Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 27

Thread: To sharpen a machete .....The Adventure.

  1. #1
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default To sharpen a machete .....The Adventure.

    I had posted the "Good deal I got of 5 machetes from Sportsman's Guide...."
    Well,.... they need sharpening .....

    Brought out a couple of the machetes from the basement out to the garage shop..I don't like to do a lot of metal grinding in the area of my re-loading set up.

    Going to start on a bolo and a version of the Woodsman pal with the brush hook.

    The adventure started.....
    Went to get my hand held grinders from storage cabinet .....Snowblower is blocking tool cabinet as it's parked by the door for easy exit....
    Winter almost over.....so decided to get the SB out of my way.

    To do that, I had to move DW car out... to get to the summer SB parking spot.....(most likely will snow now....LOL)

    Car out, but 2 coolers still in the way ...DW needed them for cleaning and defrosting one of the freezers.

    So went to put them back on the shelf....but the dog cages(2) stored up there next to that spot... had fallen over.
    Couldn't stand them up and shove cooler in that spot unless I was up a bit....so grabbed my OSHA approved wooden chair to reach them.

    Had to wait on DW to come and hold the cooler till I was ready to stand up the cages and slide the coolers.
    Got that done with out any serious cussing...

    I use these coolers all the time in the back and forth to "The Place"....and don't know why the dog cages tipped over(?)....so decided to bungee them up so as to not fall over every time I need them....I had taken the down and out them put then back 100 times...no problem(?)

    To anchor bungee needed a eye screw .....but had to take down the bag of decoys down to get at a stud.

    To make it easier to screw the eye bolt in ...got the 18 v battery drill box out ....and box of bits....battery almost dead...but enough to get a pilot hole started.

    Went to my garage bungee stash...several had UV and were about to snap....sooooo into the back of the truck...get a new one out of the storage bag.
    Couldn't reach that stud from the chair...bring in a step ladder.... after moving a 5 gal bucket of wheel weights (bullet stuff).

    As long as I had the ladder there....added another screw eye for the decoy bag.
    So... coolers back... cages bungeed up.... decoys back in place.....
    Time for the Snowblower to be parked under that shelf.

    As long as I was cleaning out the spot...got out shop vac....cleaned dirt and leaves that had blown in over the winter.
    Parked the SB.......

    So as long as the vac was out...did the rest of the floor on that half of the garage...setting rubber mats outside to dry off.
    (bottom of the rubber mate gets damp
    Pulled DW car back in.....then backed out the truck from the other side...to finish the other side of the floor.
    Vac now full...emptied out in compost bin.

    At this point I have everything done....JUST TO GET OUT THE HAND GRINDER........

    Machetes on the bench, grinder on the bench...needs new metal grinding wheel.
    Maybe tomorrow.....

    Time for a nap......

    Some days are like this ...seems more and more lately ?????
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27


  2. #2
    Senior Member kyratshooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    KY bluegrass region-the center of the universe
    Posts
    10,360

    Default

    The machete with the hook and wide blade is called a cane knife and was designed for work in sugar cane. It does quick work on corn stalks. Not heavy enough for the normal machete work.

    I keep the Tami version on my back porch for those inspirational runs down to the fence row to work five minutes before I give up ad head back for my own nap.

    When you do get the grinder working you will be amazed at the sparks that fly off that blade! there is some real high carbon steel in some of them.
    If you didn't bring jerky what did I just eat?

  3. #3
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    These say Made in Colombia...and there is a couple o names on them.
    One is marker with crossed files of Nicholson steel, don't know.....?????

    Somewhere.... I have a vice that flops down to hold things in a horizontal plane...used it for lawn mower blades....That would work slick....
    Think it's out at "The Place"
    Hummmm maybe a HF trip today...need grinding wheels....also.

    I know they throw sparks.....that's why I moved out of the basement shop.

    Besides the bigger *'(?) bench grinder is out there.
    Last edited by hunter63; 04-03-2017 at 11:46 AM.
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  4. #4
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    Checked out the vices I have here...do have an articulating vice in the basement...like this...
    Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

    Also was looking at this one....
    Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

    Can't see it too good, but the vice on the bench....at "The Place-shed shop"......just above middle fuel jug....has a flop over feature to get to horizontal.

    Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  5. #5
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    Found a "Low Profile" cheapo at Menards.......and after thinking about it....need to hold the blade horizontal ...and not go broke.
    Came up with "2 boards and the vice...in vice"

    Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.


    Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

    Good start with the angle grinder.....may move to basement for belt sander.....
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  6. #6
    Senior Member randyt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    tip of the mitt
    Posts
    5,258

    Default

    sometimes I'll put the angle grinder in the vise and move the blade over the grinder wheel
    so the definition of a criminal is someone who breaks the law and you want me to believe that somehow more laws make less criminals?

  7. #7
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    I hear ya....I have as well....even used the hand belt sander that way....
    Wanted a lower plane to hold the work....

    Can be removed from the bench vice...clamp in a Workmate...and have a portable vice as well......
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  8. #8
    Senior Member kyratshooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    KY bluegrass region-the center of the universe
    Posts
    10,360

    Default

    Fancy rig!

    I would have probably just clamped it to the bench top with C clamps.
    If you didn't bring jerky what did I just eat?

  9. #9
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kyratshooter View Post
    Fancy rig!

    I would have probably just clamped it to the bench top with C clamps.
    LOL....And what is the fun in that....?....LOL
    Vice was about................................ $25 bucks
    Bucket with gamma seal....................$10 bucks (different project)
    lumber from bargain bin....................$ 4 bucks
    Total for my projects $39 bucks


    DW came along....Things are much cheaper when I go by myself....LOL
    Easter cards.....................................$ 10 bucks
    Gas Grill....small...............................$ 120 bucks
    2 rugs (she collects rugs(?)................$ 30 bucks
    Bag of candy.....................................$ ...2 bucks
    Total $ 162 bucks

    She wins!!!!

    Couple of MickyD's Geezer cones...........$2.14 cents.
    Happy wife......LOL
    Last edited by hunter63; 04-10-2017 at 01:25 AM.
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  10. #10
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    North Florida
    Posts
    44,846

    Default

    Sooooo...only $162 to sharpen a $2 machete......nice.
    Can't Means Won't

    My Youtube Channel

  11. #11
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by crashdive123 View Post
    Sooooo...only $162 to sharpen a $2 machete......nice.
    Precisely.......Bhohahahaha

    Oh well my first wild turkey was about $1000 bucks a pound....
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  12. #12
    Senior Member kyratshooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    KY bluegrass region-the center of the universe
    Posts
    10,360

    Default

    $162 and eight days to get the job done.

    You have finished, right?

    Sometimes I think we were twins separated at birth.

    I spent the whole afternoon yesterday trying to figure out how to get a 30 minute job done. I still have half of it to do and I flattened a tire on my utility trailer in the process. That means a trip to Harbor Freight and I have a half dozen things on the HF shopping list already.
    If you didn't bring jerky what did I just eat?

  13. #13
    Resident Wildman Wildthang's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    3,825

    Default

    Wait a minute, you guys talked about almost everything under the sun, and not about sharpening a machete. Sooooooooo, did you get them sharpened???
    Sir Knife Collectin, Rocket Ridin, Girl Crazy Post
    Hoe of WSF

  14. #14
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Wildthang View Post
    Wait a minute, you guys talked about almost everything under the sun, and not about sharpening a machete. Sooooooooo, did you get them sharpened???
    So that's what we were talking about.....kinda slipped my mind (whats left of it)
    Hahahaha....Old guy stuff....
    Getting the mail can make a 1/2 hour adventure.

    It's not about sharping machetes....per se...It's the adventure of getting a "round2it"...or in the south.. "Fixin' on it.

    Answer ....Yeah two pretty much done....need to finish off with file.....
    3 to go yet......
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  15. #15
    Resident Wildman Wildthang's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    3,825

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hunter63 View Post
    So that's what we were talking about.....kinda slipped my mind (whats left of it)
    Hahahaha....Old guy stuff....
    Getting the mail can make a 1/2 hour adventure.

    It's not about sharping machetes....per se...It's the adventure of getting a "round2it"...or in the south.. "Fixin' on it.

    Answer ....Yeah two pretty much done....need to finish off with file.....
    3 to go yet......
    Okay I feel much better now......LOL
    Sir Knife Collectin, Rocket Ridin, Girl Crazy Post
    Hoe of WSF

  16. #16
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    I guess some if these threads should come a warning....This thread has rating of "GA"....Geezer Alert....

    Which may or may not, have a much of a meaning to the general public.... but does have a subject...to start with, ..at least.

    Survival of Greezers does rely on... or lack of... experience, cunning, deceit, treachery, ...along with hopefully....memory, concentration, focus, direction, as well as naps...or not.

    Hope that helps ?
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  17. #17
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    North Florida
    Posts
    44,846

    Default

    Y'all shouldn't feel bad. I sharpen my machete with a belt sander that I paid $1000 for and it was 15 years old when I bought it.
    Can't Means Won't

    My Youtube Channel

  18. #18
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by crashdive123 View Post
    Y'all shouldn't feel bad. I sharpen my machete with a belt sander that I paid $1000 for and it was 15 years old when I bought it.
    Beats a flat rock...Right?
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  19. #19
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    North Florida
    Posts
    44,846

    Default

    It sure does.
    Can't Means Won't

    My Youtube Channel

  20. #20
    Administrator Rick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    58,832

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hunter
    Beats a flat rock
    I see what you did there.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •