There are many helpful tools today. I believe almost 95% of people use nail sharpener tools that do the job much easier than people a few decades ago.
However, if you want to extend your bushcraft knowledge, you must learn some primitive tips. Suppose you have an old rusty axe with a dull blade. You can not use it because it would not do the job.
So, you must learn how to sharpen axe with stone in the wild. Have some patience because it is not as fast as you are used to with modern tools. Let’s get started and learn!
How to Sharpen Axe With Stone
To sharpen the axe with stone, you will need two smooth stones. The first one should be a bit coarse, while the second one should be as smooth as possible. The rough stone is necessary to remove the dirt and rust from the axe blade, while the softer stone is needed to sharpen the axe.
So, to sharpen your axe, you will need two round stones with different textures. The coarse one is required to remove the rust from the axe because most old axes get rusty if not used for longer.
If you go straight on the sharpening step without cleaning the rust, you will damage the blade and make it rough instead of flat and sharp. Ensure the axe head is clean and free of grime and rust before jumping onto the following step.
The second and final step is the axe sharpening step. Here, you need a softer, finer stone. Start filling the axe with circular motions, side by side. Your circular motions should not reshape the blade’s grind.
Read more: How to Sharpen a Hatchet With a Stone
Sharpening Axe With Stone: The Process
Choosing stones
Not every stone you find on the ground is good for sharpening the axe. Choosing a bad rock might be a big mistake and damage the axe, especially if you need it for survival purposes.
You should find a smooth stone. If you have a river nearby, pick one from it. Smooth, river stone is exactly what you need for sharpening your axe.
Because you will need two kinds of stones, choosing one moderately hard and another small and smooth is best. The moderately hard stones act like sandpaper and are excellent for removing stubborn dirt and rust from the axe head.
The smooth stone is the one that gives the sharp finish. Find a granite or quartz stone that will perfectly fit your hand. The stone should not be too big or too small. The size of the stone depends on your hand size, so ensure it would not slip from the hand while sharpening the axe.
Read more: How to Sharpen a Hatchet With a Whetstone
Cleaning
Place the axe on your leg or something flat. Keep it comfortable to clean without putting in a lot of effort.
Make circular motions on the axe head, near the blade, using the coarse stone. Use medium pressure to remove the dirt but not damage the axe head curves and the blade angle.
The most important is to remember to work on a single part of the blade at a time. You start with one side and end on that side. Finish the first side before starting on the other side.
You should do stone cleaning with small circular movements on smaller sections. It will take time, so be patient.
Clean the stone multiple times and keep it wet when you change the sections. Repeat the axe cleaning process on the other side. Remember, you should do the cleaning and sharpening one side at a time.
Finding the angle
The right angle for sharpening an axe is 20 to 30 degrees, or precisely 25. Most axes have an angle of 30 to 40 degrees at the end and 15 to 20 degrees at the cutting edge.
Before sharpening the axe edge, place it with the head against its rest and find its blade angle. Place the stone parallel to the axe’s blade and sharpen it with medium-pressure circular motions.
Sharpening
Forget about the sharpening tools and stones for a while and grab a rock. It can do the same job as the sharpening tools but a little slower.
The river stones are your improvisation for a whitestone and tools. Riverstones are smooth and round, easy to hold in hand, and good to find the sharpening angle.
For the sharpening, you need a quartz or granite stone. After cleaning the dirt and removing material from the axe head, you take the smooth stone and circularly sharpen the edge.
The key moment when sharpening the axe with a river stone is to lubricate the stone by spitting on it or dipping it in water. Once you are done with sharpening one side, you repeat the process on the other side.
Testing
Now then you are done with sharpening the axe, it is time to test how sharp it is. You can use the old method by cutting some hair on your arm or leg. If you sharpen the axe carefully and long, it may get razor sharp and be able to shave the hair on your arm.
If it is not razor-sharp, you can repeat the sharpening process until you get the desired sharpness. Keep in mind that the stones can not sharpen the axe head as modern tools do.
Read more: What Is Batoning With a Knife?
Conclusion
Knowing how to sharpen axe with stone might be highly useful, especially if you need it to survive. Having a sharp tool by hand can bring you food, wood, and defense and help you build a shelter in case the weather gets wet and cold.
Your existence is in your hands. Use your knowledge and improvise. Ancient people survived in nature using sticks and stones.