the desired angle, and then push the file over the blade. It is important to only push the file, do not pull the file. Once you have completed one side, the machete is turned over, and the second side sharpened. There are some machetes, for example some military machetes, that are sharpened on one side.

Lastly, if you need to do some touch up sharpening during a job, a field sharpener is a good idea. You should have no trouble finding one on line, with some simple instructions that are specific to the sharpener you have purchased. This post is using a picture of a field sharpener to display what this paragraph is describing.