Axes

Tormek Live Sharpening Classes

In this episode Sébastien and Hugo walks you through sharpening of axes. They show you how to use the AX-40 Axe Jig for sharpening axes in different shapes, sizes and designs. They also answer questions from the audience who watched the stream live.

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Keeping an axe sharp is essential for both safety and performance, whether you're chopping wood, carving, or using it in traditional crafts. A sharp axe not only requires less effort to use but also ensures cleaner, more precise cuts. Below, we’ll walk you through the steps to sharpen your axe effectively with the AX-40 Axe Jig, ensuring it stays in optimal condition for all your tasks, and some other useful tips for your axe.

Step-by-step of how to sharpen your axe

Secure the axe in the jig, ensuring all six rubber cushions touch the axe head. Adjust the screws for a snug fit.
Choose the sharpening angle. You can either replicate the existing angle with the Marker Method or set a new angle with the WM-200 AngleMaster. For a carpenter's axe or hatchet, a sharpening angle of 25-30° generally works well, while felling and hunting axes benefit from a more durable edge angle of 30-40°.
When sharpening, press your palm on the axe near the wheel. The axe will automatically be pressed up against the stop in the jig and the grinding is most efficient. Move side-to-side along the Universal Support to maintain even wheel wear. Raise a burr on both sides of the edge before honing.
Keep the jig on while honing to keep things simple if additional sharpening is needed, and apply PA-70 Honing Compound if you are using a leather honing wheel. Make sure the honing wheel is running away from the edge, placing the axe head flat on the wheel and pulling it toward you until you are right in the bevel to deburr the edge and polish the bevel.
For sharpening axes with completely flat bevels, use the MB-102 Multi Base with a diamond grinding wheel and sharpen on the flat side of the wheel.

Can you fix a damaged edge on an axe?

Even a heavily damaged axe edge can be repaired. Use a belt sander for major dents, then switch to your Tormek system to achieve a sharp edge. Alternatively, a Tormek T-8 or a Tormek T-4 with a coarse diamond grinding wheel can handle the damage, but it’s more time-consuming for severe issues.

How often should you sharpen your axe?

There is no general saying in how often you should sharpen your axe. It depends on the usage and the hardness of the material the axe is used upon. You'll know it's time to sharpen your axe when it stops performing as it should. But, as a sharp axe is a safer axe, we recommend that you keep it in shape. The Tormek Sharpening System is developed to remove only the minimum amount of steel necessary, allowing you to sharpen your axe frequently without fear of excessive wear.

Tips for Axe Maintenance

Store Properly
Always wipe your axe after use and store it in a clean, dry place. Avoid environments that are too dry or warm, as they can cause the wooden handle to contract. Also, do not store the axe in moist environments as it risks rusting.

Use Oil to Prevent Rust
Use oil or grease on the edge to prevent rust, especially if storing it for an extended period, such as between seasons. By applying a thin coat of oil all over the axe head, including parts of the handle near the head, and then removing the excess with a cloth, you'll also take care of the wood and keep it from drying out and shrinking.

Sharpen Regularly
As we said before; a sharp axe is a safe (and efficient) axe. Regularly sharpening keeps your axe performing at its best.

Sharpening a convex edge

One of the features of the AX-40 Axe Jig is the ability to sharpen axes with convex edges. It is specifically axes used for splitting wood that have a convex edge.The convex shape easily separates the wood fibers, facilitating the splitting process, whereas a carving axe should have a flat-, hollow-, or, flat over hollow grind.

Secure the axe in the jig, ensuring it’s stable and straight.
Place the AX-40 Axe Jig onto the universal support, with the support bar between the two stops. Pull the jig toward yourself so that the lower stop is in contact with the universal support bar.
Measure the angle using the Tormek Marker Method, or the WM-200 AngleMaster, focusing on the outer edge.
Begin sharpening the outer edge until a burr is formed, then sharpen equally on the other side. Then sharpen while moving the jig in a back-and-forth motion between the two stops along the entire edge, to form the convex bevel.
Finish by deburring and polishing on the honing wheel. Make sure that the honing wheel rotates away from you, and don’t forget to use PA-70 Honing Compound if you are using a leather honing wheel.

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