Adzehoe,Mattock &pick

[spectrum055]

So last week I bought a couple rusty tools for about $10... Was told there was an axe but there wasn't. Though technically the Mattock has an axe.

But thought I'd share some of the work on them through the restoration.

But the adze I'm fairly certain it's a hoe version of it as after the vinegar bath it didn't show evidence of the usual temper line unlike the Mattock does on the adze side. Though who knows maybe it was just so abused and tossed in a fire at some point. But it is a Hartford brand.

I'll add more photos but only the first tool is pretty much done. The Mattock I flipped around and stuck back in the vinegar bath. The Pick might be a miners pick or just really worn out no idea.

Also not 100% sure I'm even using the correct names on the two tools.

 

[A17]

The Hartford looks like a mattox with the axe torched off. The eye says otherwise, though. It appears to be a grub hoe. What's the twin screw thingy?

 

[spectrum055]

The Hartford looks like a mattox with the axe torched off. The eye says otherwise, though. It appears to be a grub hoe. What's the twin screw thingy?

That's what I thought to. I haven't found anything pertaining to its history. But if it looks like a grub hoe to you it probably is and I'll add that to my search.

As for the screw thingy I have no idea. The tools and all this lady's scrap where supposed to go with me for the $10 but when she played off like she forgot what she told me I was like "you said...but up to you" so I dodged having to deal with a bunch of scrap I didn't want while getting some tools though missed out on some shovels... You can never have to many.

 

[Square_peg]

The Hartford is a grub hoe and it's in pretty decent shape. Don't be concerned about the lack of a temper line. Many earth working tools lack them. They are made of alloys that generate enough hardness just by air hardening. Recall that they are slammed into rocks at full force. A very hard bit would just break. Toughness is the key for ground breakers. I posed this question on a blacksmithing forum about 7 years ago - how to temper a pick. The answer was 'do nothing' just re-point and leave it. The tool has served me well ever since plus I've done several other picks the same way.

The axe mattock (cutter mattock) might be the prize of the group. If it's vintage American then it will be a great tool. These are real hard working tools. Great for digging out stumps or digging through roots. The mattock side has seen some action but the axe side looks real good. I wouldn't hesitate to put it back in service. If you choose to sharpen the mattock end than leave the edge at least 1mm wide. Thinner than that will be quickly damaged by ground work.

The pick is a railroad pick and pretty heavily used but not used up. You can use it as is or if you have a blacksmith friend ask him/her to draw the points out for you. The points are more useful if they're a little longer. Some people prefer a lighter pick. They're very handy.

Alex Weygers in his 'The Complete Modern Blacksmith' talks about repurposing worn railroad picks. He suggests reducing the eye size to fit a miners pick handle. This is done by heating one side of the eye at a time. Hammer the hot side to upset the steel and narrow the eye. The cold side will hold the shape of the tool (metal moves easiest where it's hottest). After shaping and cooling one side heat and hammer the other side. Draw out the points and you have a fine miners pick - essentially just like new.

 

[spectrum055]

Peg

Thank you for that wealth of information. These tools after cleaning them fully up I plan to just hang them as they are. I haven't looked a whole bunch but I have read on wiki and a few forums that how the eyes are they weren't made to raise the head really higher then the bottom of the handle so you don't chance having it coming down and hitting your head or hands.

The pick I'll probably use as is. My grandfather has one I use now and again for loosening up rockey soil while digging for some projects. I do plan on using these but the Mattock I was happy to get as I wouldn't have to dedicate an axe as a root axe while digging. Or well I turned my old root axe into a partially failed Pickaroon. But as the days go by I'll post how they are coming along and if I find any markings on the other tools.


I've wire wheeled the pick a bit and on the point half nothing under the rust but I haven't done anything around the eye in it yet.