I have been sharpening since i was 10 and was taught that marker trick from an Marine. I still use that to this day.

A good file is an asset to any sharpening regimen. After I use my file I go back with a fine wire brush to clean the "teeth" out. Cleaning out all of the metal filings, rust and dirt make the file last longer. You'll be glad you did it.

The inner filament of a sharpie is also a great emergency fire starter!

Been a Carpenter/Joiner for 45 years and I still use this technique when regrinding on site using an angle grinder.

Holy crap Batman. Dan did it again. Another well produced video that gave me another tool for my toolbox. I’m glad I got to watch the first in this new series, or is the second because I watched the last one twice. Anyway keep up the great work.

Fantastic content! Your "close the gap" advice is spot on, successfully sharpened garden shears👌

I appreciate your tips like this one. I already do the sharpie thing, learned that from knife sharpening, but over the years your videos have taught me so much. Whoever says you can't teach an old dog new tricks needs to come subscribe to your channel!!! I'm an old dog, been around more years than I like to admit, but I still learn new tricks from seasoned woodsmen like yourself. Thank you for all you do for us!

Well that's cool, maybe it will help me finally get better at sharpening things . I've been terrible at it my whole life despite plenty of good advice . Never developed the touch .

Thank You For Sharing This Valuable Information !! Mighty DAN The Axe Man ! We Appreciate Your Hard Work.

That marker tip is a winner. Was that a pun? One thing that I've found that the average Joe doesn't know about files is that the smaller they are, the finer they cut. That's why you find a 14" mill bastard as well as a 12",10", 8" etc. They all have the same tooth pattern (mill bastard), but the teeth are smaller and closer together and therefore leave behind a smoother finish. I like to keep a 6" mill smooth file in my kit especially for dressing the edge of my ax when it is required. You might find that a mill smooth knife edged file in 5 or 6 inches is even handier. The larger files are for rough shaping and removing nicks from the edge. Also a strip of fine sandpaper can be laid onto a small fine file that acts as a backing strip. The coarse teeth of a large file makes it less effective.

Outstanding video Dan. Thank you. "Another Tool for the Toolbox".

Excellent content, tone, and delivery. Thank you so much!

I usually use a blue Sharpie for marking tools, in this case an axe. Why? Blue is an unusual color in most tools. Also red and green can be used, whichever suits your eyes.

I sharpened mine to a mirror edge with a lansky kit now I can shave with it

Thank you for making this

A sharpie to make my ax sharpie!😅

Fantastic!!!Now show us how to sharpen knives and scissors. I hate having to throw away scissors!!!

Great video Dan

Another outstanding video Dan Wowak! Thank you so much for your tutorial, you’re an awesome instructor 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽❤️❤️❤️ nicely done brother!!👊🏿

Great tip! Thanks, Dan!

Love it… great video! Thanks for doing what you do!

Nice info on the video... I have the exact axe... I did scrape all the lacquer coating off the handle and at top of axe... soaked it in a mixture of mineral spirits / boiled linseed oil for keeping the wood moist for longevity. Thanks ...Alan in 🇨🇱

Thank you for this video. This is another instruction session in one of the basic skill tools of real life!

Beautiful work

Nice piece of advice. Now I have to dig out those old axes and the new cheap ones.

Great tutorial.

Thanks Dan!

Thanks, Dan!

Thank you

Great video . .

A file will cut in both directions. If the file doesn't cut there are 1 of 2 issues. Either is worn out or the file is not hard. A file cuts not by being sharp but by being harder that whay is being filed. I speak as a former Tool & Die maker. Yes it cuts better in one direction than the other but the softer material will not damage the file any more than normal use.

Thanks for the great info.

great video!

Awesome, Thanks Dan

I changed the title in DeArrow to... Use Marker to Colour Your Axe Blade Before You Sharpen to Better See Progress

Tomorrows project. My woman just inherited an old Estwing axe that is in bad shape. It was her fathers, and she wants it restored. I need some better files anyway and can walk my puppy to the home depot to get in some exercise and socialization (for the dog - I'm mostly ok now). Then I can use my new work bench to file the axe. I love it when a project checks off so many things at one time.

Great advice.

thank you for the sharping tips

Thanks - that explained a lot.

Ace stuff mate I'll try that one day

Thanks for the knowledge

I've always had a bit of trouble getting an edge. I'm going to try this and I'll re comment on my progress

Great tip! The only thing I need is one of them files

Parabéns pelo vídeo. Boas vibrações

Cheap way to practice and not feel bad if you screw it up.

Thanks

My cheap axe used to be a Council Tool Flying Fox, until the price increased. Mine came sharp as I needed it to be. The price didn't increase enough that I'd recommend a different axe. Plus, you can throw it, and it has a hardened poll.

Thanks for Sharing

Any videos on splitting mauls? Would it be worth putting an edge?

Dan, if what I understand from this video, where the bevels (sides) of the blade are asymmetrical (uneven), one should file down the flat side as opposed to the convex side to obtain even bevels (sides) and hence a correct apex (point). Does that make sense? Or, perhaps I misunderstood. Take off metal on the convex (rounded) bevel to match the bevel on the other side to obtain an even apex makes so much more sense. In my opinion. Done it hundreds of times from customers that brought me their axes, both box store and high end, to sharpen. Yes, I have "an axe to grind"; I am a professional sharpener and an outdoors man for over 50 years. Good basic instructional video, though. Cheers 🍁🍺

I took one of those harbor freight axes and reheat treated the edge about an inch up, it ended up being pretty ok

Excellent video and information as always, but I do have a question. My understanding is that axes usually have a convex grind so the edge can withstand the pounding they get. Wouldn't you be better off using a puck to maintain the grind instead of filling the edge flat?

You may find the experiment that Fire Ball Tools did with raking a file back and forth. While it cut only in one direction, the raking back didn't damage the file.

Good, useful information. Thanks. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

I guess it's called a sharpie for a reason.

It kills me how much he looks like Woogie (theres something about mary)

Thank you so much for your video, I was having so much trouble sharpening my ax. I need a good file. What was the name of your file again? Love ya bruh.

Nice video. Is there ever a time a convex profile would be better?

this guy married? lol hes a gem !!

Now that it's sharp, how do you pack it safely?

Do you have to file in the opposite direction if you're left handed considering the file can be ruined if it's done the wrong way??

How do you feel about handles on your file?

Once you master the art of Stinkeye, you needent marker nor file. Rookie.

Maybe drive the file into a tree stump or a tree itself and work the ax on the file instead of the other way what do yall think

Now scrape the varnish off and oil the handle..!! It will make a decent cheap camp axe..!!

And no c.c. 😢

Hump? What hump?

🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓

Is it me or is there no sound???

Handle for file .4 the kids and not skilled

Don’t ever buy anything from Harbor freight. Being cheap can cost you in the long run.

Worst video yet to date to much talking for sure.

Thanks