Cleaning/Restoring Axes Help

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billoo13

Joined
Mar 12, 2012
Messages
56
Hi, I am really new to collecting blades and have recently become hooked on Axes and Hatchets and my grandpa found out about my hobby and gave me a few axes he had.
Some of the axes have no markings that I can see and one hatchet has Plumb U.S.A. on it and even one axe he found up in the woods recently.

Now here is my problem, every single one is coated in rust. I would like to know how to remove all of the rust and make them shine again. I have no knowledge of axes at all and, although this is asking alot, I need to find out how to remove the axe head, remove the rust without damaging the markings or eating away the metal and how to rehandle the heads. I know this is asking alot but I want to revive these axes including the Plumb and I don't want to do something stupid and ruin them. Also I don't plan to sharpen them until I learn how to properly to it.

And just so you understand, I have so little experience that I have never even sharpened a blade before in my life.

Also I will add some pics in a day or two but they will be with my cell phone.

Sorry about such a big request.
 
if i were you, i would start by doing a few searches in the forum. their is a wealth of info avaliable here to get you started in the right direction.

and, there are plenty of folks here that will help you anyway they can...

now the pics, we need pics :D
 
billoo13 said:
what site would you recommend for uploading pics. also I will be taking them tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I use picassa. Alotta guys like photobucket.

Do you have an angle grinder and a wire cup brush for it? Like this:

P1060789.JPG


That's easily my favorite way to remove rust and yet retain the patina on the head.
 
As bearhunter said, there is a wealth of info here that can be dug up with some searches. The angle grinder with wire cup is a great way to remove rust. There are also wire wheels that will fit into drills although it's a little slower. With both of these methods I like to wear a dust mask and some eye protection. Soaking the head in white vinegar is a popular method but leaves a different finish compared to the wire wheels. I'm looking forward to the pictures; I use photobucket myself.
 
Soaking an axe head in vinegar for three days and wire brushing them after the soak has been the most preferred way to clean up an axe head. Rather easy, cheap and not to complicated.

I have around 15 or so rusted crosscut saws and I'm thinking of building a tank for them to use electrolysis method to remove the rust from them.

http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/readarticle.pl?dir=handtools&file=articles_363.shtml

A little more complicated, but the results are amazing. I also have a small collection of other vintage tools that I can use this method for cleaning them up.

Here's what I'm thinking of building for my saws: http://www.crosscutsawyer.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=437&p=1297&hilit=Electrolysis#p1297

My regards, Double Ott
 
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Thanks for the info so far.
I have been busy all day and will be taking some pics tomorrow bit I do have some pics I will post.

This axe is one my Grandpa found up in the woods a few days ago.

2012-04-11_18-42-15_382.jpg


Here is a hatchet my dad gave me, the second photo shows some markings on it.

2012-04-23_16-12-25_358.jpg


The markings look like American Beauty.

2012-04-23_16-12-32_846.jpg


This final pic is another old hatchet from my dad. Both were in the garage since we got the house so they are at least 20+ years old.

2012-04-23_16-13-10_363.jpg


I will be posting pics of my Grandpa's axes tomorrow.
 
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billoo13 said:
Hi, I am really new to collecting blades and have recently become hooked on Axes and Hatchets and my grandpa found out about my hobby and gave me a few axes he had.
Click to expand...

I only hope that I have a grandchild like you one day.
 
I know you said you want to make them shine again, but they do not look too bad from what I can tell. I would probably hit them with some regular old sand paper to get the loose stuff off and than give them a bit of oil. Unless an axe has lots of deep red rust and pitting I don't soak in vinegar or something. Yours just have some crud on them, that should clean right up.

Hope you have a lot of fun with these, and be careful.
 
I finally got some pics and I will even post a couple that aren't axes.

also if anyone can help me identify any of the blades from this post or the three hatchets above, I would greatly appreciate it. whether the info is the exact make and model or just the type of axe head.

Here are the axes from the shed.

2012-04-24_14-19-38_787.jpg


Here is the head of one of the 2-Handers.

2012-04-24_14-19-50_746.jpg


Here is the second 2-Hander.

2012-04-24_14-20-09_223.jpg


Here is some writing on the second 2-Hander that looks like it says Wood something.

2012-04-24_14-20-17_428.jpg


Here is that Plumb Hatchet.

2012-04-24_14-20-33_493.jpg


Here is a better look at the Mark on the side.

2012-04-24_14-20-53_120.jpg
 
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Here are more pics.

This is an extremely old Miner's pick that my grandpa says they used to pry coal out of the walls.

2012-04-24_14-21-07_467.jpg


Here is a close up of the head of the pick.

2012-04-24_14-21-13_521.jpg


Here is a sickle he found today in the shed.

2012-04-24_14-21-29_398.jpg


Here is the close up of a mark that say Philadelphia.

2012-04-24_14-21-38_195.jpg
 
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Nice set of tools! The Woodslasher and the Plumb are both high quality tools which should last you for decades. But I really like the look of that old miner's pick. I hope you get that thing cleaned up and re-handled.
 
those are nice, thanks for the pics!
looks like they all should clean up and serve you well...
you should give your grandfather a big hug and a thank you... its not everyday that someone gets to enjoy old tools with an 'old man'...
consider youself lucky and be thankful...:)

now, get um' cleaned up...;)
 
Trust me I thanked him many times and he says he is going to keep an eye out at flea markets and will buy any old axes he finds. God I love him. He even told me about a 1.5-2 foot long meat cleaver he had from his dad and has been trying to find it for me, sadly he thinks he might have junked it.

out of all the cleaning methods, which would you recommend the most for the Kelly and Plumb? I don't want to ruin the names on them from sanding or scrubbing with a brush too hard.

Also which method would be best for the old pick?
 
Hard to ruin an old tool. I'd suggest giving one a try. Only way to learn is by doing. Probably the most important thing I've picked up on here. As others have set, the Plumb and Woodslasher don't look bad. I think some sandpaper would shine them up.
 
I like to clamp a rusty tool in the vise and then hit it with a brass wire cup brush on an angle grinder. Cleans 'em up lickety-split.

I think that old pick is gonna need a vinegar bath. I'd probably soak it for a couple days, pulling it out nightly for wire brush work.
 
I refuse to use any power tools on any of my axes. The only tools I use are: Wire brush, wet&dry emery, file and wet-stone on head. When fitting a new haft I will use spoke-shave, rasp, double cut file, sand paper and mallet.

I will only use the vinegar soak on a well rusted head.

Everyone has their own preferences of course, and I respect that....My style is to retain the years of built up patina and only shine the part that is doing the cutting.

regards...Frank
 
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