Axe Gauge Project (Picture heavy)

J

Jonthepirate

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Jun 8, 2013
Messages
76
I've been working on a project with a lot of help from a friend. Basically, I've been buying some vintage axes, and when I go to sharpen/re-profile them how thick or thin I want them to be. Some are easy (already thin enough), some are way too thick. So I've made (or friends have made) thin metal or wood axe gauges by cutting one out of the "Axe to Grind" (most of you are aware of this profile). This thin gauge is good for checking one spot, but sometimes it was annoying when trying to check the whole blade, you drag the gauge up and down the blade and find the spots that are still too thick.

Enter my friend. He made some gauges that are most of the length of the blade so you can rock it back and forth across the blade to check it all really quickly. We've made a few prototypes, and I'll probably sell them once we get a few detailed worked out, but I wanted to get some feedback before we made any more.

Couple of questions:
1. Of the two styles below, what is preferred? The simpler one is the one that feels a little better in my hand, but I think we could make the more elaborate one (Proto 2) a little smaller and it would feel OK as well.
2. I'll probably have two sides on whatever ones we make in the future, the "Axe to Grind" one and there is a profile of the end of a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe (the small notch). Are there any other known good profiles that people use?
3. Any other suggestions/comments/ideas?
4. The Axe to Grind profile in the PDF is a little asymmetrical, should I make it perfectly symmetrical with one side or the other? (I think YES, with the smoother left side profile)
5. Is this something that people would be interested in if we made some more of them?

Looking forward to your comments! Pictures below! (the pictures are GIANT... Sorry)
Jon

Picture with a boy's axe for scale:
BU4U3mU.jpg


Simple one:
DFzb2pw.jpg

Simple with my kid holding it on an axe:
z7rTF1C.jpg

Simple one again (another angle):
krxpm5x.jpg

Simple one (last pic):
cDuLrCw.jpg



Proto 2:
BOzLwZD.jpg


Proto 2:
dVzDisA.jpg


Proto 2 GB side:
INGpRY8.jpg


Proto 2 last one:
RrpBc87.jpg
 
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Square_peg said:
That's cool. 3D printing? Extruded? Milled?

And just for clarification the gauge found in the FS manual came originally from Bernard Mason's book "Woodsmanship".
Click to expand...

3D Printed =)

Thanks for the clarification. Do you have that book? Is the gauge in that book more symmetrical? I may have to check my local library!
 
John Frankl said:
Plan on taking these to the for sale section?
Click to expand...

John,

Yes, in a few weeks. A lot of the guys here are WAY more experienced than i am with all things axe related. I want to make sure when I do sell them, that they are well thought out possible.

Thanks =)
Jon
 
Please keep us posted regarding future sales. If you are starting a list please add me to it. Great idea.
 
Is that a Texas Tech double T? If so, what's it doing on an ax? I don't own anything with the logo of my alma mater on it, but the ax would be sure tempting. :D
 
Thanks Guys I'll keep you posted when I get some more made :)

Storm Crow said:
Is that a Texas Tech double T? If so, what's it doing on an ax? I don't own anything with the logo of my alma mater on it, but the ax would be sure tempting. :D
Click to expand...


It's a really rare True Temper Stamp...? Just kidding. I did a project a while back where I electro etched it on there. Made a mess, lost some of the bit, but was able to remove the divot with some re-profiling. Pretty fun project, I'm liable to do another electro etching eventually :)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1101623-Playing-with-electro-etching

Makes me wish I was better at taking pictures while I do something, instead I tend to jump in and get going, and before I know it I'm done with the project wishing I'd taken pictures haha

Thanks!
Jon
 
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I was looking for something exactly like this awhile back. I'd buy one! Please post on this thread when your ready to sell, I'll subscribe to this. You might be able to do a kickstarter with this.
 
newsasquatch said:
I was looking for something exactly like this awhile back. I'd buy one! Please post on this thread when your ready to sell, I'll subscribe to this. You might be able to do a kickstarter with this.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I absolutely post when I have some to sell.

As an update, the guy who is helping me is in the Army National Guard, and he just got back from his "two weeks a year" which is part of the delay.

Jon
 
Hi!

I know this threads been asleep for a while, but I'd really like one of these. What happened to this project?
 
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