Sharpenng gaffs on spurs

[targe14]

Just need to get a little advice on sharpening my climbing spurs does anyone know of a site that gives good instructions on how to go about it

Thanks~

 

[Treetom]

I think you're there.

Tage14, Here's a link to the kits for sharpening. Really not much to it. (the kit) I have the Klein version. The gaff gauge is probably the only item you don't have in your shop.

http://www.terratech.net/product.asp?specific=jremgrl8

 

[2FatGuys]

Wesspur has gaff sharpening kits for Buckingham and Klein gaffs.

See: http://www.wesspur.com/Spurs/replacement_spur_gaffs.html#sharp

Hope that helps.

 

[BostonBull]

Just sharpen the bottoms, NEVER the tops!

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Maintain the factory angle, too steep can cause you to shave out vs. dig in.

I know guys who have 2 sets, hardwoods sharper for better penetration, Joey C. has his very pointy. The ones with a wider point for softwoods.

WHat I usually do before going up very hard wood, eg hickory, is give the points a few strokes with a mill file

 

[2FatGuys]

since I am an "over 250" guy, I prefer to NOT sharpen my gaffs much at all. I hate having to pull them back out when they dig in too deep!

 

[Magnum783]

since I am an "over 250" guy, I prefer to NOT sharpen my gaffs much at all. I hate having to pull them back out when they dig in too deep!

I hear that. Also we out here in NC tend to climb softer trees. Lot of the pines and river birches we climb are really soft.
Jared

 

[Aaction]

Draw file them from the underneath, never the top, then use a stone to hone out the file marks, which are a weakness. EG, to break a piece of steel pipe or re bar, you only have to mark it to break it at the scratch.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

since I am an "over 250" guy, I prefer to NOT sharpen my gaffs much at all. I hate having to pull them back out when they dig in too deep!

I'm well over 250 with my gear on and maintain my gaffs. Just make a wider point, but keep it sharp. Dull point will make you work harder.

I know what you mean with soft or rotten wood, but what if you go from pine to oak and cannot gaff in well? That is not a safe condition.

 

[2FatGuys]

Here in NC, I don't have any problems with oak or hickory. My gaffs seem to be digging in just fine. I maintain the gaffs (no walking on concrete or asphalt). I sharpen them SOME, to knock off any burred or overly dull areas. I just don't like them too sharp. My only problem with my gaffs is if I need to climb a well seasoned telephone pole to drop phone or cable lines when they're not avoidable (painful story associated with it).

 

[beowulf343]

since I am an "over 250" guy, I prefer to NOT sharpen my gaffs much at all. I hate having to pull them back out when they dig in too deep!

I'm with JPS on this one-i'll touch up my gaffs every morning. Usually nothing more than a quick stroke or two, but i hate dull gaffs. Would rather have a hard time yanking gaffs out of a tree, than have a hard time setting gaffs into a tree. Gotta learn to climb softly.

My only problem with my gaffs is if I need to climb a well seasoned telephone pole to drop phone or cable lines when they're not avoidable (painful story associated with it).

Keep a pair of pole spikes in the truck. Makes climbing poles alot easier. Always surprises me that guys only carry one type of spikes with them. (No, i'm not talking about brands, but about gaffs.) Usually carry three different sets of spikes-makes different types of trees in different types of weather easier to climb.

 

[tree md]

Being 220, I like to keep mine somewhat dull as well. I just make sure I kick them in good and set them well in harder wood. Never did like having to pull sharp spikes out of the spar when I climb. Might have something to do with the fact that I stuck a gaff clean through my big toe several years back when I was swinging from one tree to another.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Might have something to do with the fact that I stuck a gaff clean through my big toe several years back when I was swinging from one tree to another.

When in the USMC I climbed a pole in a motor pool that was loaded with nails. Gaff went off a nail and right into my ankle.

25 years and there is still a bit of a scar there.

 

[tree md]

It only takes 1 incident like that to make a guy pay attention to where he puts his spikes. I still think about that incident every time I swing. :yoyo:

 

[2FatGuys]

My "incident" was due to having to pull the gaffs out of a tree where they sank in too deep. "Yanking" the gaff out of the tree set my leg into a swinging motion that ended with my right gaff entering the back of my left heel, missing the Achilles tendon by les than a quarter inch. I learned then that keeping the gaffs too sharp was not a good thing. I keep the burrs off of them, but being over 250, my gaffs are able to set themselves most of the time.

 

[Davey Dog]

I keep two sets as well. I use pole gaffs on hard wood like oak, eucalyptus, madrone.... I use tree gaffs on soft wood like pine, red woods, willows. I keep my longer gaffs very sharp, touching them up every time I wear them. I touch my shortys up once a week or so. I agree with the climb softly remark made earlier. I also weigh in at 240 lbs. I dont have any problems at all. To touch them up, you just need a few directed strokes on the bottom of the spur shank. I dont ever sharpen the tops of mine.

On a side note, (( This is just my own opinion... ))