Axe restoration thread

[Good Feller]

Can't speak for others, but I do, solely out of necessity. I want to make my own, it's just that none of the hickories on my property are a problem, so I just let them continue to grow. There's a good bit of Ash, though, so I might try to save a straight log and cut stock with a chainsaw. I would buy hickory lumber, but the thickest I can find is 4/4, and it ain't cheap. 4/4 is probably enough to make it work, but I would rather have a little bit extra as margin for error, so 5/4 is what I'm looking for...

As to the limbwood, it might work, but the grain circumference is going to be very small compared to the a wider log, and it will be virtually impossible to get a piece with straight grain orientation for a striking handle. I could be wrong, that's just my take on it.

100% sapwood is ideal, but I remember reading somewhere that the U.S. Forest Service states in their service manuals that up to 50% heartwood is acceptable if not satisfactory, so long as the grain orientation is <45°; closer to 90° is ideal.

Was your ash attacked by those damn emerald ash borers?

 

[rarefish383]

If any one ever sees an ax with a Savage logo/name on it let me know. I collect pretty much all things Savage, Joe.

 

[Multifaceted]

That's a real interesting axe head.

Thanks, it's a vintage Hults Bruk 'Wira' pattern, traded for it with my buddy and collector in Sweden, had shipped over to me.

Was your ash attacked by those damn emerald ash borers?

Most of them, yes, seems like mostly the white ash. We still have some green ash living, for now, I suppose. The small one I cut down for the Axe Cordwood Challenge last week wasn't showing signs of borer damage, but it was dead or on borrowed time. The limbs still had new growth shoots that seemed green; however, it bared no leaves this past spring/summer. Today I got to chopping up the limbs, which showed signs of deadwood. Just about all of them had carpenter ant damage, hollowed out and I found dead ones and larvae as I split it up.

 

[Good Feller]

Thanks, it's a vintage Hults Bruk 'Wira' pattern, traded for it with my buddy and collector in Sweden, had shipped over to me.



Most of them, yes, seems like mostly the white ash. We still have some green ash living, for now, I suppose. The small one I cut down for the Axe Cordwood Challenge last week wasn't showing signs of borer damage, but it was dead or on borrowed time. The limbs still had new growth shoots that seemed green; however, it bared no leaves this past spring/summer. Today I got to chopping up the limbs, which showed signs of deadwood. Just about all of them had carpenter ant damage, hollowed out and I found dead ones and larvae as I split it up.

I've seen some of the older white growing new live shoots. I've taken a lot of the dead ones down for people in the last couple of years. The carpenter ants have been wreaking havoc on our red and black oaks. I'd like to see the ash make a come back. I'm a little torn because on one hand I'm like look at all that firewood and on the other it sucks to see all the dead ash trees.

 

[Multifaceted]

I've seen some of the older white growing new live shoots. I've taken a lot of the dead ones down for people in the last couple of years. The carpenter ants have been wreaking havoc on our red and black oaks. I'd like to see the ash make a come back. I'm a little torn because on one hand I'm like look at all that firewood and on the other it sucks to see all the dead ash trees.

Yeah, I had a pretty large red oak come down due to severe carpenter ant damage. The tree was a death trap, probably 100' and another 28-30' at it's base. I would like to see the Ash come back too, but from what I hear from the Forest Service and other tree guys, they say the day of reconning has already happened... Now it's just a matter of time. Some species of Ash seem more resilient, but eventually they take them. It's a shame, I agree. It's a great wood all around, they grow fast as far as other hardwoods go, great firewood, lumber for tool handles, lutiers love them for acoustic instruments...

 

[Good Feller]

Yeah, I had a pretty large red oak come down due to severe carpenter ant damage. The tree was a death trap, probably 100' and another 28-30' at it's base. I would like to see the Ash come back too, but from what I hear from the Forest Service and other tree guys, they say the day of reconning has already happened... Now it's just a matter of time. Some species of Ash seem more resilient, but eventually they take them. It's a shame, I agree. It's a great wood all around, they grow fast as far as other hardwoods go, great firewood, lumber for tool handles, lutiers love them for acoustic instruments...

Aside from the mountains of ash produced when burning, it is a great firewood. I think baseball bats are, or were made from ash also. Someone told me we have some kind of beetle like the borer heading towards Michigan that attacks maple. Have you heard anything about that?

 

[Lowhog]

Aside from the mountains of ash produced when burning, it is a great firewood. I think baseball bats are, or were made from ash also. Someone told me we have some kind of beetle like the borer heading towards Michigan that attacks maple. Have you heard anything about that?[/QUOTI

Aside from the mountains of ash produced when burning, it is a great firewood. I think baseball bats are, or were made from ash also. Someone told me we have some kind of beetle like the borer heading towards Michigan that attacks maple. Have you heard anything about that?

I lost American elm on the farm but they keep bouncing back. Alot of young trees poping out of the ground. I hope that ash beetle never makes it this far.

 

[kevin j]

has anyone used any of these methods for metal patina or darkening? I have used all on carbon steel mora knives and other similar type projects and they’ve all worked well.
1. Walnut husk’s the outer sticky part. That’s only available seasonal.
2. mustard (which contains vinegar)
3. vinegar
4. boiling with assorted tree barks in water on outdoor camp stove. That’s an old method for darkening traps which I did last fall but I’ve never tried it with a knife or an axe.

 

[Multifaceted]

has anyone used any of these methods for metal patina or darkening? I have used all on carbon steel mora knives and other similar type projects and they’ve all worked well.
1. Walnut husk’s the outer sticky part. That’s only available seasonal.
2. mustard (which contains vinegar)
3. vinegar
4. boiling with assorted tree barks in water on outdoor camp stove. That’s an old method for darkening traps which I did last fall but I’ve never tried it with a knife or an axe.

I've done mustard and vinegar with lackluster results (only on axe heads). I have heard about using tea to stain the steel, never tried it though... perhaps I will.

Personal bias, but I like the look and durability of the rust blued forced patina.

 

[Good Feller]

has anyone used any of these methods for metal patina or darkening? I have used all on carbon steel mora knives and other similar type projects and they’ve all worked well.
1. Walnut husk’s the outer sticky part. That’s only available seasonal.
2. mustard (which contains vinegar)
3. vinegar
4. boiling with assorted tree barks in water on outdoor camp stove. That’s an old method for darkening traps which I did last fall but I’ve never tried it with a knife or an axe.

I just recently heard of the walnut husk patina. I've never tried it, but as a kid we used to collect walnuts and run them over with the cars. And I can say with the utmost certainty that they will stain anything and everything! Also I heard this practice leaves a yellow coloring in your patina.

 

[LondonNeil]

Buckin' Billy does a video trying tea, result looks very good

 

[rarefish383]

I've had green Walnuts leave my hands quite yellow. I used to fill a bucket full of Hickory husks to use for smoking meat. After a day the water was so black, and the Hickory smell was so strong, any chance that would stain the metal? I did a search of tannic acid coloring metal and there was a lot of stuff there, I would imagine it's the tannic acid in the tea.

Now that this good reading weather is almost over, any recommended books on axes? I was trying to find info on my American Beauty, and found the American Beauty Rose symbol was registered to the American Hardware co. in 1914, in Pittsburgh. Mine came from California PA, which is close to Pittsburgh. The one I have is the only one I've ever seen, but maybe I wasn't looking very hard, Joe

 

[dancan]

Logwood trap dye works very well to get metal black , better than tea but tea works .

 

[svk]

Vinegar will turn the head grey and the tempered cutting edge will be black. Needs to be hit with oil as soon as it comes out of the bath though or it rusts immediately.

 

[svk]

Yeah, I had a pretty large red oak come down due to severe carpenter ant damage. The tree was a death trap, probably 100' and another 28-30' at it's base. I would like to see the Ash come back too, but from what I hear from the Forest Service and other tree guys, they say the day of reconning has already happened... Now it's just a matter of time. Some species of Ash seem more resilient, but eventually they take them. It's a shame, I agree. It's a great wood all around, they grow fast as far as other hardwoods go, great firewood, lumber for tool handles, lutiers love them for acoustic instruments...

I might be wrong but I always understood that ants only removed material from trees that was already dead.

 

[Good Feller]

I might be wrong but I always understood that ants only removed material from trees that was already dead.

I'm not an expert but I helped to clean up some down trees at one of our campgrounds. They were all live, red oaks with extensive damage from ant colonies. Perhaps you're thinking termites? I don't mean to offend anyone.

 

[Multifaceted]

I might be wrong but I always understood that ants only removed material from trees that was already dead.

I honestly do not know, but the red oak I mentioned was still alive, though it was showing signs of severe die-back. Almost the entire base from the stump up to about 4.5' was one huge active nest. It was surprise, we decided to drop it because it was obviously dying, had no idea about the ant nest. They sure looked like ants, like what I've always seen as a carpenter ant. I remember it vividly as I spent about 35 minutes with insecticide spraying them because they were trying to move the nest. I can show you the stump and some of the damaged wood that I threw in the junk pile if you want to see.

 

[Multifaceted]

Aside from the mountains of ash produced when burning, it is a great firewood. I think baseball bats are, or were made from ash also. Someone told me we have some kind of beetle like the borer heading towards Michigan that attacks maple. Have you heard anything about that?

No, haven't heard of it, only really familiar with what's local. Around here it's mainly carpenter ants, emerald ash borer, and Japanese beetles which defoliate Sassafras trees as well as people's gardens.

 

[Good Feller]

No, haven't heard of it, only really familiar with what's local. Around here it's mainly carpenter ants, emerald ash borer, and Japanese beetles which defoliate Sassafras trees as well as people's gardens.

I'm familiar with those three for sure. I just had a lady ask me if I heard anything about a maple borer. I really hope there isn't such an invasive species. That'd be detrimental.

 

[svk]

I honestly do not know, but the red oak I mentioned was still alive, though it was showing signs of severe die-back. Almost the entire base from the stump up to about 4.5' was one huge active nest. It was surprise, we decided to drop it because it was obviously dying, had no idea about the ant nest. They sure looked like ants, like what I've always seen as a carpenter ant. I remember it vividly as I spent about 35 minutes with insecticide spraying them because they were trying to move the nest. I can show you the stump and some of the damaged wood that I threw in the junk pile if you want to see.

Oops I miss typed. I meant to say they only remove the dead material from trees. I.e. they find a tree that has core rot (and an entry point to the core) then they remove the dead material to make their nest.