As a prepper or survivalist, a survival machete will be one of the most versatile tools you’ll ever possess. Therefore knowing how to sharpen a machete is really important. The fact that machetes are so versatile also means they are not just beneficial for the survivalist community. But by anyone who needs to work in gardens or in agriculture; which basically means they can be found pretty much everywhere. In every homestead for sure.
People have been using machetes for centuries, long before the industrial revolution came around. Albeit in a multitude of different shapes, designs, and sizes when compared with many of today’s modern machetes.
For centuries, workers used machetes to clear bushes, cut and maintain trails, and chop composite. Also to harvest crops such as barley, rye, corn, buckwheat, corn, and sugar cane, and incising, carving, and coppicing wood. And much more besides.
With this seemingly boundless list of uses, it is safe to assume that any self-respecting survivalist would always have a machete either with them or very close by.
The machete is the perfect tool for survivalists. And just like any other tool, it should be in prime condition, ready for use at a moment’s notice. Which brings us to the most frequently searched question about machetes online; how to sharpen a machete?
How to Sharpen a Machete
Sharpening your machete is just like sharpening any other type of blade. As long as you know what you have to use it for, you should have a pretty easy time doing it.
However, unlike most blades, machetes will often need a wider sharpening angle. Balancing that with the correct amount of sharpening. This will make sure your machete also remains durable and easy to use. It is the key to good sharpening practice.
Aiming for the Correct Angle – Sharpness vs. Durability
The best place to start is to decide what you will be mainly using your machete for. Will you need to cut thick bushes and unwanted branches regularly. Or just do a few quick and easy jobs every once in a while?
Also, is the machete you buy provided with an edge when you buy it? Or will you need to sharpen it upon arrival? These factors will carry a lot of weight when it comes to deciding on the correct sharpening angle to use on a new machete.
Typically, the rule is that you’ll need greater angles for tougher things to cut and smaller angles for grass and soft vegetation. The latter case will usually imply the need for an angle of about 20-25 degrees.
Unfortunately, this edge will not be very durable, and will definitely not be suitable for tougher challenges.
For these tougher jobs, you’ll need an edge with an angle of between 25 and 35 degrees. Preferably over 32 degrees. This edge will be better suited for tackling branches and woody vegetation and will withstand the demand for constant use for far longer.
There are regular methods of sharpening your machete as well as other more creative ways that a survivalist could use. Which is useful should they be without their regular sharpening tools. In this post, we are going to take you through all these methods. This will ensure your machete is always ready for whatever situation you need it for.
We’ll start with how to sharpen a machete using conventional tools and methods. Then we’ll follow with some alternative methods.
Practical Tools and Methods for Sharpening Your Machete
There are several great methods and tools you can use to sharpen your machete. The following brief list shows methods considered to be among the most practical and commonly used:
- Use a mill file. This is another easy way to sharpen your machete. Aside from being equally convenient and portable as a basic sharpener, it’s also more customizable. Especially when you want to do a slower and better job sharpening your machete. A mill file allows you to control the angle very easily, and it’s also quite affordable.
Depending on the angle. How quickly you want to sharpen your blade. And how much work you’re willing to put in. Some of these tools might be more helpful than others. Generally speaking, each one of them can provide you with a good option if you’re in a hurry.
Now let’s take a more in-depth look at methods of sharpening machetes.
1. How to Sharpen a Machete Using a Belt Sander
Many machete owners favor using a belt sander for sharpening. The belt sander is probably the easiest and quickest way to attain a professional finish. Although the practice is still needed.
With inexperienced machete owners, there is always a danger that too much pressure is applied when sharpening, concentrating on one part of the machete for too long. These actions could very easily result in the steel blade becoming very hot. Which could have a detrimental effect on the heat treatment used to harden the steel during the production process. This would weaken the machete considerably.
The following video shows the correct way to use a belt sander for sharpening blades. Note that the correct pressure required to attain the perfect edge, using a particular sander, on a specific blade, is something that only comes with practice.
2. How to Sharpen a Machete using a file
Files are a popular choice for sharpening as they are relatively cheap. They are also small and can be easily carried in your gear.
Make sure you have a mill file with bastard-grade teeth.
Firmly secure your blade at a proper angle, preferably 30 degrees. Stroke the blade with the file repeatedly, without pulling as the teeth of the file are always angled away from its handle.
Conversely, find a sturdy place to secure the mill file and draw your blade across it gently alternating the sides.
When you turn your machete over, look out for some thin projections of steel formed during the process of grinding. These are also known as burrs. They often form on the other side of the blade from where you are grinding. Burrs look like filings clinging on the edge, so be sure to remove them to obtain a fine edge.
Sharpening your blade using a mill file is safer than using grinders. Even a novice can use them without worrying too much about damaging their machetes. They do take longer to reach the same results though.
3. Sharpening a machete with a Whetstone
If you are a sharpening ‘purist’ the whetstone could be the most satisfying way to sharpen your blade. Using a whetstone may require more work, but the results will be amazing. However, seeing as you are a survivalist, you won’t want to waste too much time and energy sharpening your blade, so a whetstone may not be the best option.
Whetstone sharpening does offer the added advantage of increasing the lifespan of your machete, as well as giving it probably the best sharp edge it will ever have.
4. How to Sharpen a Machete using a grinding wheel
While many people might argue that this is not a survivalist way of sharpening a machete when you think about it, it uses little of your energy; therefore it is a survivalist method.
I know I am clutching at straws but hey ho!
Grinding wheels, nevertheless, are not meant for use every day or whenever you want to sharpen your blade. Instead, you should use it for eradicating the initial bluntness, especially on a new machete.
Grinders are faster sharpeners, and you can use them to quickly restore or realign the edge of your blade.
Another factor that makes this method survivalist is that grinding wheels are available to buy for as little as $40 and will last for a long time.
The only downside of using this method is that it takes practice. It is extremely easy to pick up an injury if you do not know what you are doing or at the very least you could very quickly destroy your blade.
Find an appropriate area that you can be able to draw the entire length of your machete across the wheel in a single smooth motion which will ensure a nice uniform edge. Ensure the path on which the machete will move across the grinder is free of obstructions.
Grinder wheels can overheat your machete, so you may want to leave it to cool before using it. Always show caution when using this method because a single foul move can completely damage your blade.
5. How to Sharpen a Machete with a Dremel
Sharpening your machete with a Dremel is easy and doesn’t require prior experience. A Dremel itself is not an intricate device; it is just a handheld motor tool with a rotating end that can accommodate any accessory or attachment that can sharpen your blade.
To sharpen your machete you will need to have a Dremel (obviously!) and a sturdy vice with which to secure your blade.
Power on the device and literary run its rotating shaft along the edge, changing from one side of the machete to the other.
You can still sharpen your machete without a vice. Simply hold the Dremel in one hand and the blade in the other and run the machine against the edge of your machete.
This is among the least difficult methods of sharpening a machete because the tool can be easily operated with one hand.
The downside of using this method is that it is literal sharpening, meaning there are bound to be some flaws on the edge of your blade. You will need to perform multiple strokes to sharpen the entire length of the machete. This can potentially result in jagged edges on your blade.
Nevertheless, this method is better than nothing and is still very beneficial for removing any little nicks and imperfections you may find along the edge of your machete.
6. Sharpening (Honing) a Machete using a Belt
When you are out in the woods, be sure to always wear a belt because it is, unknown to many, a multi-purpose tool!
To make one thing clear, it is not your belt that will sharpen your machete; instead, you will be using it as a strop.
The belt will hone the blade by pushing the slender cutting edge back into position. Using a belt will increase the efficiency of your sharpening, especially if you use the previous method, which will probably leave some imperfections along the edge.
Using full-grain or top-grain leather, move your blade along the interior of the belt and away from the edge of the machete. Repeat this several times while alternating the sides but maintaining the same number of strokes. Note that using your belt as a strop will eventually wear it out after using it a fair few times. So, don’t use your belt all the time you want to hone your blade unless you are in a survival situation, in which case the sharpness of your machete should be a higher priority than keeping your pants up!
7. Sharpening a machete using another machete
While this is quite cumbersome compared with other methods in this list, it can go a long way towards giving your blade a pretty good edge, especially in a survival situation.
If you have two blunt machetes, hold one in each hand and stroke them away from each other while applying the same amount of power along the length of the blade. Alternative the sides regularly until the machetes are sharp. To achieve the ideal degree of sharpness, try keeping the blades at an angle of 30 degrees.
The degree of sharpness will depend on the materials of both machetes. Softer steel will sharpen faster and effectively than hard steel. But if the machetes are made from the same material, the results should be nearly equal.
Of course, you may not always have two machetes in a survival situation, but if you do, this is an effective, easy, and reasonably quick technique to keep both of them in a great, usable condition.
8. Using a coffee mug to Sharpen your machete
The most streetwise method of sharpening a blade, a coffee mug can do wonders on your machete edge, than you have ever imagined. We don’t expect you to carry coffee mugs with you to the wild or on a trail, but even you will agree they are one of the most common objects to find even in the woods. Where rocks are not readily available, ceramic coffee mugs are the perfect alternative technique to sharpen your blade.
To sharpen your machete, find or break the mug to obtain a rough, uncoated edge of the ceramic, often the bottom of the mug. Use the coarse edge to slide it along the full length of the edge of the machete, applying the same amount of pressure and using an even number of strokes on both sides of the blade to achieve an even result.
Done correctly, the results can be more outstanding than most methods in this list because grinders also use ceramics as abrasives. This is a true survivalist method of sharpening a blade.
If you can find a glass panel with a rough edge, it can also do a great job as a coffee mug. Alternatively, a broken car window or a windscreen can also do a great job sharpening your blade, though they lose abrasion quickly.
9. Sharpen your Machete with a Rock
This is arguable the most common method for sharpening a machete particularly when you find yourself miles from civilization since rocks can be found virtually everywhere.
The best rocks for sharpening purposes are those found on the banks of the river. After finding a nice wet, round stone, you need to circularly stroke your machete to sharpen it. Be sure to keep the number of strokes even on both sides of the blade.
While this is slower than using modern sharpening tools, it may be the only viable option, especially if you’re not close to home and you’re not carrying a file.
If you have water nearby, rinse the rock now and then as you sharpen your machete to increase the efficiency of the stone, while you brush away the filings from your blade. By rinsing off the rock it will also help in help by removing some of the shavings off your machete, as well as preventing any nicks and flaws.
Alternatively, you can get two stones like the one described above, even in size, and rub your machete between them back and forth to sharpen the blade.
This is a brilliant method of sharpening your blade and a true survivalist method; it is quick too and will allow you to get on with other important tasks sooner.
10. The ‘Do-it-Yourself’ Whetstone!
The problem with using a rock to sharpen your blade is that it does not have an even grain like a whetstone. But thankfully, you can simulate your own whetstone even if you are stuck out in the middle of nowhere with a blunt machete as your only companion!
Using a live tree branch and sand, you can create a sharpener with the same effect as a whetstone. Look for sand, probably by a riverbank or beach, or explore where you are camping, the soil might be coarse enough for this purpose. You can find sand anywhere, collect small gravels, and crush them using a larger rock. Ensure that you crush the small stones until they are mush.
After that, break off a live branch from a tree and shave off the bark, rub your sand into the wood carefully so you don’t injure yourself. Spread the sand uniformly in the wood to create a perfect whetstone.
Using this DIY whetstone, sharpen your machete as you would with a normal whetstone. Alternate the sides regularly and be sure to keep your blade at a 30 degrees angle if possible. You can add more sand if the whetstone starts to lose its abrasiveness.
A DIY whetstone is a great wilderness method for sharpening your machete, especially when combined with rock sharpening and leather belt honing.
However, if you plan and make sure you have the tools for sharpening your machete or knife stashed in your bug-out bag or emergency backpack then you won’t need the ‘do-it-yourself’ whetstone. But as survival tips go, when you are in a tricky situation, it is a pretty good backup sharpening method to use as a last resort.
…and finally, now you know how to sharpen a machete!
You can use every sharpening method outlined above to effectively sharpen your machete but everyone is different and you will certainly find some of these methods easier to use than others.
The best way to sharpen your machete is the way you personally find to be the most effective and most comfortable to achieve the desired result. Even if your way of doing something might seem and look a little unorthodox to others, don’t sweat it! If it works for you, stick with it!
Happy sharpening!