Axe restoration thread

[dancan]

The Hults Bruks are pretty common up here .
I've not seen that rockaway/jersey pattern up here until this year , that is only the second one I've seen , I bought the first one I found this summer for 10$

 

[Multifaceted]

The Hults Bruks are pretty common up here .
I've not seen that rockaway/jersey pattern up here until this year , that is only the second one I've seen , I bought the first one I found this summer for 10$

I don't see much Hults Bruk down my way, only a few that I passed up before I had a clue...

Jerserys and lugged patterns in general are a personal favorite of mine. Been on the hunt for a handle with a 2-3/8" x 3/4" eye to fit my Kelly Perfect Beveled Jersey, but no luck. Tried hanging it on a typical 2-1/4" x 3/4" handle but couldn't close the gaps at the point of the teardrop near the shoulder (eye opening is longer), so I abandoned the hang on that. Might have to just make a custom handle, just need to find a good piece of Hickory stock. Coincidentally I have lots of hickory growing near me, but don't need to fell any of it, nor do I have access to a mill.

Do you collect Hudson Bay?

 

[svk]

Do you guys like the extra lugs on the Jersey patterns? I've only had one of them (and it was non collectible) and ground the lugs off so I could fit the handle on it easier.

 

[Multifaceted]

Do you guys like the extra lugs on the Jersey patterns? I've only had one of them (and it was non collectible) and ground the lugs off so I could fit the handle on it easier.

I like them for two reasons, aesthetically it lends an old world look; however, for the utilitarian in me the lugs provide more metal to wood contact which feels like a more secure fit. I'm not 100% certain that is the case, but they sure as heck make it seem that way when trying to beat the head off of the handle to rasp/sand for your next fit

Whenever I hang a lugged axe and get it shouldered up on the final fit, the hang always feel more tight and secure even before I pound in and seat the wedge. Could be a placebo, I don't know, but sure seems that way. The lugs do make a little more difficult to hang, requires some strategic rasping, and I've also been known to file the inside of the lugs so they're slightly rounded. The key is finding a good handle where the eye measurements are mated up nicely to the eye of the head. Though, that isn't always the case, unless you make your own handles...

 

[svk]

Makes a lot of sense. I was trying to fit a big box store handle (with the wood that flares out below the head) so it wasn't working so well with limited hand tools.

 

[Multifaceted]

Having specialty or proper wood tools can help, but I've found that a regular ol' 4-In-Hand file rasp is indispensable when it comes to hanging axes. For custom fitting a head, there is no better tool, IMHO.

 

[dancan]

Here's the one I found earlier this summer

I hung it on a replacement 30" from a Hultafors , plenty of wood to fill the eye .

I can buy from the Hultafors distributor up here , LeeValley stock them and the Gransfors Bruks replacement handles as well .
I don't have any Hudson Bay .
My 5$ yardsale belt sander gets used a lot for fitting the heads .

 

[svk]

I have one Hudson bay pattern that likes to slip out of the handle even well wedged that I shared a while back. This fall I am going to pop it off the present handle and seat it so the top of the handle extends above the head and then wedge the hell out of it.

 

[lead farmer]

I have one Hudson bay pattern that likes to slip out of the handle even well wedged that I shared a while back. This fall I am going to pop it off the present handle and seat it so the top of the handle extends above the head and then wedge the hell out of it.

That is how I found to keep th HB tight

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Multifaceted]

I have one Hudson bay pattern that likes to slip out of the handle even well wedged that I shared a while back. This fall I am going to pop it off the present handle and seat it so the top of the handle extends above the head and then wedge the hell out of it.

This is how I've been hanging axes after seeing and using a few Swedish makers. Especially if BLO is used to swell the wood grain, the wood and wedge above the eye 'fans ' out basically making any movement upward virtually impossible, if not just very difficult. I have tried several times to do without it to no avail; but by adding a little quality wood glue to the wedge or some Swel-Lock keeps the wood wedge from "walking" out after repeated strikes. For a while I was trying to hang without the use of modern glues or products, much like they did in antiquity, but evidently that knowledge has died with all but a few craftsmen, and they ain't me.

That is how I found to keep th HB tight

I really think it makes a difference, and it looks cool to boot! How does that homemade Locust handle do with percussion strikes versus Hickory or Ash?

 

[Multifaceted]

Here's the one I found earlier this summer

I hung it on a replacement 30" from a Hultafors , plenty of wood to fill the eye .

I can buy from the Hultafors distributor up here , LeeValley stock them and the Gransfors Bruks replacement handles as well .
I don't have any Hudson Bay .
My 5$ yardsale belt sander gets used a lot for fitting the heads .

That's a slick looking Jersey, probably my favorite do-all heavy axe pattern. How's that short handle work for you with that (3.5 lb/1600 g?) head and broad cutting face? I used to use a belt sander too, but have been using a 4-In-Hand lately because on most fits I can keep the handle locked in the vise, fit the head, remove and continue removing material without opening the vise jaws. I've also been known to get a little overboard with power tools too, ha ha

 

[lead farmer]

This is how I've been hanging axes after seeing and using a few Swedish makers. Especially if BLO is used to swell the wood grain, the wood and wedge above the eye 'fans ' out basically making any movement upward virtually impossible, if not just very difficult. I have tried several times to do without it to no avail; but by adding a little quality wood glue to the wedge or some Swel-Lock keeps the wood wedge from "walking" out after repeated strikes. For a while I was trying to hang without the use of modern glues or products, much like they did in antiquity, but evidently that knowledge has died with all but a few craftsmen, and they ain't me.



I really think it makes a difference, and it looks cool to boot! How does that homemade Locust handle do with percussion strikes versus Hickory or Ash?

I really can't tell you, it seems to feel good what little I have used it. I'm sure there's a reason our ancestors didn't use it

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[farmer steve]

I really can't tell you, it seems to feel good what little I have used it. I'm sure there's a reason our ancestors didn't use it

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figured i find you here Rod. i guess i have to get a handle for that axe i showed you at cedar grove. hope all is well.

 

[lead farmer]

figured i find you here Rod. i guess i have to get a handle for that axe i showed you at cedar grove. hope all is well.

Yah I thought you were giving me that by the way. Good to hear from you man [emoji38]

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[dancan]

That's a slick looking Jersey, probably my favorite do-all heavy axe pattern. How's that short handle work for you with that (3.5 lb/1600 g?) head and broad cutting face? I used to use a belt sander too, but have been using a 4-In-Hand lately because on most fits I can keep the handle locked in the vise, fit the head, remove and continue removing material without opening the vise jaws. I've also been known to get a little overboard with power tools too, ha ha

I'm not a big fan of the long handles, 30" and the weight makes it a good chopper and wedge pounder for me.

 

[Multifaceted]

Alright fellas, here's one my recent projects completed - Council Tool 2.5 lb Cruiser:

 

[Multifaceted]

I really can't tell you, it seems to feel good what little I have used it. I'm sure there's a reason our ancestors didn't use it

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Locust is pretty damn hard and dense, can't see why it's be a bad choice. Maybe not as springy as hickory, so percussive striking might cause it to snap.

I'm not a big fan of the long handles, 30" and the weight makes it a good chopper and wedge pounder for me.

Got ya, yeah and that flat square poll on the Jersey is perfect for wedge pounding. I'm currently using my 2.5 lb Hudson bay as my pounder, keep it in a scabbard on my saw belt.

 

[rarefish383]

Dang you and those pretty doubles! Now I have to see if I can figure out how to post pics again. One of my favorites is a turn of the century, the last one, American Beauty. They may have been store name axes but I like mine with it's original handle and leather scabbard. I think my wife's grandfather may have made the scabbard. Then there is my Collins with its original handle. So, lets see if i got this right, Joe.

 

[rarefish383]

Nope, didn't work, try something else.

 

[rarefish383]

That's close, I don't know how to get the full size pic up, but the thumb nail beats nothing, Joe.