Axe restoration thread

[svk]

No i copy pasted the image off his website,i do want one of his axes,not sure which one yet ,i am thinking a double bit of some kind though.

How much does he get for an axe these days?

 

[Trx250r180]

How much does he get for an axe these days?

I am not sure ,i think 150 on up though because of the hours he puts into them.

 

[Preacher Mike]

Here's the first three finally done. I think the two refurbs turned out pretty well especially considering the middle handle started off with two colors of paint.
View attachment 627539

Hudson Bay after sanding. My little guy did 95 percent of the sanding, I just needed to clean up around the ends.
View attachment 627540

First coat
View attachment 627541

Beautiful work!!

 

[svk]

I am not sure ,i think 150 on up though because of the hours he puts into them.

That's not bad at all.

 

[rarefish383]

When did the practice of leaving a piece of handle stick above the eye come about. I had never seen a factory ax like that, and all of the old literature on hanging handles show cutting the handle flush with the eye. I can see where it might help get a tighter fit. But all of my old axes are flush. If this posts, it was my favorite tutorial, Joe.
https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm99232823/page03.htm

 

[svk]

I first saw Billy Ray do it but have seen it elsewhere as well since I started paying attention to axes.

 

[rarefish383]

Thanks Steve, that's kind of where I first saw it, like it's a youtube invention.

 

[svk]

Clarence knew about it before joining the site, hopefully he'll be along soon to comment.

 

[rarefish383]

Up date on the super rusty Plumb. I don't remember where this little ax came from. I may have found it metal detecting. I don't remember Dad ever having small axes around. Anyway, it's a shame this thing got left out for years, the poll is almost perfectly square, hardly a ding on it. I certainly did not intend to polish this thing, but it looks like that's where we are headed. It may wind up shiny, but I plan on browning this one too. I also just ordered a bunch of engraving tools and I'm going to try and high light the logo. After I brown it, I'm going to fill the logo in with white, and see how it stands out. Before and now, with a long way to go, Joe.

 

[Lowhog]

I have 3 wettelings that are proud above the eye from the factory. And I mean a bunch.

 

[svk]

Up date on the super rusty Plumb. I don't remember where this little ax came from. I may have found it metal detecting. I don't remember Dad ever having small axes around. Anyway, it's a shame this thing got left out for years, the poll is almost perfectly square, hardly a ding on it. I certainly did not intend to polish this thing, but it looks like that's where we are headed. It may wind up shiny, but I plan on browning this one too. I also just ordered a bunch of engraving tools and I'm going to try and high light the logo. After I brown it, I'm going to fill the logo in with white, and see how it stands out. Before and now, with a long way to go, Joe.

Youvve done zome eggggsalent verk there Doctor!!!

 

[rarefish383]

I'm getting a new compressor this week end and I'm running hard lines to my basement and patio behind the garage, so I can run air tools inside where it's warm, dry, and somewhat quiet. Right now all I'm using is the Dremel and a flat file. I've got a bench grinder in the basement, but I'm afraid of taking too much off with it, Joe.

 

[dancan]

When did the practice of leaving a piece of handle stick above the eye come about. I had never seen a factory ax like that, and all of the old literature on hanging handles show cutting the handle flush with the eye. I can see where it might help get a tighter fit. But all of my old axes are flush. If this posts, it was my favorite tutorial, Joe.
https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm99232823/page03.htm

I've seen it on the Scandi axes for a while now ,and have been doing it for several years , personally I prefer it , the wedge , if done right will flare the wood more than the eye and it will soak linseed oil better than a compressed grain .
I only set around an 1/8" or hair prouder then bevel the very edge of that for neatness .
It's my personal preference but just like I don't like a shiny axe or the burn't handle look it doesn't mean one or the other is better or worse .
Set it , stain it , burn it , shine it , darken it , scandi edge it , banana cheek it , straight , curved , octagon it ,,, It's yours , do it the way you want , just do it right .

 

[rarefish383]

Daily update. Didn't know this would be so much fun. I've thrown away axes in better shape thinking they were beyon hope. Never again, Joe.

 

[svk]

Wow even the stamp survived. Nice!

 

[LondonNeil]

wow. is that just vinegar?

 

[svk]

I think he had a wire wheel?

 

[rarefish383]

Neil, I never used vinegar. To derust it I used Evapo-Rust, and it worked well. Then I used a Dremel tool with a heavy sanding disc and it was working, but slow. Today I got a couple belts for my 3 inch belt sander and it's working much better. I put about 3 hours in it today. If I put a couple hours a day in it I might finish this weekend. When I get all the pits out I'll switch from 60 grit to 220 and I think it will be like a mirror. Then I'm going to "Brown" it and fill the logo with white. I ground a little over an ounce of steel off it today, Joe

 

[rarefish383]

Wow even the stamp survived. Nice!

Steve, I'm getting a set of engraving "Line Gravers" to chase the lines and letters. Just to make them a little deeper. On this pattern it will be easy. On the "Genuine Plumb" pattern it will take more skill than I have.

 

[Trx250r180]

I was watching a guy grinding on a rusty chunk of angle iron when i was young ,i said why don't you use the new piece ,his reply was "There is beautiful metal hiding under that rust son "