Anything wrong with...

M

Moonw

Joined
Nov 19, 2014
Messages
1,985
...simply using a file, then a diamond hone, to completely remove superficial cracks on old axe heads, then "smoothing" all transitions as to minimize stress risers? I sometimes see bigger pitting / forging imperfections than the amount of metal one would need to remove (IMO) from a hatchet / axe head in order to render it functional.

Let's assume welding is out of discussion.

I might have a hewing hatchet head in this situation...sorry, no pics. 3$ at a yard sale, but around 7 more to add for shipping if I decide to give it a chance. May have some small (sub 2 mm deep) cracks around the eye...I'll have to clean it up first to tell.

Thoughts?
 
Dents and scratches, and mushrooming of the poll, are par for the course on old worn heads but visible cracks should be considered 'bad news'. No amount of spit and polish (filing and sanding) can make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Unless the stamp on this baby is old, rare, noteworthy or collectible please treat cracked heads as if they were a hot potato.
On the other hand $3 plus $7 shipping won't even get you a Home Depot-type brand new piece of junk either! Tumble the dice and hope for the best; bring it on. There are axe experienced stick, TIG and MIG welder forum members on here that might be enticed to tangle with a new project if the incentive 'carrot' is large enough.
 
Thanks for the advice. The head does not have a stamp, seems old but certainly not ancient, and somewhat abused. I'll see if can get some pictures tomorrow. Curiosity will get the better of me and I'll try to find out how deep the cracks are; just because they seem superficial doesn't mean they are.

I'm just visiting US for a short while so sending it out to be welded is not really an option. I may find someone who worked with axe heads before, back home. I just started collecting these back in Europe so I thought getting anything in an American pattern while I'm here would be interesting. Heck, I may even keep it just because it looks cool.
 
That sounds like a good idea :). Are there any recommended (especially BF-supporting) individuals that specialize reselling older heads that at least are decent, even if untouched? I can clean up a head and I think re-handle it just fine, I'd just need to know a contact that knows what he or she is selling. In that situation I'd gladly pay a decent price for an old hatchet. I'm not sure the little cracks I'm talking about here are something I'd even be able to see in a picture on the "big website".
 
Moonw said:
That sounds like a good idea :). Are there any recommended (especially BF-supporting) individuals that specialize reselling older heads that at least are decent, even if untouched? I can clean up a head and I think re-handle it just fine, I'd just need to know a contact that knows what he or she is selling. In that situation I'd gladly pay a decent price for an old hatchet. I'm not sure the little cracks I'm talking about here are something I'd even be able to see in a picture on the "big website".
Click to expand...

Well jblyttle is always bringing home big lots of axe and hatchet heads which he resells. If you go to the it followed me home thread you'll see his latest haul ( there are a few nice hatchet / half axe heads there )
 
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