COTS Project Thread

cityofthesouth · Jan 14, 2015

quinton said:
Why not just go cut down a hickory tree?

I dunno, they are few and far between here, or at least in this area. There is a big Bur Oak laying in a creek I know of that's nice and straight - the roots washed out and it fell over - I kinda want to see if I can figure out how to get it. It is a creek (with little to no water and high, steep banks) but the entire tree fits across it and the tree is probably close to 3 foot across the base.

quinton · Jan 14, 2015

cityofthesouth said:
I dunno, they are few and far between here, or at least in this area. There is a big Bur Oak laying in a creek I know of that's nice and straight - the roots washed out and it fell over - I kinda want to see if I can figure out how to get it. It is a creek (with little to no water and high, steep banks) but the entire tree fits across it and the tree is probably close to 3 foot across the base.

My grandmother sold a White Oak back in the summer that brought a little over $3000. It was near 4' through at the base, and cut 90 feet of log. If I were you, I would try to figure a way to get that Bur Oak outta that crick!

Square_peg · Jan 15, 2015

SC T100 said:
I'm thinking you might have to start with a pick or cutter mattock handle possibly. Their eyes are symmetrical but quite large and will require some wood removal to one side. It could end up looking a little funny, but it should at least fit the eye.

Just what eye was thinking.

Square_peg · Jan 15, 2015

cityofthesouth said:
There is a big Bur Oak laying in a creek I know of that's nice and straight - the roots washed out and it fell over - I kinda want to see if I can figure out how to get it.

quinton said:
My grandmother sold a White Oak back in the summer that brought a little over $3000. It was near 4' through at the base, and cut 90 feet of log. If I were you, I would try to figure a way to get that Bur Oak outta that crick!

If you can't get a truck with a winch close then perhaps you can pull it out with a grip hoist. Though I've never seen grip hoists for rent and the cost is rather high......

SC T100 · Jan 15, 2015

Square_peg said:
Just what eye was thinking.

Eye see what you did there.

quinton · Jan 15, 2015

SC T100 said:
Eye see what you did there.

Eye don't know about you guys sometimes.

cityofthesouth · Jan 15, 2015

oh boy .... it's starting to get deep in here.

cityofthesouth · Jan 16, 2015

Better get some pics on this page. I had this 32" sitting around needing work. Front-to-back I would have liked to have more material but the swell is 1-1/2" wide and the thing is straight with good grain overall, so I thought it was worth tweaking.

As it arrived.

32inch_reshape_original by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

Here I began ripping it down with the rasp.

32inch_reshape_swellhook by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

32inch_reshape_swellsides by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

Took a big chunk out of the underside of the shoulder.

32inch_reshape_rasped by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

Thinned the entire thing on the belt sander.

32inch_reshape_36gritrough by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

And the ALMOST finished product. More later.

handlerework_finished by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

handlerework_finishedswell by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

cityofthesouth · Jan 16, 2015

Now to make this interesting. I have been thinking that I would like the handle's age to appear similar to the head's age and since this handle was an experiment I decided to go for it. First, I took a file and smacked the wood here and there just for some personality. Using the sludge from my vinegar vats I rubbed the handle down which quickly blackened the grain lines and darkened the wood, then wiped it off. Next, I took some leather dye that happened to be near, and applied it lightly in some places, more heavily in others while at the same time rubbing in BLO with it.

distressedhandle by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

This Wards Master Quality axe is a great axe, but it's one I've had a long time and the handle is straight off the shelf - and not very good. Because of this, the old Wards doesn't get much use. Time for that to change. Of course with the fitting process I had to touch up the effect, but it came out pretty good.

distressedhandle_wardsaxe by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

cityofthesouth · Jan 16, 2015

Beginning, middle, end. Oak wedge made for it - which got really dark when I applied the sludge.

32inch_reshape_starttofinish by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

32inch_wards_finished by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

32inch_wards_wedge2 by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

Square_peg · Jan 16, 2015

cityofthesouth said:
distressedhandle_wardsaxe by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

That's good. Nice slender haft with a comfortable swell.

High_Noon · Jan 17, 2015

Awesome work!

cityofthesouth · Jan 19, 2015

Appreciate it fellas. This project will hold me over for a minute until my good handles show up. I'm happy with the faux patina on the handle and I will for sure do it again.

I split an entire Ash, cut living, this weekend with the Craftsman from a page or two back - bout 18" or so at the base, maybe 2'. It's a workhorse but my abs are feeling it today. Ash is getting to be one of my favorite heating woods though.

cityofthesouth · Feb 10, 2015

Still no handles. I've had this handle sitting around - came on one axe or another and I saved it. It has sideways grain but I decided ah, what the hell. I need some more practice before I start working on handles that matter and I'll just see how long it takes me to break it. This axe has been seen before but the stick that was on it just kept bending and bending as it sat around. Apparently there was some kind of kink in the wood structure because it's taken a wicked warping. So, I yanked it to put this one on.

Here it is when I got it. (I thought this didn't sound clear, but I meant, here is the handle when I got it - on a different head.)

gambles_original by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

Here it is now.

badgrain_sidebyside by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

badgrain_sideshot by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

Grain is really sideways at the top. Considering what I had to start with, I am happy with the final shape. I need to pay better attention to the flow of the curves. There was a hole drilled in it that I filled with a little piece of poplar dowel that happened to be near by. Fitment came out good except for just a little sliver you can see in the last image.

badgrain_wedge by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

badgrain_fit by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

chuxwan · Feb 10, 2015

You are absolutely killing it. Everything you post is a lesson in exactly what to do IMO. Love that poplar dowel also, looks great.

Square_peg · Feb 10, 2015

cityofthesouth said:
badgrain_sidebyside by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

I love what you're doing with these. Fantastic work.

Remzy · Feb 11, 2015

Im really liking all this handle and axe porn! keep em coming, fantastic work!

Agent_H · Feb 11, 2015

I really enjoy seeing the "COTS Projects" pop up with updates. Always impressed with the time you are taking to do your builds with these axes and tools.

Almost called them hangs but this is more than file, fit, and wedge.

The dowel through the hole is not only utilitarian but really nice looking.

Using the sludge to darken the handle is interesting. I inadvertently grabbed hold of a handle I had hung with some grubby gloves before applying a finish.
Disappointed with myself at the time (Knob Creek). Decided to just go ahead and paw the whole thing to match the stain I put on it.
Never thought of doing it on purpose to get the results you have here.

Remzy said:
Im really liking all this handle and axe porn! keep em coming, fantastic work!

Seriously - at least when Im at work and someone swings by I dont have to minimize the screen or clear my search history

cityofthesouth · Feb 11, 2015

Thank you all! Maybe that little dowel will hold the whole thing together!

chuxwan said:
You are absolutely killing it. Everything you post is a lesson in exactly what to do IMO. Love that poplar dowel also, looks great.

Square_peg said:
I love what you're doing with these. Fantastic work.

Remzy said:
Im really liking all this handle and axe porn! keep em coming, fantastic work!

Agent_H said:
I really enjoy seeing the "COTS Projects" pop up with updates. Always impressed with the time you are taking to do your builds with these axes and tools.

Almost called them hangs but this is more than file, fit, and wedge.

The dowel through the hole is not only utilitarian but really nice looking.

Using the sludge to darken the handle is interesting. I inadvertently grabbed hold of a handle I had hung with some grubby gloves before applying a finish.
Disappointed with myself at the time (Knob Creek). Decided to just go ahead and paw the whole thing to match the stain I put on it.
Never thought of doing it on purpose to get the results you have here.

I did the exact same thing. Before I started using gloves I found the nasty stuff in the vinegar really stains skin too, so I figured it had to be good for something. I realized all my hobbies involved slathering myself with some kind of poison or acid and now I have a pair of "clean" gloves for BLO and "dirty" gloves for vinegar.

Agent_H said:
Seriously - at least when Im at work and someone swings by I dont have to minimize the screen or clear my search history

Hahaha!

lmalterna · Feb 11, 2015

I happen to have a COTS handle

and let me tell you, it is treasured!

Makes me ashamed to post picks of my hacks jobs.

Bill