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Jackfre

Burning Hunk
Oct 3, 2011
147
N CA
When you do something this boneheaded you have to be able to share it with folks, so here goes. Yesterday I was building a fire in the Encore and my daughter arrived with my sweet little 18 month old Grandson. My wife and daughter were chatting away, as they will, in the other room. While I was getting the kindling set to go, I found that I had to go back outside for some larger wood. The lad was transfixed by Grandpa's efforts. I had my very nice Snow and Nealey hatchet next to the stove and realized I had to find some place to put it where the little guy couldn't get his hands on it while I was outside. What better place than to temporarily place it into the fire box. I'll pull it out when I put in the larger pieces. All good! As I am bringing the wood in the girls decide that is a good time to pepper me with questions, demands, suggestions, etc. Girls being girls I guess. So...,you know where this is going...I finish making the fire, light her off and away it goes. A while later I begin wondering where the hatchet is and go in search of. I could not find it and by now I have a real nice fire going. Dreading what I might find I go over to the stove and cannot see anything resembling a hatchet so I let it go. I let the fire go out overnight and this morning while cleaning up the ashes, I find my hatchet head in the ashes. I thought for a while of hiding the hatchet head, but this is just to good to keep to myself. I just showed it to the girls and they are ricochetting off the walls in hysterics. Every time I begin to think I am a pretty smart guy I do something like this!

By the by, if you are in need of a good hatchet, Snow and Nealy make excellent products. I'm going to buy the small splitting set with hatchet and small splitting maul...and a new handle. I'll give the new hatchet to my daughter so through the years, every time she touches it she will get a laugh. I'll re-temper the edge, sharpen and re-handle and hopefully I too will get a laugh every time I grab the darned thing.

On the brighter side, the little guy thinks Grandpa is OK, and in years to come I will tell him this story too.
 
That is hilarious. Thanks.
 
Your daughter will treasure that hatchet long after you're gone. Also what BB said.
 
Just reread the post. I would give her the reworked one. This is how heirlooms are born.
 
Join the crowd Jack! I'm sure many of us have done crazier things than that and I'm probably at the top of the pile. At least all you have to do is replace the handle.
 
Join the crowd Jack! I'm sure many of us have done crazier things than that and I'm probably at the top of the pile. At least all you have to do is replace the handle.

Unfortunately, as I have found, that is not the case. Right after writing this I went to the S&N web-site, or tried to anyway. They are no longer in business. I bought this hatchet years ago when I lived in New England and it was one of the American made units. I guess I'll have to get the spoke shave out and give it a go. I guess that will be better anyway. From what I understand Council is about the only US made hatchet left other than the custom shops.
 
I'm sure I would have had to share that too. Your bravery is appreciated.
 
A few weeks back, my wife called me at work to tell me the wood handled stove tool for one of my Jotuls was missing. Knowing how I operate (absent-minded professor), I just figured I must have accidentally loaded it into the stove, with the morning load of wood. I was actually amazed when we found it outside the stove that evening.
 
Great story - thanks for sharing. Don't feel too bad. I've had some bonehead episodes as I'm sure most of the folks here have also experienced.

Many years ago a friend brought a shiny new Estwing all steel axe out on a camping trip. Not the greatest for splitting, but really pretty and a bit spendy. Anyway, I wrecked it in short order (stuck it in a log too close to the fire, walked away - fire got rolling and burned all the handle wrap off). Not very pretty any more. Not too bright, but on my lifetime list of stupid human tricks, that hardly even scratches the surface.

I would say your faux pas, being the result of your immediate concern for your grandson's safety, earns you a free pass. Too bad you can't replace the hatchet though - that would have been cool to pass down to your grandson, with the story to tell.
 
Excellent story, thanks for sharing. It made my morning.

I recommend getting a Fiskars hatchet, with a bright orange handle. :)
 
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Excellent story, thanks for sharing. It made my morning.

I recommend getting a Fiskars hatchet, with a bright orange handle. :)

Yeah, but imagine what that plastic handle might do to the CAT the next time! ;)


. Not too bright, but on my lifetime list of stupid human tricks, that hardly even scratches the surface.

Oh, I've got a L--OOOOO--N--G list of stupid human tricks I have "proudly" accomplished! Looking back, it's a wonder I have made it this far! (knock knock knock on wood of course, or this post will end up at the END of my list!) :)
 
awesome thx
 
If that is the WORSE that happened (Toddler with Hatchet+Stove+Fire=Yikes), I would consider this a miracle. Count you blessings, Bonehead:oops::)
 
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Your screen name should be Al Zimer_g .......like I should talk.;lol
 
HA!

I have a really nice splitting axe.

My son broke the handle. Ordered a new handle, but it hasn't been fixed because the darn head is wedged on the broken shaft so well. It's going to require some drilling to get it out. On the other hand, I could just put the head in a small fire....would that hurt the Cat? If so, I could put it in a spring brush fire.....hmmmmm
 
HA!

I have a really nice splitting axe.

My son broke the handle. Ordered a new handle, but it hasn't been fixed because the darn head is wedged on the broken shaft so well. It's going to require some drilling to get it out. On the other hand, I could just put the head in a small fire....would that hurt the Cat? If so, I could put it in a spring brush fire.....hmmmmm

Watch out doing that. Depending on the metal you could distemper it and make it very soft.

Put it in a vise and go at it with a drill bit and a cold chisel.
 
Back to the drill.....Unless anyone has any other suggestions?

There really isn't an easier option. You will be done in less than 10 min.
 
Great story, Jack! We lost a steakknife to the stove the otherday. Now I know I didn't put it in there, and the wife swears that SHE didn't do it, and the kids had BETTER NOT done it........still have no idea how.in the heck it got in there!!
 
LOL...great story and your well-tempered response was just as good...I learned 2 things from this tale...;)
 
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you could distemper it

that's a very good point. heat / fire can change the properties of metal (and beer bottles ;lol )....
 
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For those who are speaking of the loss of tempering I am going to re-harden it. I went over to bladeforum and asked the question and this is the response I got
Heat carefully to above non-magnetic, evenly for as much of the edge as you want to harden. Then quench quickly in pre-warmed canola oil. Check with a worn file to see if it bites into the steel or skates off; if it skates off, it hardened appropriately.

To temper heat the head for an hour at 535 degrees, let it cool to room temperature (pull it out of the oven for this), then repeat. And then one last tempering cycle for a total of three.​
I wonder how high the brides oven goes? I've always considered hardening and tempering as more art than science so we'll see how it goes.​
 
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