Keeping ice screws, crampons, and tools sharp is one of those jobs everyone knows they should do—but usually puts off until the night before a trip. This simple sharpening vice solves that problem. By holding your hardware securely and consistently, it turns a fussy, awkward task into something fast, repeatable, and almost automatic. When sharpening takes less time and less setup, you’re far more likely to actually do it—meaning better placements, less fighting dull steel, and a safer, more efficient season on ice. Build it once, use it all winter, and stay sharp out there.
Kyle Willis
High Mountain Gear
Tools & Materials Needed
-
Circular saw
Drill / driver
4 × 2.5" wood screws
1 × 3–4" wood screw
32" 2×4 board
Pencil
Tape measure
5–6" C-clamp (or equivalent)
Instructions
1. Layout-Layout the 32" 2×4 as shown in the diagram (not to scale).
The cross-hatched lines on the left indicate where the ice screw slots will be cut.
Do not cross-cut the pieces before cutting the screw slots.
2. Cut the Ice Screw Slots
Secure the work.
Set the saw to 45° and depth to about 1".
Make four cuts total, positioned 3/8" away from the cross-hatched lines on each side.
Important: Undercut rather than overcut.
If you go too far, the slots will be too large and won’t hold screws properly.
3. Cross-Cut the Blocks-Cross-cut along the main layout lines to create: Two 4" blocks and Two 12" blocks
4. Install the Main Block-In the main block with no screw slot cuts, install two 2.5" wood screws. Different heights about 4" apart. Screw into a solid table, wall stud, or railing. This spacing resists twisting while filing.
(Not shown: drill two additional 2.5" screws through the 4" hinge block at opposite corners into the main block.)
5. Install the Hinge Screw- Drill one 3–4" screw into the center of the hinge block.
Leave it slightly loose so ice screws, crampons, or tools can be added and removed easily.
Final tension is adjusted with the drill when setting your first screw.
6. Set the Work-Insert an ice screw and tension it correctly.
When set properly, you should be able to spin the screw with some effort, which speeds up repositioning while filing.
7. Clamp Placement-Use a clamp underneath the setup so it stays out of the way of the file and cutting surfaces.
8. Ice Tool Sharpening-(Not Shown)
When sharpening an ice tool:
Wrap a T-shirt around the shaft
Clamp the shaft securely
Leave the pick sticking straight up
If you like, send us photos/videos of yours in use! Let us know if you have any other questions — stay sharp out there!
Kyle Willis
High Mountain Gear