Cracked head parallel to bottom of pole...cause??

J

JARB

Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Messages
16
Would appreciate some feedback, new to the forum. Recently received an axe from my girlfriends dad. Believe it to be a hults bruck agdor Montreal pattern 3.5lbs. Handle was original as it had a red epoxy top, but too loose to use so I removed it, in hopes to re haft. All I could do was tap epoxy out then drive handle out. Easy enough...no kerf, no wedge. I then gave the head a vinegar bath and when I removed some of the rust I noticed a crack running parallel to the bottom of the pole about a half inch up. Middle of crack is leading edge of the eye. Is this from heat treat in manufacture? Or could it have happened when I drove the epoxy'd haft out(no kerf)

Any thoughts?
Cheers!
 
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I'm afraid it is a true crack. It is tight but fairly long and uninterrupted.
I'll try and post some pics
 
Cracks through the eye are often attributed to frost action by a wet handle. Someone with proficiency on a MIG or TIG welder can probably repair this for you so that it's barely noticeable. Steel in around the eye and poll is not tempered so ruining the blade hardness won't happen as long as that part is not unduly heated. Square_Peg will be able to offer sound advice on welds, preparation and types of rods or wire. Pictures would be nice!
 
Thanks for the advice. I'd love to see this axe used as it has a beautiful patern and the history. I think I will
look into having it welded. I've been kinda devestated with the thought that I did it when I drove the haft out...but I realize I'll never really know the exact cause. I will get some pics up I hope, when I get some time to figure it out.

Thanks again
Cheers Ryan
 
You didn't hurt it removing the wedge. It would be nice to see a picture before offering any advise.
 
in-the-media


A couple images have been posted on the link above. Not sure if you'll see images here but that link will direct you to them.

http://www.getrecd.org/our-cause/in-the-media/
 
JARB said:
Would appreciate some feedback, new to the forum.

.......I noticed a crack running parallel to the bottom of the pole about a half inch up. Middle of crack is leading edge of the eye. Is this from heat treat in manufacture? Or could it have happened when I drove the epoxy'd haft out(no kerf)

Any thoughts?
Cheers!
Click to expand...



First off forgive us for not first welcoming you to the forum. Welcome aboard and thanks for posting.

That is a fairly serious crack and it's definitely not from anything you did but rather a bad heat treat from the factory. You can weld it but there are likely other flaws in the axe that will appear later. I wouldn't pay to have that fixed but if you can do it yourself or have a friend who will do it then it would help to weld the crack. If you choose to do that then grind the crack open in a 'Vee' and weld it, preferably with 7018 but anything will help.

Another option is just to hang it and use it and see how it goes. Maybe it will still last for years. I wouldn't take it into the wilderness as my lone axe but you'll probably get a few years of camping use out of it before it fails.
 
Thanks for welcoming me to the forum. Yeah I got some more rust off of it before I loaded pics up and noticed that crack starts in front of the eye and actually go's all the way to back of pole. Oh well...I will hang it like you said and use it lightly. Or maybe a serious modification...??:D
 
Before I put pics up I removed more rust and found that that crack actually stars at the back of the poll and ends in front of the eye. I'll take your advice...hang it and see what happens. Or maybe do a mod! Lol

Thank a lot!

Oops sorry for the double post...
 
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