Any unusual wedges?

rjdankert · Feb 13, 2015

It appears that this is not all that unusual, but this is the most stuff that I have ever found or seen in person.

MrFixIt · Feb 13, 2015

I found a silver 50 cent coin in an old hatchet once. Seemed like that was a an emergency field repair...

upnorth · Feb 13, 2015

I don't know if there is anything necessarily unusual about these wedges, other than that I found them at a 1780's fur trade site. One has RT on it and I never did follow up on the (likely) British iron works that it came from.

the possum · Feb 13, 2015

Lots of nails and screws, but the only one I haven't seen mentioned, was the broken off tip from a sickle mower blade. These are very common in farm country- look like this when new:

the possum · Feb 13, 2015

CB-R said:
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I was looking for this thread a while back to post this wedge. I think it came out of a TT Jersey, but I can't remember. Never seen one before, and never seen any wedge with a patent date on it.

I don't know if CB-R is still around, but I'm pretty sure those wedge came out of a Diamond Edge product from Shapleigh Hardware. Here's a couple scans from their 1929 catalog showing these wedges:

Chignecto Woodsman · Feb 13, 2015

bearhunter said:
This thing was a Pain in the a$$ to get out...

Haven't tried this yet, so I figured I might as well ask. What do you guys use to take out wedges like this? Hoping for minimal damage and scratches on the head.
Thanks.

CB-R · Feb 13, 2015

the possum said:
I don't know if CB-R is still around, but I'm pretty sure those wedge came out of a Diamond Edge product from Shapleigh Hardware. Here's a couple scans from their 1929 catalog showing these wedges:

Cool ad! I am still around a bit but have resigned myself to lurking mostly. Thanks for the post.

garry3 · Feb 25, 2015

the possum said:
Lots of nails and screws, but the only one I haven't seen mentioned, was the broken off tip from a sickle mower blade. These are very common in farm country- look like this when new:

Yep, looks like this after they have spent years in a axe handle.

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garry3 · Feb 25, 2015

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I knew something was up when I couldn't get a drill bit started anywhere in that old handle. So much junk and it blended in all together. Counter sunk everything to boot. Things just kept coming!

Hacked · Feb 25, 2015

Square_peg said:
I've pulled a couple interesting wedges recently. These are the first I've seen that had a manufacturers name on them - Red Devil. The one-inch wedges are marked 1 0. The half-inch wedge is marked 'RD' and '5'. I suppose it means 1.0" and 0.5". These are made of very soft steel.

Red Devil is still around, they make putty knives mostly, of which I currently own two. I actually grew up in the neighboring town to where they are based in Union NJ.

jblyttle · Feb 25, 2015

M3mphis said:
Keeping it sealed up with an oil like BLO should help. The nice thing about BLO (and others) is that it hardens and seals as it dries. Probably nothing new to you. Thanks for showing us.

I've read to use hardwoods from some sources, and softwoods from other sources. I've tried a variety of woods just to see, from as soft as white pine to a local shrub/tree that is very similar to ironwood (we've always called it bitter brush, but I don't know if that's its real name). So far, all of it works. However, my strong preference is for a reasonably hard wood that is very resistance to cracking as it is being driven. The "bitterbrush" cracks just a little too easily. The Oak is great. I recently used a scrap of what I believe to be alder, and it was fantastic. I think more important than wood type is shaping your wedge and kerf appropriately so you get a tight fit without bottoming out your wedge.

I've used the standard poplar that comes with new handles and I've made my own from both mahogany and ipe. In my experience, ht hardwoods are great (and beautiful) when wedged into a new cut kerf or and old on n good shape, but the softer poplar is far superior if you need the wedge to "form fit" and fill imperfections spaces and gaps when rehafting a good handle that has some voids in the kerf. Both types have held for me. The striking tool that saw the most use from me last year (and it was heavy, pounding use) was a refinished 8lb maul with a round eye that I used an ipe wedge on. I pounded that bad boy as hard as I good and it never budged.

Square_peg · Feb 26, 2015

garry3 said:
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I knew something was up when I couldn't get a drill bit started anywhere in that old handle. So much junk and it blended in all together. Counter sunk everything to boot. Things just kept coming!

Jesus! What a mess.

Nice vise, though.

Square_peg · Feb 28, 2015

These odd wedges came with my Gifford Wood ice axe.

garry3 · Jul 22, 2015

the possum said:
I don't know if CB-R is still around, but I'm pretty sure those wedge came out of a Diamond Edge product from Shapleigh Hardware. Here's a couple scans from their 1929 catalog showing these wedges:

I think Keen Kutter was known for those wedges also.

garry3 · Jul 22, 2015

This wedge I just pulled out of a Lakeside DB. Pretty sure not the original handle and there was not a screw in it. So pretty sure a re-used wedge.
Is this a Plumb take up wedge?

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Square_peg · Jul 22, 2015

garry3 said:
This wedge I just pulled out of a Lakeside DB. Pretty sure not the original handle and there was not a screw in it. So pretty sure a re-used wedge.
Is this a Plumb take up wedge?

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Not sure what it is but given the scar on that wedge I'd say it wasn't entirely effective. Looks like somebody drove in a screw in next to it to tighten a loose head. Still cool to see. I wonder what other proprietary wedges were used.

garry3 · Jul 22, 2015

Square_peg said:
Not sure what it is but given the scar on that wedge I'd say it wasn't entirely effective. Looks like somebody drove in a screw in next to it to tighten a loose head. Still cool to see. I wonder what other proprietary wedges were used.

No that was me with a drill bit making some room to pull it with some needle nose vise grips. It looked like two wedges until I got a hold of it. There was not a screw in it where there should have been.

quinton · Jul 22, 2015

garry3 said:
This wedge I just pulled out of a Lakeside DB. Pretty sure not the original handle and there was not a screw in it. So pretty sure a re-used wedge.
Is this a Plumb take up wedge?

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Looks to be a Keen Kutter wedge. I guess the flat sided nails were not in that one? The wedge was made so a half, or flat sided nail would curl in to the tongue of the haft when driven.

quinton · Jul 22, 2015

quinton said:
Looks to be a Keen Kutter wedge. I guess the flat sided nails were not in that one? The wedge was made so a half, or flat sided nail would curl in to the tongue of the haft when driven.

Guess I should have read the post directly above before I replied!!

garry3 · Jul 23, 2015

quinton said:
Looks to be a Keen Kutter wedge. I guess the flat sided nails were not in that one? The wedge was made so a half, or flat sided nail would curl in to the tongue of the haft when driven.

Only one slot in the center and it appears a screw went through it.
Is that a wedge also associated with Keen Kutter?