Cleaning up Flint Edge Cruiser, Need Advice!

B

Brian Rust

Joined
Nov 14, 2017
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So, there is the TT Flint Edge Cruiser my Grandfather gave me recently. I’m guessing the handle loosened and he banged the bottom of the handle to tighten it back up. I have used this tool a few times now and the head has loosened. This is the original handle so I want to keep it. I am debating on either moving the shoulder down a hair (if there is enough of it left) and putting a new wedge in or, trimming the “curl” off the handle placing the head in the same spot and then putting in the new wedge.... i would like to hear some advice from some of y’all a little longer in the tooth than I am. There is a small bit of damage to the shoulder on one side it still fits well but I am afraid if I try to take it down some it may tear out more. Please, all advice is welcome, I want this to be right!

Also, in my opinion the head was loose enough that it was past the point of soaking it in bol.

I thought it was interesting that you could still see the line of where the varnish stopped at the top of the handle. It surprises me that they varnished handle back when this was made. I’m guessing 50’s?

I will put a hold on this project until I figure out what I am doing and will post more pictures after I am done. Thank you for the comments!
 
I think you're right to re-hang it on the existing handle. As far as the axe head itself goes I wouldn't touch it. I like all the original paint on it.

Do just what you said, just trim the curl off at the bottom of the eye and wedge it with a little fatter wedge. If you happen to set it a little lower, even a 1/16", then leave that extra handle protruding from the top of the eye. Just before final assembly and driving the wedge give the kerf and wedge a good dose of Swel-lock.

You can make your own swel-lock by buying generic DPG, dipropylene glycol - NOT propylene glycol, and mixing it 4:1 with water, 80% DPG. Also, after you drive your wedge let it sit over night and hit again the next day before trimming it off.
 
DPG... that’s a new one for me! I usually tape up the bottom of the head/handle and fill it up with BOL. Do you mind explaining that a little more? Does DPG act like glue? Should I still bol it well? And where the heck do you get it haha. When I was in the oil field I believe it was PG that the gas wells had as a by product. Maybe I’m wrong but I thought that’s what it was.
 
This is very interesting. I believe I have seen this used in YouTube videos. I always wondered what it was. I wonder (when used on a loose mortise and tenan, such as furniture) how often it has to be reapplied? Or how long it keeps the wood “swelled”. For the price I will definitely order some!
 
Next question... to sand the handle and re apply bol or not sand the handle to keep pitna and just add bol??
 
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