Debate: Hand filing vs machine grinding for final edge finish?

I started out hand filing my axe heads to a mirror edge, and they cut great but took me 45 minutes each. Switched to a 2x72 belt grinder last month and now each one takes 10 minutes, but I'm wondering if the heat from grinding messes up the edge hardness. Does anyone have experience comparing the longevity of hand filed edges vs ground edges on working tools?

3 comments

3 Comments

lewis.brian3d ago

Grabbed a 2x72 myself last year and had the exact same worry. I run a really light touch and keep the belt moving fast so the metal never gets hot enough to discolor. I've got a couple of work axes I ground over 6 months ago and they hold an edge just as long as the hand filed ones I used to do. The trick is not letting the edge blue at all, if you see color you cooked it.

spencer_gonzalez13d ago

Dunking in water every pass keeps mine cool enough to touch.

brookeellis3d ago

Respectfully disagree, I've seen belts mess up edges even when they don't discolor.