View Full Version : Easiest Way To Sharpen A Machete
PR-Giants
07-11-2012, 06:11 PM
Accusharp
Made in USA
5 to 10 seconds and your done
I paid $4.22 for mine and it works great.
Just wanted to share the info.
sunfish
07-11-2012, 06:32 PM
AccuSharp Knife Sharpeners - Sharpen Knives, Cutting Tools, Garden Tools, Scissors, Axes, Machetes, Cleavers - Edge Sharpener (http://www.accusharp.com/)
accusharp - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d80mSZcMVSk)
hannahbanana
07-11-2012, 09:00 PM
yep, yep, yep, own it and like it, like it, like it
Nicolas Naranja
07-11-2012, 09:09 PM
I've always used a bench grinder
FRITO
07-11-2012, 09:37 PM
I use a file
Darkman
07-11-2012, 09:39 PM
I have used the bench grinder too but I'm thinking this may be the thing to keep in my pocket to refresh the edge while working!
john_ny
07-12-2012, 08:12 AM
Where do you ge3t it? Who sells it?
trebor
07-12-2012, 09:57 AM
Accusharp the only way to go . easy and cheap .. Ebay has them Im sure , got mine at flea market long time ago...
FPL Florida Power and Light trim crew uses them also You can see them dangling from rear view mirrors in the trucks
bananimal
07-12-2012, 11:18 AM
Bench grinder for me too. Tried those 2 blade sharpeners and it seems like it takes too long to get the edge to conform to the sharpener dimensions.
Hey Trebor - nice weather thingie!
momoese
07-12-2012, 11:42 AM
I use either a small angle die grinder with 36 grit disc or a 5" air grinder with 36 grit disc. Leaves the edge slightly serrated and scary sharp!
PR-Giants
07-12-2012, 12:32 PM
Bench grinder for me too. Tried those 2 blade sharpeners and it seems like it takes too long to get the edge to conform to the sharpener dimensions.!
A machete is soft steel, so if it takes more than 60 seconds to get a blunt edge to conform then it was either made in China, you need to visit a gym, read the instuctions, or all three.
A file and bench grinder simply can not compete with it.
If you are looking for scary sharp, you will be more than satisfied.
I know many store owners who sell machetes and send them out to be professional sharpened, and everyone of them agreed that the accusharp made a much sharper edge.
There really is no comparison, anyway good luck
bananimal
07-12-2012, 01:44 PM
I use either a small angle die grinder with 36 grit disc or a 5" air grinder with 36 grit disc. Leaves the edge slightly serrated and scary sharp!
Interesting --- it will be fun finding my discs. lol-not!
Reading instructions - that's no fun. And the machete I'm using right now is hard not soft steel. Will toss it soon as the handle shattered and it's a pain to use with a hand towel wrapped.
trebor
07-12-2012, 02:13 PM
Hey Trebor - nice weather thingie!
Thanks I need to get it a little more interesting maybe long and thin :2791:
raygrogan
07-12-2012, 04:31 PM
Thanks for the Accu bit, gotta try that. Mine are not as sharp as the best of the best.
I mostly hit mine with stone ... but some times with diamnd wheel on angle grinder, or a diamond pocket sharpener (mostly use that with kitchen knives). Long time ago I tried "peen" bit with a regular hammer (versus a real peening hammer), no real luck, but that is how they used to sharpen scythes to razor sharp, or so I read.
Busted handle - it is Bondo time. My favorite machete handle was "custom" made after the old wood shattered. I may have looped some nylon string thru it, can't remember. But anyway, slopped a few gobs of Bondo in the handle area, then held it in plastic bag (or wax paper) to get it to the shape of my grip. Has lasted 5 years or so.
Darkman
07-13-2012, 05:46 AM
There is a simple reason a machete is made from soft steel.
I can't believe it is possible that you don't know the difference between hard and soft steel. So you must be joking and I prefer to laugh with you.
Not everyone thinks they can only be made with soft steel!
NEW 23" Ice Hardened Steel Tramontina Brazilian Machete | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-23-Ice-Hardened-Steel-Tramontina-Brazilian-Machete-/110751838682)
SO
maybe Dan does have a hardened steel machete!!!
I think he does.
bananimal
07-13-2012, 11:03 AM
Keith, Charles ---- mention of Brazil reminded me of the thick bladed machete I bought at a lawn eqpt store. And stamped on it is Tramontina Brazil. It's the 18" model. Has been soaking in grease for a few months to loosen up the mancha. Now I remember why I kept the handle-less long one - to cut thru big trunks. And on checking it is a soft steel one.
Will toss the long one and clean up and use the Tramontina from now on. Don't cut down trunks at the base anymore - now it's at 6ft. And the handle on this one won't shatter when stepped on.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49694&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49694&ppuser=820)
PR-Giants
07-13-2012, 11:35 AM
Not everyone thinks they can only be made with soft steel!
NEW 23" Ice Hardened Steel Tramontina Brazilian Machete | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-23-Ice-Hardened-Steel-Tramontina-Brazilian-Machete-/110751838682)
SO
maybe Dan does have a hardened steel machete!!!
I think he does.
Maybe this will be helpful
Toughness is important because of the twisting and impact forces that the relatively thin blade may encounter, while edge retention is secondary. Medium to high carbon spring steels such as 1050 to 1095 are well suited to this application (with better machetes using the latter), and are relatively easy to sharpen. Most stainless steel machetes should be avoided, as many high-carbon stainless-steel machetes cannot stand up to repeated impacts, and will easily break if abused.
After hardening, many blades are tempered to maximum toughness, often nearly spring tempered. In comparison to most other knives which are commonly heat treated to a very high degree of hardness, this results in a tougher blade more resistant to chipping and breaking, with an edge that is easier to sharpen but does not retain sharpness as well, due to its lower hardness
Snookie
07-13-2012, 12:53 PM
Poo Yah
:nanadrink:
RandyGHO
07-13-2012, 12:53 PM
For a backyard banana grove, do you really need a Machete? Want a pruning saw work as well although not as quick? Never had to whack a banana plant since this is my first year planting.
momoese
07-13-2012, 01:02 PM
A saw works too just more mess and he banana fiber can be difficult to saw through. With a sharp machete it's one quick chop and done. For cutting big pseudo stems I use a saw.
Caloosamusa
07-13-2012, 02:40 PM
A Mamaluke sword slices better than a machete, and is very flexible, I've just never tried it on a banana pseudostem. :-) !!! I find a curved saw works very well, on bananas.
Bananimal, your picture presents the machete well as a useful garden tool. :-)!
Good "steel" is important but the tempering process when creating these are critical to blade resilience. Technology of blade manufacture is not just knowledge of composition, but knowledge of tempering processes as well.
:jalapenonaner:
bananimal
07-13-2012, 02:45 PM
Never used a Marmaduke sword! It's a big sucka, right? Likes to hog the couch?
Caloosamusa
07-13-2012, 03:00 PM
I've used it for ceremonies, not much else. It's not wide like a machete, it is longer and is curved like a Samari, but is from the middle east. :jalapenonaner:
trebor
07-13-2012, 05:13 PM
I usually pick up what ever is handy to cut with!
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc388/Trebor_Hgils/sawcopy.jpg
Simply Bananas
07-13-2012, 05:32 PM
for cutting down big p stems down low--ground level--I use a cordless saws-all.
For harvesting fruit...machete. Much more fun!
Saba Down!-- The Movie - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGFZcPtdUPk)
I ordered of the pink accu-sharps to take to CR. It was cheap on ebay, but not $4.
PR-Giants
07-13-2012, 07:20 PM
I ordered of the pink accu-sharps to take to CR. It was cheap on ebay, but not $4.
Sorry if the price increased, I bought the blue 101 now the 001, and it was
$4.22 last year with shipping.
I have to say I cringed when you cut down that Saba.
I would never intentionally let the fruit touch the ground, let alone slam into it.
A tall P-Stem should be cut the same way a tall tree is cut.
Put a V-cut as low as possible on the P-Stem facing the direction you wish it to fall.
Next put a back-cut above the level of the V-cut and now using the center of the P-stem as a hinge pull the P-Stem and slowly walk your hands up as it slowly falls to your shoulder. Clear a few leaves, put one hand on the stalk and cut.
If there are many pups at the base, the two initial cut can be made by rocking the machete back and forth.
Simply Bananas
07-13-2012, 08:46 PM
Sorry if the price increased, I bought the blue 101 now the 001, and it was
$4.22 last year with shipping.
I have to say I cringed when you cut down that Saba.
I would never intentionally let the fruit touch the ground, let alone slam into it.
A tall P-Stem should be cut the same way a tall tree is cut.
Put a V-cut as low as possible on the P-Stem facing the direction you wish it to fall.
Next put a back-cut above the level of the V-cut and now using the center of the P-stem as a hinge pull the P-Stem and slowly walk your hands up as it slowly falls to your shoulder. Clear a few leaves, put one hand one the stalk and cut.
If there are many pups at the base, the two initial cut can be made by rocking the machete back and forth.
I tried to make an X cut, but the machete was really dull. Smaller plants co-operate better. It came down much faster than I thought as it was so big. There was no way to rest any part of the plant on my shoulder. It was nearly 25' tall.
I was not really worried about the bananas, sure some got damaged. It was just my wife and I there to eat them and it was way too many for us--we hung what we did not eat up for the squirrel monkeys. They loved them.
Darkman
07-13-2012, 09:02 PM
I wish my squirrels would turn into monkeys.
At least I think that would be better.
PR-Giants
07-16-2012, 04:46 PM
I tried to make an X cut, but the machete was really dull. Smaller plants co-operate better. It came down much faster than I thought as it was so big. There was no way to rest any part of the plant on my shoulder. It was nearly 25' tall.
The plant only appears to be heavy, by making the intial cut lower to the ground you lower the center of gravity. I take down plants of that size easily, and occasionally have to stand them back up, Down is easy while up is more difficult. As for smaller plants a baseball bat works well, a nice solid swing will crush the side of the P-stem reducing it's compression strength while maintaining the tensile strength of the back side.
Nicolas Naranja
07-16-2012, 08:47 PM
The plant only appears to be heavy, by making the intial cut lower to the ground you lower the center of gravity. I take down plants of that size easily, and occasionally have to stand them back up, Down is easy while up is more difficult. As for smaller plants a baseball bat works well, a nice solid swing will crush the side of the P-stem reducing it's compression strength while maintaining the tensile strength of the back side.
Those pseudostems and bunches are quite heavy, probably in excess of 250 lbs.
PR-Giants
07-16-2012, 10:43 PM
Those pseudostems and bunches are quite heavy, probably in excess of 250 lbs.
Even if it was 500 lbs it would it light, because one end is resting on the ground. You are only holding a small percentage of the weight.
raygrogan
07-17-2012, 12:56 AM
Good hit on the baseball bat method, sounds fun. A similar way is with a shovel - sometimes it comes down very easily: Picasa Web Albums - Ray Grogan - Banana (http://picasaweb.google.com/114685571384513740781/Banana?gsessionid=5hYRi6ToCe2nwDfDTplRFw#5353538418840473586) Most successful harvest lately was with a dwarf, digging a little around the base to free it from pups, then pulled it down with bunch, with the goal being to take out all of the p-stem. Haven't tried it yet with tall bananas, nor with crowded dwarf. The one that worked well was the first harvest of a new mat.
bananimal
01-16-2013, 08:47 AM
Hey Keith ----- ran into a 2 blade knife sharpener in a box of old tools and tried it on by banana knife. Called the Samurai Shark.
Well I'm sold. Trouble with it is the blade spread changes with different pressures. You were right ---- this type of tool is fast and you can almost shave with the edge it makes.
So I ordered the combo pack of accusharp and shear sharp. Also the garden sharp from Amazon. And the price wasn't too bad.
MIne was about $12. Seems to work.
bananimal
08-01-2013, 09:02 PM
I now use the accusharp for my food prep knives and cleavers. They are high carbon steel made by Sabatier and are over 30 years old. Three or four passes and the blades are super sharp. Makes food prep a breeze --- just don't slip and cut yourself!
Works well on serrated knives too. Just don't press too hard. And never use on super hardened steel. Or buy a dedicated extra one for that purpose.:08:
I intentionally select hard steel machetes.
How do I tell ?
When struck edge to edge with another blade the harder piece becomes obvious.
Spine to spine will return a verdict as well but is actually more destructive.
When inspecting a pile looking for my next purchase I can be seen pressing edges together on many blades, ultimately finding one of superior hardness.
Quality control is mediocre at many factories producing masses of stamped blades so hardnesses can vary considerably within a single lot.
Why do I like harder?
We'll have to get into sword impacts and motions for that explanation. (yeah right)
Convex edges are tougher than concave so I use a concrete slab to sharpen, emphasis on rounding the bevel.
Cinder block, rock, ext.
Perhaps some discussion of edge shapes and associated durability is in order.
Does Ben Franklin have something to say in regards to edge shapes does he now hmmm ?
I usually pick up what ever is handy to cut with!
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc388/Trebor_Hgils/sawcopy.jpg
! Husky XP for nanners ?
HOTSAW !!!!!!!.
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