Axe restoration thread

[dancan]

About thick handles and hatchets , I don't really like the thick handles .
I usually use my hatchets for carving so I choke up a lot and too thick or too thin are no fun .

I had to do some shaving on the Wetterlings to get it comfortable because it was too thick , if I was only using it to bust up wood into kindling it wouldn't have been an issue .

 

[dancan]

One of my goto for carving is a Smart's manufacturing axe .
It's a bit bigger than most of the hewing hatchets I've come across but smaller than the hewing axes .

I have it shoved on a broken boys axe handle that was locally made from the late 70's, it works fine for carving and sized that it let me choke up tight on the head for fine and controlled cuts .
It's not tight , polly break if you were trying to hew or even chop a tree down but , it works just fine for carving spoons .

 

[Multifaceted]

How the heck did I miss these? Must've got carried away and lost in the replies from the Splitting/Chopping Tool Review thread. Anyway, @dancan - nice looking hatchets! Looks like you've got a nice keen edge on that Smarts hewing hatchet. Got any new projects? I've got an old Craftsmen 4.25 pounder I want to hang here soon. Don't have any use for it though...

 

[lead farmer]

How the heck did I miss these? Must've got carried away and lost in the replies from the Splitting/Chopping Tool Review thread. Anyway, @dancan - nice looking hatchets! Looks like you've got a nice keen edge on that Smarts hewing hatchet. Got any new projects? I've got an old Craftsmen 4.25 pounder I want to hang here soon. Don't have any use for it though...

Well, if that's how it is that would make me a nice Christmas presant [emoji38]

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[svk]

Does anyone else find the picture heavy pages of this and other threads load exceptionally slow on computers? They always load fast on my phone even in lower service areas.

 

[Multifaceted]

Hard to tell, Comcast throttles my service at home and my mobile data service is middling at best.... This site seems to always run a bit slower than other forums I visit.

 

[lead farmer]

Check this oldie out that a buddy gave me. He was cleaning his garage a found it . He said he found it in the woods years ago.

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[dancan]

Score !!!

 

[homemade]

My ax has fat cheeks. And good solution to loose some fat so it’s more of a chopper and less splitter, or is it best to leave it alone cause that’s the way it was designed?

And what does the 19 stand for?

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[svk]

My ax has fat cheeks. And good solution to loose some fat so it’s more of a chopper and less splitter, or is it best to leave it alone cause that’s the way it was designed?

And what does the 19 stand for?

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It is your axe so totally up to you. The Swedish axes have real thin cheeks and you could profile it after one of them to create a dedicated chopping axe.

Since the 19 is clearly made by a hand punch, I would say this axe was once part of a fleet where tools were numbered to keep track of them or to be assigned to a specific user.

 

[95custmz]

It is your axe so totally up to you. The Swedish axes have real thin cheeks and you could profile it after one of them to create a dedicated chopping axe.

Since the 19 is clearly made by a hand punch, I would say this axe was once part of a fleet where tools were numbered to keep track of them or to be assigned to a specific user.

Might be a 19 pounder, with those fat cheeks. [emoji23]


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[homemade]

Ok, I think I’ll give it some bench grinder Love. I mostly use it for driving wedges but it suck at getting it to stick into anything unless you drive with enough force to split the wood.


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[Multifaceted]

Check this oldie out that a buddy gave me. He was cleaning his garage a found it . He said he found it in the woods years ago.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Nice looking Mann, and a veritable Pennsylvania pattern to boot! You need to hang that stat.

My ax has fat cheeks. And good solution to loose some fat so it’s more of a chopper and less splitter, or is it best to leave it alone cause that’s the way it was designed?

And what does the 19 stand for?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you file it in a half moon shape up onto the cheeks you can still get a good keen edge on there. The cheeks help open up the cut and throw chips. Personally, I'd keep the cheeks, but it is your axe. Looks nice though, appears to be a Delaware pattern.

 

[LondonNeil]

Go careful with the grinder, if you get it too hot you'll lose the temper. Either go slow and have cooling water to hand or simply file it, a sharp file will cut OK.

 

[Bobby Kirbos]

Nice looking Mann, and a veritable Pennsylvania pattern to boot! You need to hang that stat.

I will politely disagree with making it a wall hanger. It's quality steel. Like a quality, serviceable firearm, it was designed to be used. Use it and enjoy it.

If it develops a hairline crack from being used then yes, make it a wall hanger - no different than you would if an old firearm became structurally unsafe to use.

 

[Multifaceted]

I will politely disagree with making it a wall hanger. It's quality steel. Like a quality, serviceable firearm, it was designed to be used. Use it and enjoy it.

If it develops a hairline crack from being used then yes, make it a wall hanger - no different than you would if an old firearm became structurally unsafe to use.

Good sir... To hang it means to put a handle on it, not hang it on the wall. I restore axes as a hobby, have done several dozen of them with a strict 'no wall-hanger' rule. I would never, ever say that or recommend such a thing

 

[Bobby Kirbos]

Good sir... To hang it means to put a handle on it, not hang it on the wall. I restore axes as a hobby, have done several dozen of them with a strict 'no wall-hanger' rule. I would never, ever say that or recommend such a thing

Ah, I see. I do sincerely apologize for my ignorance on this topic.

 

[Multifaceted]

Ah, I see. I do sincerely apologize for my ignorance on this topic.

It's all good! No need to apologize. Yeah, that's actually where the phrase "getting the hang of it" comes from. If you don't get it right, the head gets loose with repeated use.

If you want to learn more, just axe...



I'll show myself out....

 

[svk]

I love the "Mann" name. Our old male cat (RIP) who passed this spring was named Little One but we called him Mann once he grew up (he was still petite for a Tomcat). I may have to look for a smaller Mann head to make an axe for my wife.

 

[Multifaceted]

Mann are one of my favorite manufacturers of old. A lot of history in axe manufacturing around PA.