FIRE TOOL SHARPENING, PULASKI, AXE, MCLEOD, SHOVEL

PLEASE READ

EDIT: THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME IN THIS VIDEO TO SHOW "EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW". JUST A SHORT DEMO OF THE TOOL VISE WITH DISCUSSION OF ANGLES MAINLY.

FILES ARE SAFER WHEN EQUIPPED WITH A HANDLE AND A GUARD...LIKE A SHORT PIECE ON ONE INCH FIRE HOSE. i'M WEARING KEVLAR GLOVES.

MY ONLY SERIOUS CUT IN 45 YEARS OF FULL TIME AND VOLUNTEER TOOL SHARPENING WAS FROM A SHOVEL. "DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN". :ENDEDIT

Shows the use of a hand made vise used to sharpen fire tools.
This truck wheel hub mounted vise is patterned after a vise designed by a California wildland firefighter in the 1960's??? Most wildland (CDF/ CALFIRE) stations I was in had one or more of these.
One of my troops fashioned this vise out of what he had in the junk pile. Seems wobbly on the jeep garage floor but outside it sits solid. The stand is welded to a front hub from a truck or bus.
I've seen at least one of these vises set up to mount in a large bench vise. It sits a little high.

As I mention in the video, angles can be checked for McLeod and Fire Shovel with a tri-square. 45 degrees approximately. A flatter bevel is more prone to chipping. Both of these tools will cut light brush if kept sharp.

My tools look rough but they live outside 365 days of the year. Even if the engine is tucked in the barn, wind, rain and snow get in anyway.

We've had one small wildland fire already this year. Should be a interesting season.

Excuse the garbled ending please, I was afraid to lose it and saved it. Still learning editing (cropping/ slicing) with Youtube Studio.

Thanks to the encouragers.

#buckinexperience #pixeltoshare