Axe restoration thread

[svk]

Got the Truper cleaned up as well.

Does this head look upside down or has anyone seen a head with a high point like this? It's definitely straight from the factory.

 

[dancan]

Looks upside-down , even the writing

 

[svk]

Looks upside-down , even the writing

Good catch!

 

[svk]

And it's a Craftsman head on a Truper handle. Must have seen a previous life before it arrived at my friend's cabin.

 

[rarefish383]

Factory error. Used to get big money for base ball cards with factory errors. Then they started to spit out error cards faster than they could print them.

Heading up to the farm in a couple hours. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a couple of nice doubles, Joe.

 

[DSW]

I don't use an axe much and I'm not a collector type.

But I could use a good wedge pounder. Perfect size, some curve to the handle. Big enough to two hand, small enough to one hand.

 

[lead farmer]

I don't use an axe much and I'm not a collector type.

But I could use a good wedge pounder. Perfect size, some curve to the handle. Big enough to two hand, small enough to one hand.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[DSW]

That's a beaut. I like quite a bit more curve on the handle. Stihl, whoever makes Stihl, has one that's perfect but I prefer vintage until it stops making sense.

 

[rarefish383]

Well Doug on Forged in Fire, would say my Fiskars "Will Cut". I was splitting up a big Oak on the hill in my back yard. I was spitting one round, then throwing the splits on the trailer. I set the Fiskars down and started tossing splits in. I felt a little "bump" on my ankle, looked down, and the ax was stuck in my ankle. Little cut about an inch long. Looked like a surgeon sliced it open. I was wearing my crocks and a pair of short running socks, the ax slid down the hill and stopped at my foot.. I went out to finish up today and put on heavy socks and my hiking boots. You can yell at me now, but at 96 degrees, I'm still not putting on the chaps, Joe.

 

[rarefish383]

Oh, I found an old Plumb single in my shed. Pretty bad shape, edge rusted, just the head. I might try to polish it, haven't decided yet, Joe.

 

[BusyBeaver]

I am putting a handle into a Kelly jersey style axehead that was abused as a wedge. The eye is buckled and swollen. What is the best way to fill the eye with the handle? Wooden wedge? Metal wedge? Epoxy, Bondo, linseed oil?
I've seen pictures of perfectly filled eyes (several posts back) and would love to make mine that good. Should I soak the handle in linseed oil before installation or after installation?
I did find an oversize handle with plenty of meat.
Thanks,
BB

 

[rarefish383]

I think if I wanted to try something like that for the first time, I'd get a role of the tape welders use to isolate heat. Looks like asbestos. Wrap the cutting edge about half way up, take a torch and heat it up cherry red around the hole and tap it back in shape. But, I don't know what I'm doing and if that would ruin any heat treating. That's just what I would try, Joe.

 

[dancan]

I've not dealt with a deformed ax eye yet but if I had to I'd polly just heat the head cherry red , beat it straight and then figure out how to temper it .
It's no good now so go for it.

 

[olyman]

I am putting a handle into a Kelly jersey style axehead that was abused as a wedge. The eye is buckled and swollen. What is the best way to fill the eye with the handle? Wooden wedge? Metal wedge? Epoxy, Bondo, linseed oil?
I've seen pictures of perfectly filled eyes (several posts back) and would love to make mine that good. Should I soak the handle in linseed oil before installation or after installation?
I did find an oversize handle with plenty of meat.
Thanks,
BB

do what joe and dancan said,, heat up..and pound back into place. heating both sides,,and alternately pound on the sides.... it aint like your going to use it for taking down trees.......

 

[ray benson]

Need to put a handle on this Bell System B hatchet head. The edge is dulled from the factory. Not sure if I should sharpen it? Got it as my late FIL worked for AT&T and started as a lineman sometime in the 1950's.

 

[svk]

Need to put a handle on this Bell System B hatchet head. The edge is dulled from the factory. Not sure if I should sharpen it? Got it as my late FIL worked for AT&T and started as a lineman sometime in the 1950's.View attachment 593676

Looks great. Those are sharpened in a different manner/angle so may want to get tips from someone in the know.

 

[rarefish383]

Cool hatchet. What's the square lug for? I was trying to remember if the screw in steps on the poles were square on the end? My Uncle worked for AT&T for 40 years, I think he did installations, Joe.

 

[ray benson]

Read the poles had square headed bolts and nuts that could be tightened with the square hole in hatchet. Wondered if they sharpened the thick dull edge or they left it dull?

 

[Marine5068]

Need to put a handle on this Bell System B hatchet head. The edge is dulled from the factory. Not sure if I should sharpen it? Got it as my late FIL worked for AT&T and started as a lineman sometime in the 1950's.View attachment 593676

I was thinking that too. The square climbing pegs and the nuts on through bolts would be able to be tightened with the square hole in the hatchet.

 

[Mad Professor]

Hello Everyone.

I need some new working single bit axes. I keep my eye out at tag sales and farm auctions.

What I need a a couple of LARGE traditional single bit splitting heads, and a smaller one for driving wedges while felling trees. They DO NOT have to be pretty, but good steel and restorable. Nothing thrown in the fireplace to clean the remnants of the handle. Just some good American or European steel.

PM me if you have some.

Thanks, MP