Axe restoration thread

[Talus]

In the shop with the BFG [Big Friendly Grinder], a 300-lb behemoth that runs a 2 HP motor through a gear box onto a shaft with 2 contour wheels:

 

[Talus]

Traded this mallet for some wood left over from the slab mill trade, Mesquite, walnut, maple.

 

[svk]

Welcome Jeff! Beautiful work!

 

[Talus]

Wife found this head buried in a wash near a century-old mining claim in the Tonto NF. Knife is local Ironwood.

 

[Multifaceted]

@Jeff Page — those look amazing. Personally, I'm not big on high polished steel heads, but they contrast great with the rich wood finish. By the way, 'SAW' is Wetterlings, they're pretty high end axes, and recently became collector's items due to production ceasing.

 

[Talus]

Welcome Jeff! Beautiful work!

Thank you!

 

[Talus]

Yes, but Wetterlings takes longer to type

The more axes I restored, the less I polished as well. Working on a couple that I'll photo soon with minimal polish.

 

[lead farmer]

Not sure if I can post pics any more with all these professionals in here [emoji38]

Dang, that's some pretty stuff....

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[svk]

This pales into comparison to what is further up the page but I got the boys axe hung and one coat of BLO rubbed in.

 

[svk]

This handle was a House Handle Co purchased from the local hardware store. I had to dig through about ten of them to find one with acceptable grain. One thing I'll say is they leave a lot of extra material below the head and that area is often milled crooked as well. With what I've seen from the hardware store, I doubt I'd order directly from them even with the option to have a hand picked handle.

 

[dancan]

Jeff , welcome aboard !
Nice bunch of work you put up , while I'm not into shine I have to admit , beautiful work to be proud of !!!
Steve , I have to agree about them House handles , I'm not impressed with what I've seen , VB Swinger [at least the ones I've seen] are much nicer .

 

[Multifaceted]

Yes, but Wetterlings takes longer to type

The more axes I restored, the less I polished as well. Working on a couple that I'll photo soon with minimal polish.

Got ya, just making sure I'd charge a few extra coin for that one, that steel is top notch quality.

 

[Multifaceted]

In the shop with the BFG [Big Friendly Grinder], a 300-lb behemoth that runs a 2 HP motor through a gear box onto a shaft with 2 contour wheels:

View attachment 632383 View attachment 632384

Very nice! I thought the 'F' stood for something else, ha ha...

I'm hoping to purchase a nice 2x72 VFD belt grinder for shaping and stock removal in the near future. Blacksmithing is a short term goal of mine

 

[abbott295]

Jeff Page, those are some pretty axes. I am wondering on those that have such pretty wood, if you concern yourself with grain orientation, or do you figure they won't be used for much chopping? Or are all those woods good for axe work?

 

[Multifaceted]

Thanks to @rarefish383 for gifting me this 3.8 lb Michigan head! It was pretty well rusted over and badly beaten on the poll and top of the head, but no real eye deformation. Took the ol' angle grinder to it and flattened out the mushrooming and opened up the top of the eye to fit the wood through. Going to put an 28" straight shaft handle on it for to use as a Faller's Axe to supplement my saw belt. Currently I use my Wetterlings 2.5 lb Hudson Bay as my falling axe with saw work, but having the additional weight to pound wedges will come in useful, just need a larger scabbard for it on my belt.

 

[svk]

Are you thinning that one out?

 

[Multifaceted]

Are you thinning that one out?

You're darn right I am, this handle is too damn thick! Pre-made handles always are, but I look at it as an opportunity to sculpt the grip. I really need to start buying stock hickory boards and buy a scroll saw... It's the same amount of work!

 

[svk]

Yeah no doubt plus much easier to monitor the grain.

 

[Trx250r180]

Thanks to @rarefish383 for gifting me this 3.8 lb Michigan head! It was pretty well rusted over and badly beaten on the poll and top of the head, but no real eye deformation. Took the ol' angle grinder to it and flattened out the mushrooming and opened up the top of the eye to fit the wood through. Going to put an 28" straight shaft handle on it for to use as a Faller's Axe to supplement my saw belt. Currently I use my Wetterlings 2.5 lb Hudson Bay as my falling axe with saw work, but having the additional weight to pound wedges will come in useful, just need a larger scabbard for it on my belt.

That will be a nice wedge beater

 

[svk]

I've had this latest handle in the sun all day and it is still wet several hours after coat #3. The previous handles took 5-6 coats quickly before they slowed down. Not sure if the lack of thirst is just due to the specific handle or the fact that it was very rainy here for 36 hours previous.