quick and dirty? solo "doing in"

[PrairieChickenLady]

I love this video

There's a part two, it should come up when you watch the first one.

This video is one of the better ones out there. Very gentle, respectful approach.

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Yeah, problem I see with hatchets is that from the factory, they are usually sharpened with an outwardly curved profile to the edge. This means that they'll never be really sharp, and always "crush" more than cut. I regrind most of the edged tools I get new because I'm a sharp edge fanatic and can't stand one that doesn't cut.

BYC folks are the best in the world, aren't they? All the helpful answers people get rather than trolling is really unique to the internet these days.

You described my hatchet perfectly, cheap and nasty. DH said there was no point getting the more expensive one I wanted with a better edge. He said I could sharpen up the cheap one just fine but it really didn't work out that way.

Your right BYC folks are the best, we have the whole spectrum from house pets to graphic how to butcher pics, no where else like it!

 

[galanie]

Yeah those cheap things are tricky to regrind and often not even worth it. The steel is poor for the purpose and most people destroy the temper in the regrinding process too. It's really hard not to with all the grinding you have to do. Then after all that, they won't hold that edge you took so long on. But swing hard enough and in the right spot, and they'll still do the job I suppose.

I have a very old hatchet that I found at a flea market that is obviously (to me) higher quality and made for woodworking, as it has only one bevel, the other side is flat. It is made in the style they were made at close to the turn of last century so while there's no date or makers mark, it has to be darned old. And darned good! I can get a knife edge on that thing with little effort that holds forever.