A $3 garage sale Kelly...Restored

Double Ott

Double Ott

Joined
Jan 3, 2011
Messages
1,479
I've been hitting garage sales this summer and I've picked up 10+ axes and hatchets so far this summer. Here's a Kelly hatchet that I paid $3 for a few weeks ago. I got motivated and I've put her back in working condition.

How she came home


Initial clean-up w/ an angle grinder & course wire cup


Flip side as found


Some more angle grinder work to remove all the rust. The grinder leaves a nice patina on the head. No vinegar bath needed.


Haft sanded and treated w/ BLO, she will get a few more coats.
Specs: 5.5" bit to poll, 3.75" on the bit, 17.5" overall length, approximately 2 Lbs. 14 Oz. total wt..



After more work with the angle grinder to remove all the rust, i did the final work and re-profiled her edge. Do to the hack job that was done on the bit, I used a 1 X 30" 180 grit belt to profile her. Shes ready for some work now


Not to shabby for a $3 hatchet. Beats the heck out of a hardware store hatchet and she has a pedigree. I really enjoyed working on her, saving vintage steel.

Thanks for looking, Tom
 
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Another winner, Tom! Good on yer for saving another vintage piece! (Credit to Frank for the phrase "good on yer")

Really nice work. You using a belt grinder?
 
M3mphis said:
Another winner, Tom! Good on yer for saving another vintage piece! (Credit to Frank for the phrase "good on yer")

Really nice work. You using a belt grinder?
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Mphis, Yes I did use a 1 X 30" Delta grinder on her, used a 180 grit belt. She had a hack job on the bit that really needed some TLC. I have a small bucket of water on the floor and cooled her down when she got warm. Slow and easy did it. I edited my post to clarify it.
I consider any kind word from you as a sincerest compliment of the highest order. You do some exceptional work on your axes and I have learned much from your posts. You & Frank sound like Yoopers, from the U.P. Michigan...another compliment, er no der hey.

My best regards, Tom
 
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Double Ott said:
Mphis, Yes I did use a 1 X 30" Delta grinder on her, used a 180 grit belt. She had a hack job on the bit that really needed some TLC. I have a small bucket of water on the floor and cooled her down when she got warm. Slow and easy did it. I edited my post to clarify it.
I consider any kind word from you as a sincerest compliment of the highest order. You do some exceptional work on your axes and I have learned much from your posts. You & Frank sound like Yoopers, from the U.P. Michigan...another compliment, er no hey.

My best regards, Tom
Click to expand...

LOL, good stuff, Tom. You are too kind. That nice smooth convex bit makes me miss my belt sander....awhile back I set it on a little clamp work bench while moving some stuff around. I closed the garage door, which caught the table sticking out and tipped the whole thing over. Just my luck, it fell right on the drive shaft and bent up all the parts in there and jammed up the main bearing. Fixing it would cost about double what I paid for it. So, I'll just keep my eyes open for another at a yard sale!

Take care.
 
Beautiful. I love the idea of restoring vintage steel. She still has many years of good work left in her.
 
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