Broad hatchet, Craftsman " double oval" (Done, even more pic heavy)

CedarEater said:
Well, another hour and a halfs work and I am pretty happy with how the edge is coming along. The flat side is now pretty flat.

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The bevel cleaned up nicely with the file.



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Thats about as far as I am taking the edge (bit? Is it a bit on a broad hatchet or beveled edge or??) at this point. I will fine tune it later on in the project.
Now its time to clean up the edges of the eye and other rough spots.

I am also eyeing a nice chunk of figured cherry in the shop for the haft.
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the finest edge bevel i've ever sen on an axe.:D
all good progress, the Cherry will most likely make a decent handle, my experience has shown it to split easily when used for hatchet handles:mad:
 
Hey,Gee wiz that edge looks elegant. One question.. how are you holding the head to your bench? I hate to reinvent the wheel.
 
Win3855: I am using Quik Grip clamps. :eek:
They head tends to slip and stuff but they don't mar it up. Its not ideal but thats what I have to work with for the time being.
 
My favoritist way to hold a loose head is to clamp a 1 by to the work bench, and then vice grip the head through the eye to the 1 by. That way there's nothing sticking up into your work area. Like so:

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M3mphis said:
My favoritist way to hold a loose head is to clamp a 1 by to the work bench, and then vice grip the head through the eye to the 1 by. That way there's nothing sticking up into your work area. [/IMG]
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I like it. Thats innovative and gives me an idea. Wonder if shoving a stick through the eye (fairly snug fit) and clamping both ends to the workbench would hold it secure enough to file? I will try it on my next loose head.


My haft is finished for this hatchet and it has been hung. I used Peruvian walnut for the wedge and it turned out nice. Its got its first coat of BLO. I will post pics in a few days when its all done.
 
I clamp the eye in the vise and let the cheek lay on top of the jaws. Great grip and it will take all the downward force you can lay on it. My vise has non-marring jaws.

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Word of caution, never leave a sharp tool in the vise. Very easy for someone to bump into and get a real bad cut.
 
I clamp mine just like M3mphis, bu I put a 2" angle iron in my bench vise and clamp the head to that. It raises the head up several inches to make working easier for me.


-Xander
 
The finish isn't done yet. It still needs a couple more coats of my tung oil concoction over the 3 coats of BLO. I can show you the wedge for now.
Its peruvian black walnut.

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CedarEater said:
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Looking good!

For those who don't have a bandsaw and belt sander for making a handle like this, you can use these hand tools: a saw, a chisel and mallet/hammer, and a rasp. With the saw, make a series of cuts down to the pencil line, with the cuts about a half inch apart, on both sides of the handle blank. The cuts can be made quickly, just don't go past the pencil line. Then use the chisel along the pencil lines to knock off all the half-inch wide pieces of waste wood. The rasp (half round for the curves) smooths the handle and makes it fit into the eye.

This saw/chisel method can remove a lot of hardwood easier than using a drawknife or spokeshave.
 
Its kind of hard to believe this is the same broad hatchet that I started with. Overall I am pleased with how it turned out. Now for lots of pictures.


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This was a fun project. Now I need to carve something.

EDIT: Almost forgot, thank you for all the comments and kind words.
 
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Man, that's gorgeous. Your attention to detail and the quality of your work are impeccable. Let me know when you want some green hardwood to mess around with and I'll keep an eye out for you. I occasionally come across freshly fallen oak, cherry, maple, sycamore and others. Would happily trade for some of that madrona!
 
VERY NICE!!! That looks awesome! My favorite way to sharpen my flat beveled carvers is with my Japanese water stones.

Very impressive work!!
 
VintageAxe said:
Man, that's gorgeous. Your attention to detail and the quality of your work are impeccable. Let me know when you want some green hardwood to mess around with and I'll keep an eye out for you. I occasionally come across freshly fallen oak, cherry, maple, sycamore and others. Would happily trade for some of that madrona!
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Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone.

Green hardwood for green madrona sounds good to me. What are you using the madrona for? Knife scales? Lets work something out. PM me.
 
So, I had some madrona kicking around. Figured I would try my hand at carving it a little with the Craftsman and Plumb that I picked up the other day. The Craftsman is 28oz and the Plumb 2992 is a little heavier. I didn't have any plan for what I wanted to carve but the sun was shinning and the air was crisp.

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These things are sharp. They could both shave thin ribbons if choking up. The Plumb felt like it had more control when swinging hard and chopping. I think the straight haft and thicker grip helps with the accuracy of more powerful strikes. I think I made the grip on the Craftsman too thin. I noticed my forearm would fatigue rather quickly while holding and trying to control it with such a thin grip. I am thinking I should wrap the grip with leather or something to make it thicker in front of the knob. My next broad hatchet haft will get a thicker grip for sure. Holding the thicker center of the haft felt better. Choking up right close to the head of the Craftsman for shaving/carving was a pleasure. These two broad hatchets compliment each other quite nicely.

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I am not sure why but this piece of madrona limb started to take on the vague shape of an axe haft for some reason. The grain naturally bent that way I guess. There are way too many little knots in it to make a good full size axe haft but its fun to get a feel for the madrona. Now I want to find me some clear madrona to play with.




I guess now its time to find another head to restore. Thanks for looking.
 
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