First axe restoration WIP

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.

Poindexter

Minister of Fire
Jun 28, 2014
3,161
Fairbanks, Alaska
This is kinda addicting.

Long story short, I found a double bit axe in a dumpster at the transfer station when I took my raked leaves over last weekend. Brought it home.

I cleaned the head up in a vinegar and salt soak, toothbrush and scotchbrite pad involved.

20181002_082524.jpg


Occident is a TM of the Seattle Hardware Company, who never made their own axes. On the opposite face it seems to be a Collins,

20181001_201121.jpg


I have it, preliminarily, dated 1900 to 1966, not clear if Collins ever stopped with the temper lines and went to all steel heads. Clear temper lines on this one.

As found it was ground fell/ limb, but once I had the gashes filed out of the edges it is now ground chop/ chop. I am going to have to anneal it so I can regrind it, and then re temper it, luckily the wife flew out just a few hours ago so I can play with fire.

Aftermarket handles, well, they suck. I bought one, either a Link or and Ames that warped as soon as I scraped the finish off it. Seriously, ten minutes after I scraped the poly finish off my carefully selected haft so I could oil it, it was warped.

I thought about buying one of the hand selected specimens from one of the online purveyors, instead I spent about the same dough for a hickory plank, 5/4 by 6 x 72 and got this stave out of it.

20181004_135155.jpg


The best news, the reason I am going this deep, is thing feels great on my warped ready made handle. I hadn't hung an axe head since my grandpa showed me how in the 1970s. I sold all my tiller steer outboards and tiller steer boats about three years ago when my primary and specialists were talking about how soon I would need back surgery. Running this thing for ten minutes, ground chop/ chop on a crappy warped haft, my shoulders feel better than they have felt in years.

I plan to bang out this shaving horse in the next couple weeks while my new hickory stave is acclimating.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/american-woodworker-blog/aw-extra-hybrid-shaving-horse/

unless there are other nominations. This particular horse would be handy for a few boat parts too.
 
What little I know about a shaving horse comes to this... People that are good at it are good. People like me...suck at it. Good luck and please post pics of the final product.