I found this today at a local antique shop for $22.50. I thought it was unmarked at first and I'm sure the seller did too. I did pass on a nice Winchester double bit that was priced at $60.00. I'm not sure how I should go about cleaning this one up.
Axe restoration thread
- Thread starter svk
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
I found this today at a local antique shop for $22.50. I thought it was unmarked at first and I'm sure the seller did too. I did pass on a nice Winchester double bit that was priced at $60.00. I'm not sure how I should go about cleaning this one up.
lead farmer
ArboristSite Operative
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2014
- Messages
- 481
- Reaction score
- 1,177
I use a cup brush on a 4in grinder. It takes all the loose rust off an let's the dark metal show.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
Nice looking double! Western or Penn pattern from the looks, good brand and good steel, should take and hold and edge well.
+1 on the wire cup brush, so long as there isn't a lot of pitting, the natural dark patina can be left intact. The wire cup brush (I use it on a corded drill) takes the rust off without being too aggressive and removing the patina. If left rubbing long enough, though - it will, so use some finesse. If you don't already have a set, get some soft jaws for your bench vise, they come in real handy. Good luck and don't forget to post your results!
+1 on the wire cup brush, so long as there isn't a lot of pitting, the natural dark patina can be left intact. The wire cup brush (I use it on a corded drill) takes the rust off without being too aggressive and removing the patina. If left rubbing long enough, though - it will, so use some finesse. If you don't already have a set, get some soft jaws for your bench vise, they come in real handy. Good luck and don't forget to post your results!
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
We should meet up soon, you and @lead farmer are both so close by. Haven't brewed in months, but eeked out two batches early on Sunday morning. Did two because not sure when I'l have a chance to again anytime soon. I think you posted those doubles before, they look familiar - and they are very easy om the eyes. Are they still in working order? I see so much potential, ha ha. Let me know if you want one to be a 'Multifaceted Special'' for ya - restoring tools is one of my late night cathartic releases, helps keep me occupied while decompressing from stress. I've got my eye on that Plumb, I can see it now
Actually all 4 of these are the original wood, the gray rat is pretty weak and I think it's a Plumb, the far right I think is an old Craftsman and it's solid, Joe
lead farmer
ArboristSite Operative
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2014
- Messages
- 481
- Reaction score
- 1,177
I thought you done forgot about me buddy [emoji38]We should meet up soon, you and @lead farmer are both so close by. Haven't brewed in months, but eeked out two batches early on Sunday morning. Did two because not sure when I'l have a chance to again anytime soon. I think you posted those doubles before, they look familiar - and they are very easy om the eyes. Are they still in working order? I see so much potential, ha ha. Let me know if you want one to be a 'Multifaceted Special'' for ya - restoring tools is one of my late night cathartic releases, helps keep me occupied while decompressing from stress. I've got my eye on that Plumb, I can see it now
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
Of course not! Just knocking the dust off of these wings. Need to spread out more, don't get out much
lead farmer
ArboristSite Operative
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2014
- Messages
- 481
- Reaction score
- 1,177
Would you be interested in puttin a handle in a oldie I found ?
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
Sure! But why? I've seen your work, and it's good.
So, is it that old Mann?
So, is it that old Mann?
lead farmer
ArboristSite Operative
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2014
- Messages
- 481
- Reaction score
- 1,177
Yep the ole Mann. Just like to own other people's handy work [emoji38]
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
I have posted those before, maybe when this thread started. I used to throw the gray handle when I was a kid, it was really nice then. I stuck it in a corner of my Dad's barn for about 30 years. I found it again when he moved, couldn't believe how much it deteriorated. Dirt floor. I had a 37 Cord 810 stored in there and when my parents moved I put it up for sale. The dirt floor did a number on the floorboards, rockers, and lower fenders on it too. They never looked wet but I guess a lot of ground moisture still came up through the dirt, Joe.We should meet up soon, you and @lead farmer are both so close by. Haven't brewed in months, but eeked out two batches early on Sunday morning. Did two because not sure when I'l have a chance to again anytime soon. I think you posted those doubles before, they look familiar - and they are very easy om the eyes. Are they still in working order? I see so much potential, ha ha. Let me know if you want one to be a 'Multifaceted Special'' for ya - restoring tools is one of my late night cathartic releases, helps keep me occupied while decompressing from stress. I've got my eye on that Plumb, I can see it now
A shame about the Cord.Really, a car kept on grass or dirt will go to hell fast if left there for very long.
I went out in the garage and checked to see if my doubles were OK in this cold. Turns out the gray handled one is not my Plumb, it's temporarily MIA, probably in the shed. The gray handle is a True Temper Kelly Perfect 3 1/2. If I'm gonna mess with these old doubles I need to get a belt sander like on Forged In Fire. I grabbed the file I use on my rakers and it just skated across the steel. Made a nice little ringing noise. I think the old American Beauty is the sharpest on I have now so I'm heading out back to make a little Gum tree disapear, Joe.
Most folks now a days don't know what a Cord is. This one had been street rodded back in the 50's. The nose had a 48 Lincoln hood grafted on the end, and the fender tips grafted over the hide away head lights. Still had the coffin nose hood underneath, and the hand cranks for the headlights inside. The Lycoming V8, and front wheel drive was gone. It had an Olds Rocket V8 with 6 Strohmbergs, 4 speed auto and a Columbia 2 speed rear out of the Lincoln. I actually met a couple guys that remembered the car doing the show circuit in the 50's and 60's. It was titled as a 52 Cord-O-Matic on a home built title. I remember the guy that built it, his name was Wentz out of Baltimore, Md, Joe.
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
@Lowhog - nice hanging job - top wedge looks tight and seems as if you picked a haft with nice straight grain! Looks like a House Handle, good hafts... most of the time... Make sure you give that top wedge a generous and repeated coating of BLO. You don't have to let dry and wipe away, 30 minutes will go by and that end grain just soaks it right up. Keep adding to it until it won't take it up any more. It'll swell that wood so tight that the head won't budge at all.
One last thing, and this is just me being picky, but I'd probably trim that wood on top so it's 1/8"-3/16" proud. Sitting tall like that is fine until you start swinging it. If you make a glancing swipe or use it to split, that wood is going to shear off and eventually (potentially) split the end grain. Cutting it flush is the best protection against that, but I feel that keeping about and 1/8-3/16 above and swelling the wood with drying oil just locks that head on there and it'll be on for a very long time.
Overall, it looks great.I have a very similar Craftsman single bit 3.75 lb to hang, probably will be my next project.
One last thing, and this is just me being picky, but I'd probably trim that wood on top so it's 1/8"-3/16" proud. Sitting tall like that is fine until you start swinging it. If you make a glancing swipe or use it to split, that wood is going to shear off and eventually (potentially) split the end grain. Cutting it flush is the best protection against that, but I feel that keeping about and 1/8-3/16 above and swelling the wood with drying oil just locks that head on there and it'll be on for a very long time.
Overall, it looks great.I have a very similar Craftsman single bit 3.75 lb to hang, probably will be my next project.
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
If you give me liberty on envisioning the end result, I'll take it on, for sure! Heck, I might just happen to have a spare leather double bit sheath lying around that feels so empty and neglected....
Put it near your stove to get it ultra dry.
Perma blue? Is that gun blue? For the head? Is it durable?
Similar threads
- Sticky
