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How sharp is it?
Not very - it doesn't need to be. Sharpened and re-profiled it with a 80 grit flap disc on angle grinder and took it to polishing wheel + leather strop. The shine is just for the looks.
Good. You probably don't want a hatchet to be that sharp. You're not going to be doing anything delicate with it. Sharp blades have the edge bend or break easily.
Yeah, edge that sharp serves no purpose on axe. It'll bend and then be dull again. Shallower point with the burr removed is more durable and stays sharp(ish) for much longer.
Thx, I was looking for this bit of context - somehow the possibility you made it sharp "bcs it's better" made me uneasy.
I'm glad it's done properly.
All depends on the quality of the metal, the angle of the apex and the direction you sharpen the blade in.
Parallel bad, perpendicular good
Never used a carving hatchet, eh?
Completely disagree! I’m into axe’s. Have been four years. Shit, anything with an edge.
I’ll tell you something straight up, a dull axe is dangerous. A dull axe glances. A sharp axe sticks.
Period.
What grit was the polishing wheel and what effect did the strop have after polishing?
I have no idea. It was one of those black fibre ones that you attach to a drill. I had originally used it to polish stainless steel after welding. Stropping is the difference between reflecting light and reflecting image
Oh, you did that with a drill? I was imagining an arduous, hours long, hand polishing job. It looks great!
Can you shave with it?
Not even close. That level of sharpness would only matter on axe if you intend to use it as a weapon. Chopping wood with edge like that would just bend it and make it dull prematurely.
Or chip the blade.
I don't think it's hardened. Softer steel doesn't tend to chip and harder steel is more difficult to sharpen.
Absolutely, that level of sharpness would be detrimental, but was just wondering how much you overdid it.