Quote Originally Posted by ForestryProf View Post
I sharpen a lot of shovels, axes, chainsaws...etc. Use a flat bastard file--single or double cut. Put a fairly steep bevel on it...I usually shoot for 45 degree.
I second this. I grew up on a small farm and sharpened an awful lot of hoes and machetes and axes in my youth. Clamp it down or put it in a horizontal bench vise, and hold the ends of the file in your hands and run the file down the length of the blade - the angled teeth in the file do the cutting and you get a consistent, smooth, wickedly sharp edge all the way down. Wear gloves when you do this, or you could lose a finger if your grip slips. Or keep the superglue handy. I never did remember the gloves, so I went through a lot of superglue...