Spikes

[Mick Dempsey]

Do it yourself, but very lightly with a flat file, and don’t shorten them as it alters the angle of attack, rendering them useless. 

[kram]

I had a short play with wide webbing straps, did not like it, unsure if thin webbing would be any better.

 

I like the idea of a mini ratchet strap, but the small ones would be too bulky. I have some ideas..

 

File works but unless you unmount the spike from the shank, which is in the way, its a pain. A file only cuts one way and the handle is on the side with no access.

I used p240 paper on a flat bit of steel, and a pair of fine diamond files.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 18:34 by kram

[Ledburyjosh]

20 hours ago, kram said:

How many of you get your spikes sharpened or do it yourself?

From what I've seen, rarely done as the 5+ pairs I used before were all quite blunt.

Blunt spikes are dangerous and hard work.

Sharpen them your self with a flat file on Buckinghams I just file two edges and remove the burr from the third edge.

[Joe Newton]

On 26/09/2025 at 05:35, Ledburyjosh said:

Blunt spikes are dangerous and hard work.

Sharpen them your self with a flat file on Buckinghams I just file two edges and remove the burr from the third edge.

My experience differs. I swapped to long gaffs a couple of years ago and they were too sharp. I'm not a stomper by any means but on soft timber i was having to wiggle and yank my gaffs out each step.

 

They're much nicer now they're a bit blunt.

[MattyF]

21 minutes ago, Joe Newton said:

My experience differs. I swapped to long gaffs a couple of years ago and they were too sharp. I'm not a stomper by any means but on soft timber i was having to wiggle and yank my gaffs out each step.

 

They're much nicer now they're a bit blunt.

Agree , I’ve never sharpened a set of spikes in my life… I’ve had people sharpen mine for me … with out asking I’ll add and I wasn’t best pleased! 

[Mesterh]

I tried to sharpen some distel gekos and made them 10 times worse!. I dont know what I did but it was terrible.

They just cut strips out of the tree and wouldnt stick in. A set of new gaffs sorted that little problem out.

 

 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

12 minutes ago, Mesterh said:

I tried to sharpen some distel gekos and made them 10 times worse!. I dont know what I did but it was terrible.

They just cut strips out of the tree and wouldnt stick in. A set of new gaffs sorted that little problem out.

 

 

 

You shortened them.

[Mesterh]

Maybe, it was a long time ago. I just filed the bottom edge flat IIRC. Whatever I did it was not good.

 

[kram]

Only the bottom should be filed, maintaining the curve, the triangular sides and spine should be left as they are.

 

 

1 hour ago, Mick Dempsey said:

You shortened them.

Short is not a problem you just need the correct shape. Only only the first 10mm -20mm goes into the wood., well dependjng on tree and how thick or rotten the bark is.

 

 

Mine are just right I think.

 

I saw a video some time back, the climber slipped and spiked the inside of his calf. Blunt or sharp, they will still easily go through chainsaw trousers and into a leg. Scares me that does.

Edited 27 minutes ago by kram