Can this Plumb be saved. UPDATE

BobSig

BobSig

Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
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Updated pics below

Was getting some wood at my folks neighbors house yesterday and found this guy. He was stuck in the tree until the tree was dropped and she got bent. I told him I'd throw the head away for him if he didnt want it and tossed it in my chainsaw bucket. "Why'd you want that?" he asks, "because is a plumb."

So can she be straitened out? Or will it fatigue the metal too much to be of real use. And if I can, how should I? If salvageable id like to get her back in good shape. And any handle suggestions?

Thanks guys

dVjxl.jpg


EVTHn.jpg


iMaAB.jpg


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DRPFL.jpg



Here are the Updated pics. After 3 hits with a rubber mallet it was strait. I put the edge to the grinder and the paper wheel for a few minutes. Still got some work to do, like hang it, clean up that bottom edge but Ill do that when I am less busy.

yY9j0.jpg


DyElq.jpg


Scratches from scraping the pitch of.
Fuf8Q.jpg
 
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looks like a roofing hatchet to me. Maybe not as hardened as a regular axe.may not be toast after all, but my guess is not worth it.
 
could make a good beater.
clean it up and hang a new handle in it and see what you can do with it.

buzz
 
It bent cold the first time. Couldn't hurt to try cold hammering it straight again. A blacksmith could easily straighten it and re-harden and temper it but it wouldn't be worth the effort.
 
Ill give it a try and see if I can straiten it with my mallet and just grab a handle from the hardware store and hang it. If that dont work Ill send you a email Adventure Wolf. I dont think Ill spend much of my day working tomorrow so maybe Ill get a change to work on this. Thanks
 
I have one just like it but not rusted, and it is bent in just the same way. Looked it up, and it is called a California lath hatchet. Guess it is for working on plaster walls with lath strips. I also guess both have been used for something rougher, and that is how they got bent. Been thinking about straightening mine, but can't think what I would use it for that wouldn't bend it again, so I just have it hanging on the wall on a nail. I'm curious about how they are actually used. Cooper still sells them with the Plumb name but made in Taiwan, and they sell for about $30.
 
3 moderate hits with my rubber maul and it is about perfectly strait. I got all that pitch off and spent a few minutes cleaning her up. Ill get some pics up, making it strait easier than I thought.
 
Got pics up - Added them here too, otherwise I put them in the OP

Here are the Updated pics. After 3 hits with a rubber mallet it was strait. I put the edge to the grinder and the paper wheel for a few minutes. Still got some work to do, like hang it, clean up that bottom edge but Ill do that when I am less busy.

yY9j0.jpg


DyElq.jpg


Scratches from scraping the pitch of.
Fuf8Q.jpg
 
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How do you guys refinish these things? Get rid of the rust and make em like pretty like you all manage to do?

Thanks


bearhunter said:
Nevermind! I see them...
Click to expand...

I wasnt sure if putting them in the op was going to be hard to find. Looks like it was, dont want you all to have to search for the pics, I put them in my last post too for convenience.
 
made2cut said:
What are the holes for in this design? :confused:
Click to expand...

I think they are used with some type of nut/bolt combo to use as a depth guage in popping through a lathe and plaster wall cavity.
 
made2cut said:
What are the holes for in this design? :confused:
Click to expand...

That's what's called a 'course gauge.' It denotes the distance from the edge of one course of shingles to the edge of the course above it. It's so that your roof will look purty and the overlap between all the shingle courses is even.
 
BobSig said:
How do you guys refinish these things? Get rid of the rust and make em like pretty like you all manage to do?
Click to expand...

Wire cup brush on an angle grinder. Wear safety glasses or goggles. They sometimes throw wires.
 
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