Cleaning up an old ave head

[canuckchuck]

I have an old axe head, that i have found when i was cleaning out my Dads garage. It is a pretty cool looking piece but it is fairly rusty almost to the point that the steel is starting to pitt. Any way i was wonderting what was the best way to clean it up, sand blast or a grinder with a sanding disc. Any ideas ? I want to clean it up and put a new handle on it because it is pretty cool, and you don't see many like it as it has the real long cutting edge as opposed to the regular length that normal axes have. Thanks

 

[Operator1975]

There are plenty of ways of doing it. I posted about using various house hold chemicals once. Angle grinder with a coarse wheel also works. More about what you like and what works for you. Plain old vinegar is hard to beat, if you have the time.

 

[trailmaker]

I've had pretty good results with varying grits of sandpaper, down to about 220. I've never tried vinegar but it sounds like it might be a good first step. I've seen some old axe heads polished to a mirror finish but I'm not crazy about that look. Axes have a little more character if they show some signs of age. Here are some old beaters that I cleaned up with sandpaper

 

[canuckchuck]

Thanks for the info guys i may just take my time and sand it down by hand with the sand paper like Trailmaker says , although the vinegar sounds intresting too.

 

[noeesp]

I agree with Op1975 I tried vinegar after his great post on various chemicals and after seven day, it was amazed how well it worked. Just make sure it is completely submerged.

 

[rjdankert]

Here is one I cleaned up with a wire wheel on a bench grinder

I've also cleaned other old hand tools (wood planes, saw plates, braces, etc.) with the wire wheel, de-rusting products, and vinegar. Of any chemicals I like vinegar the best.

Bob

 

[rjdankert]

Trailmaker, great job!

Bob

 

[omniviking]

If you would like to leave some patina and not leave some grinder mark on it I have soaked an old head in WD 40, diesel, penetrating oil, transmission fluid to loosen up the crunk and then hit it with a scotch brite wheel on a drill or grinder. be careful to polish off of the edge and not into it, as these wheels could grab and throw you around.