Ken Onion Work Sharp series part 3: Axes and hatchets

Part of my Work Sharp series. For this episode I'll be covering several ways to sharpen axes and hatchets.

[@nowakezoneforever6021]

Excellent video. Good job. I recently bought the regular model to sharpen all my knives, axes, and hatchets, including the one you’re demonstrating. I’ve had it for at least 15 years and it is a solid tool. It’s not heavy duty for sure, but it’s great to baton and de-limb with. Now it is sharper than I can ever recall. I have several heavier duty and much more expensive axes but that little guy, when used properly, is a great camp axe. Again, great job on your video. Very well done.

[@mikek.3965]

Thanks for making this info available so I can order the grinder for my Ken Onion too!

[@jeremycrowe234]

I like this. I’ve only used a puck on my axes but I like this.

[@ronzack4572]

Just got a Ken Onion Workshop, and was wondering if I could use it on my axes and hatchets, and all of sudden this video popped up on my KZbin recommendations. Thanks for the help!

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

It works great for axes and hatches. Glad I could help brother!

[@AlWethers]

Which belt would u recommend 4 dull garden shears? Have Ken Onion Ed. & grinder.

[@Trish-yp5cb]

I would like to see the long blades sharpened, ie. Machetes.

[@ocomegashadowstacking5886]

Really awesome video!!!😄👌

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

Thanks Amos! Glad you enjoyed

[@jeremycrowe234]

I got my dad one of these and he likes it. One day I’ll pick me one up to.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

I love my KO Work Sharp. I use it on a weekly basis. I actually just got done sharpening my bosses axe.

[@BigRedEDC]

Very versatile sharpener!!

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

For sure. You can use different sections on the grinder attachment to get different grinds. I love playing around with it.

[@robertmunguia250]

What type of belt is that?

[@leebarker6188]

Awesome vid but how does the bevel setting work when you are free handing it?

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

You just set it to the setting you want and hold the blade flat at a 90 degree or eye ball it

[@abnergaldos8695]

Your 1st 2 previous videos you should us the Guided system then jumped to free hand. Would have enjoyed seeing you also use the guide.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

Ya I got out of order lol. Not a big fan of the guides myself but I'm sure some people would enjoy them.

[@peter-radiantpipes2800]

Work sharp sent me their entire line. Haven't used the BGA yet. Got a few large bladed items and new axe and hatchet. Might try this out just to get the edge a bit v better grin factory.

[@peter-radiantpipes2800]

(Used plenty on high end kitchen knives and pocket knives. Though I like the guided hand sharpener a lot too. I use this for to repair or reshaping. But not yet for axes a Kukri and a parang. tomorrow!

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

It's awesome for axes!

[@burningbridgesthesilvershi2490]

Would a belt sander work as well and cheaper sand belts plus be more functional? I'm really asking because I'm new to sharpening tools and axes knives but I want to start making axes and take care of all my knives

[@clsammo]

I just bought the Ken Onion version and am well equipped with tools so I'll answer as best I can. No, don't use a belt sander. There are several considerations for saying that: A belt sander is going to operate at a much higher speed, generating a LOT more heat and material removal that you may not want. It might work if you have a horribly dull edge, and from your question if could be useful for the initial edge-making. However for the super sharp edge you'd want on a decent knife it's far too crude. You really don't have the control you would with a dedicated sharpening system. On my first attempt with the Work Sharp, I honed my wife's blade (a 4" Muela bushcraft knife, flat grind) to a razor edge in about 10 minutes. I literally could shave the hair off my arm. It is the easiest and most effective way I have used to sharpen blades and I have become a true believer in it. TLDR: You can use a belt sander, but you won't be happy with the results

[@ColaDose52]

Would be interested to know what the green belt specifically is. Also, you put on the two bevels in the wrong order the thinner bevel should be first and the 35° second.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

I did do that backwards lol. P80 aluminum oxide coarse belt. They work great for tools.

[@ColaDose52]

thanks. doing it the wrong way round makes a lot of extra grinding time. Doing it thin first then with a steep micro-bevel makes the edge more damage resistant as well.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

@@ColaDose52 I appreciate the feedback Ron. I'm actually surprised I missed that because you're absolutely right about extra grind time. Thanks Ron

[@michaelvisser6054]

Just got my Work Sharp with Grinder Attachment this week. I can't wait to try it on one of my cheaper axes to practice before I move on to some of my better stuff. I have only used files and wet paper to get an arm shaving edge previously, but your video helped in gaining my confidence in trying the new toy. It will be a while before I try these tools on my good knives, but will definitely be using your teachings while practicing on my junk knives so I can get the feel. One question I do have is, once the angle is set on the grinder attachment, at what angle do you hold the object that is being sharpened?

[@michaelvisser6054]

Sorry, did't see that you explained this in the next video. Guess my comment was a bit premature. Great videos!

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

Thanks Michael! Hopefully these videos make using your KO Work Sharp easier.

[@willarmstrong6168]

👍

[@Troy-Echo]

I think you could have gotten a little better edge if you had opened up the wheel and allowed more flex in the belts to give you a little more convexed edge. Thanks for the video. This is one of the best videos I've seen showing the grinder attachment.

[@Troy-Echo]

After using this for several weeks, I'd have to say I really DO NOT like the default Ken Onion angle guide attachment, but I really like the grinding attachment. I've sharpened for 43 years on stones so I'm used to free-hand sharpening. The default guide leaves marks on the sides of your knives even if you keep it clean of debris. The only way to avoid that is to put something like blue painters tape (since it is designed to come off easily and is cheap) to protect the sides of the blade from being scratched. It's not harmful to the blade, but it ruins the aesthetics if you like having a mark-free finish. If you are sharpening someone else's blades, I'm sure they would not be happy about it. I've seen people complain about these marks on a guy that does professional sharpening locally, so I'm assuming he was using a guide like this, or this exact sharpening system. The default angle guide also seems to hollow out the belly of the knife. If you use a chefs knife (Gyuto - cow sword or beef sword as it is translated from Japanese) you'll find there is a spot near the finger guard area (if there is one on your knife) that wears away unevenly using the default belt resulting in a blade that no longer is able to rock/chop quickly. I ruined a cheap practice knife, repaired it, practiced more and ruined it again using the default angle guide. I fixed it again and used nothing but the Grinding Attachment and got better results and didn't have nearly the issue with the belly of the blade wallowing out. I still get better results on a stone, and just use the belt for stropping knives, and sharpening things like axes and mower blades. I'm still not sold on the convex edge being superior...it may give you a longer edge retention, but at a trade off for a sharper blade since it is essentially "rounding off" the blade edge. So now I use the part of the belt going straight up and down and the flat support platen behind it to give me more of a flat bevel. The edge retention is a little less, but I'll trade that for a sharper cutting edge, especially since I have the ability to quickly touch up the edge using the X-4 belt and polishing belt (3,000 and 12,000 grit equivalents).

[@ericbrown4295]

What size belts are those?

[@stuartfarish2435]

1 x 18 inches

[@JOMO_EDC]

2 videos in one day!

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

I was feeling ambitious that day lol. Not much time lately so I get in what I can lol. Thanks Jeremy 👊

[@jasonnealey8325]

Great job now you have a sharp head on the most dangerous hatchet on the market , mine failed just like all the reviews head came of during use . Colman hatchet is crap. I get it though for a demonstration it works fine .

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

You said it best. Great for this demonstration but that's about it.

[@peter-radiantpipes2800]

Watch out on that wheel screw. They have a tenancy to break if belt isn't on just right. wS sent a new one for free though. Great customer service.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

There customer service is top notch! My unit burnt out a month ago, one year after the warranty expired, and they replaced it anyway with no questions asked.

[@rodneypearson6986]

I think the Ken onion edition is the one I should've purchased.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

I highly recommend the Ken Onion edition. There's just so much you can do with it and it's less restrictive as the original.

[@ronmurphy2243]

I've used both. It does depend on what you want to do, but there's certainly nothing wrong with the original. The KO is more versatile though.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

I love the KO for the simple fact of having the grinding attachment. I haven't sharpened with the guides since I got the attachment.

[@ronmurphy2243]

@@BlueCollarSurvival Then you have what I think of as "the sharpening gene". I was born lacking that gene. 😄😄 I've been through sooo many YT vids and so many stones and pull throughs and everything else. The Worksharps work for me but I can't freehand anything. The Razor Sharp wheels can work OK too. Whatever works!

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

It helps that I've been an outdoorsman pretty much my whole life. I enjoy sharpening in all fashions, it's my zen time. Work Sharp really knocked it out of the park with the KO. Its quite simple and works fast.

[@Metalhead-4life]

All you did was reprofile the edge, not a microbevel. Does worksharp sell that green belt?

[@apumasterp]

Would of been nice to see how your using the guide or if you are using it.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

I should've probably showed that.

[@JohnWhite-Iowa-City]

I think you completely miss the point of setting the bevel if you are going to do it freehand. I have been sharpening chisels on a bench grinder for years freehand. Other than that it's a nice sharpener I have one.

[@Trashedvinylrescue]

You do a good job with the work sharp but I would screw up my blade

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

Nah you'd get it down David

[@ronmurphy2243]

If you use the guide you for sure won't.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

Yup. It's a fairly simple system to use.

[@ICheat_ILie_ISteal]

Just buy yourself a belt sander and some belts for less then $130 if yall going to free hand anyways.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

Could do that.

[@bubbapeppers4354]

Broken record here... recurves pretty please. 🤣

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

I wanted to keep you on suspense so I did recurves last lol

[@CALVINLNIKONT]

Not once did you show how to use the guide!!!

[@brianconley1732]

I’ve heard that it is a really nice thing to buy broke people like me one of these too!!!!! :)

[@andytraill]

Where the fuck do you get them?

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

You can order them a bunch of places online.

[@andytraill]

@@BlueCollarSurvival meaning the full agro abrasives (get linked for cash mate). I've never seen something eat metal like that.

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

@@andytraill here's the link for the sharpener www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjMkcj_4riEAxV2XEcBHTgdCm4YABAOGgJxdQ&ase=2&gclid=CjwKCAiAlcyuBhBnEiwAOGZ2S_9ZTy_1XHatiKXhyfx15uI20yUrPKLt_c-0ObB7IaE1sle5-WktexoCLwsQAvD_BwE&sph=&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESV-D2bp66NrDru7SM5XK-vl7TvDPw-MeDVQmbrGVruCxNiaSW8CpY6iJwjXP4bcOMZJ_-Qo2qtlZSmmVsxWefRWn9ILnQNSymNPAii0fpWLs3vlqEB6sR9A&sig=AOD64_0HkRlkZUZutzprPBqGQlYGSpxKCQ&ctype=5&q=&nis=6&ved=2ahUKEwiPicD_4riEAxVTmYkEHUO-CaAQwg8oAHoECAQQEQ&adurl= And this is the link for the grinding attachment www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjSqf_V47iEAxUrZ0cBHaqNBnAYABANGgJxdQ&ase=2&gclid=CjwKCAiAlcyuBhBnEiwAOGZ2S-QF_Z3Uk7cf6qr-XUsOU0BU1UnlzbIfRMxvJLmzj0yEVaLKy_pLDhoCDHkQAvD_BwE&sph=&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESV-D2LhVkCn9xujc-NKmLqiad9v-HfiBki0ZI4ke4c3OZk7TxaFQAWJrL8NI5XGQBj36nk6WZu5_9aB3W56O2dj1p8JKkeA7y32M6_C2LafFlO3y27Z8m1g&sig=AOD64_2xRLQxB6Uj0WZLnTgsfpaTmWxS-w&ctype=5&q=&nis=4&ved=2ahUKEwjg2_fV47iEAxVrv4kEHaBSDVMQwg8oAHoECAMQFA&adurl=

[@marksainz5498]

Piss poor edge

[@GG-ml3vr]

Lets see your edge🤣🤣🤣

[@CALVINLNIKONT]

The 35-degree bevel would be the sharpest and the 25-degree just narrows the blade. I don't think you know what you are doing!

[@BlueCollarSurvival]

Depends on the day.

[@abasin08]

Going from 35° to 25°, wouldn’t that be helpful w/ a convex edge?

[@CALVINLNIKONT]

@@abasin08 First of all, the 35-degree angle is an included angle, meaning that the angle is 17.5 degrees on both sides, so the total is 35 degrees. The Spyderco sharpener puts a straight, not convex angle on a blade. You first sharpen your blade with the 30-degree angle to narrow the blade and then you use the 40-degree angle to make the edge a broader, more durable edge. A narrow angle will result in a sharper, less durable edge. The ax that he is sharpening will have a 35-degree edge but a narrower 25-degree body. I say that a 35-degree edge is too narrow for an ax and that a 40 to 50-degree edge would be more durable for the heavy work that an ax is designed to perform. I like a convey edge on tools designed for heavier work because it is a more durable edge. My fine set of kitchen knives have a straight edge and sharpening them with a belt will put a convex edge on them and would destroy the designed straight edge. Use the right tool for the job. I have the complete Work Sharp system. I use steels and ceramics for the finer stuff. In the beginning, I didn't understand the difference between a belt (convex) grind and a straight edge with a back-bevel edge. I may not have even bought the Work Sharp system and just stayed with my sanding belts but life is a learning curve.