Are There Different Ways To Sharpen A Brush Axe??

[CADplans]

I have purchased two different brush axes off eBay, a Pexto, and a Collins. The Collins is much lighter, you can swing it faster.
They both have 36" handles, to help keep me out of the thorns.

I have sharpened both of them with a Ken Onion hand held belt sander,, that sander makes them kitchen knife EXTREMELY sharp.
I have tried both of them,, they will not (easily) cut one year old raspberry vines.

Both exhibit the same results, they will slide up the vine, rather than cutting.

I am wondering if there is possibly some other sharpening technique,, ??
Maybe something like filing the edge with a triangle file to give an edge that is serrated with very small triangular teeth??

Or something else?? (no, I am not gonna switch to the gasoline powered brush cutter,, part of this is exercise!! )

ANY ideas would be appreciated!!

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I would try a downward stroke, toward the rooted end, rather than sideways and sliding up the whip. If you are just pulling last year's canes, hand snips are the way to go. I sometimes will use a hedge trimmer. I recently discovered where I had stashed the brush scythe. The froe is sound but needs a little TLC. The blade is a hook that is short, sharp, and heavy.

 

[MossRoad]

Are you using it right or left handed?

 

[jaxs]

Wro.ng tool. If gloved hands and lopping shears don't let you reach them without getting into thorns,remove saw blade from extendable manual pole saw and use rope operated pruning shear.

 

[CADplans]

I would try a downward stroke, toward the rooted end, rather than sideways and sliding up the whip. If you are just pulling last year's canes, hand snips are the way to go. I sometimes will use a hedge trimmer. I recently discovered where I had stashed the brush scythe. The froe is sound but needs a little TLC. The blade is a hook that is short, sharp, and heavy.

Are you using it right or left handed?

This is the exact Collins I am using, except with a handle, and extremely sharp.

The Pexto is similar, except double the weight, blade width, and thickness.

I can not chop "down",, the axe heads RIGHT at my steel toed boots.
If I go straight down the axe will have enough speed to bury it in the dirt,, or rocks,,

I have tried both right handed, and left handed,, I am rather ambidextrous when swinging.
My nephew was always surprised that I split firewood "left" handed,, even though I am right handed,

I have tried both,, I can not tell much difference.

Typically, I swing the brush axe at the side the plant is leaning toward.
I partially think the axe just does not have nearly enough speed.
It is lighter than the Pexto, but, it is still heavier than a regular single bit axe.

The only really great use that I have found for the brush axe is taking limbs off of a small tree.
If a thorned locust branch is facing my trail, that brush axe will remove a 1" branch with an easy swing,, cleanly.

I do have the rope actuated pole lopper,, maybe that is what I will have to fall back to...
The brush axe was a hope of getting better exercise,, as well as clearing the trail.

 

[Roadworthy]

A plane old scythe may be just the tool for the job.

 

[DIYOrangeDave]

I have found loppers work best. My set has extendable handles and a ratcheting head which allow me to keep my hands back. For removal of briars and bramble I use the box blade with just the scarifiers touching about 2-4” in the ground. Several passes and everything is pulled out.

 

[Jstpssng]

A plane old scythe may be just the tool for the job.

When I was at the orchard many years ago I worked with a guy who I believe would be called a "hippie"... he lived with no running water, big long beard, and came from a family with money. He couldn't understand why the owner would go out and pay $1200 for a mower* to get under the trees when he could hire men with scythes. It just so happened that they had raspberries growing under the trees, so when pruning was done they handed him a scythe and let him go at it. At the end of the first day he said to me "I didn't realize how much work this is."


*I said that it was many years ago.

 

[cqaigy2]

I've used one of those on blackberries. I did a fast swing at an angle, either right or left handed, just a bit high of where the canes meet the ground. Also a machete with a lanyard attached to the wrist. They got to be sharp though.

 

[CADplans]

I've used one of those on blackberries. I did a fast swing at an angle, either right or left handed, just a bit high of where the canes meet the ground. Also a machete with a lanyard attached to the wrist. They got to be sharp though.

I have a HF machete, but, I have not tried it, because the tool is SO dull,, it may take an hour to sharpen.

Also, I wonder if the steel in the HF machete will even sharpen??

 

[MossRoad]

This is the exact Collins I am using, except with a handle, and extremely sharp.

The Pexto is similar, except double the weight, blade width, and thickness.

I can not chop "down",, the axe heads RIGHT at my steel toed boots.
If I go straight down the axe will have enough speed to bury it in the dirt,, or rocks,,

I have tried both right handed, and left handed,, I am rather ambidextrous when swinging.
My nephew was always surprised that I split firewood "left" handed,, even though I am right handed,

I have tried both,, I can not tell much difference.

Typically, I swing the brush axe at the side the plant is leaning toward.
I partially think the axe just does not have nearly enough speed.
It is lighter than the Pexto, but, it is still heavier than a regular single bit axe.

The only really great use that I have found for the brush axe is taking limbs off of a small tree.
If a thorned locust branch is facing my trail, that brush axe will remove a 1" branch with an easy swing,, cleanly.

I do have the rope actuated pole lopper,, maybe that is what I will have to fall back to...
The brush axe was a hope of getting better exercise,, as well as clearing the trail.

Ah. You're probably right that you might not be able to get enough swing speed.

Your comments about limbs are about what I get with a machete. It'll take off limbs very easily, but I don't think I'd use it on raspberries. They're just too flexible.

 

[ponytug]

My experience with brush axes (J-hook) is that they are lethal on woody brush, but for berry canes, they are too blunt (wedge shaped cutting edge). I have found a scythe or even a heavy grass whip to be more effective. If you have just a few, lopping shears work great, too, in my experience. Or if you want to get in close up, khukuris.

I have never found a machete that was worth picking up, but I may just have bad technique.

All the best,

Peter

 

[oosik]

I use a pair of long handle loppers. I'm too old and crickity to get a fast enough swing with that type tool. Besides, if I did - probably slip and cut myself. I also use my OLD riding mower. Fast as I can go - straight into the brush. Works well for me and haven't burned up any belts yet.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've found that canes roll off quite easily when I attack them with my bucket. However, that eliminates the exercise which the OP is looking for.

 

[CADplans]

I've found that canes roll off quite easily when I attack them with my bucket. However, that eliminates the exercise which the OP is looking for.

That is exactly correct,, sorta lookin' for some exercise,, and an alternative path to some downed firewood.

For simply knocking down raspberries,, I got a flail that can clear 3 feet back along the side of the trails,,

BUT,, where is the fun in that!!??