Axe restoration thread

What do you guys think? Should we start a dedicated thread for axe restoration or keep posts in the splitting/chopping tool review thread?

 

Yup , new resto thread .

Here's a 3 1/5 lb 5$ yard sale find .



Now has a new 30" piece of hickory .

 

If you start a sticky might I suggest the first post be some of the manufactures to look for. Would be handy for those of us with little awareness of our axes

 

Yeah, I'd be interested, I'm working on a Kelly I found right now.
BB

 

It would be up to the powers that be to make this a sticky.

I have several name brand as well as others that only God knows the maker.

 

Ooh look at that grain!!

 

Here's 6 hours worth of vinegar bath on a very crusty head.

 

I only use a steel brush on an angle grinder. Finished in minutes with equal good results.

7

 

Pulled this out of the vinegar this morning (it was spotless grey) and washed it up and then dried it. Within an hour it had a skim of rust on it. I'll soak it one more time when the mail comes out then immediately rub with oil.

 

Also, thanks to whichever mod made this a sticky!

 

It's hard to say which ones to go for , there's plenty of good axes out there that were unbranded , Gransfors Bruk for example made tons of unstamped heads for export .
Best I can say is to stay away from anything that had a fiberglass handle and one that has been beat to death , the prices on the Bay seem a little high so I do the local yard/estate sales , local buy and sell ads and word of mouth to local pickers .
I try to keep this hobby as cheap as I can , 5$ to 20$ for a head is reasonable to me and handles range from 5$ to 20$ for handles but the nice Scandinavian handles range from 20$ to 40$ .

 

5$ hatchet





2$ hatchet on a 15$ handle



That 2$ head is unmarked , rough forged but well hardened and my instincts say Scandinavian but that's only a guess .
Here's a 5$ 2 lb Hults Bruk on a yard sale find ash handle purchased for 1$ that was 5$ when new .







I've got plenty more hatchets and axes lol

 

I think this is a great idea. I live in the state that was the axe making capital of the world at one time I think and have plenty of projects for the winter. I have already learned a few tricks I plan on using from smaller threads, so a dedicated thread will be useful.

 

Don't forget to put up some pics and what you know about them

 

I plan on it. There is a guy a few towns up north I want to meet that is an axe junkie. Also a Maine axe historian is about an hour north from me and I will try to meet up with him when things slow down and share what I learn and take pictures.

 

Sadly, I don't have a genuine Maine wedge in my small collection

 

My wife grew up next to my grandfathers farm. We found this old wedge among other things out back. It's the rusty odd shaped one

 

I agree with the new thread

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Got the surface rust off and hit it with a coat of oil right away to prevent any additional rust.