Photos Drift Pins, Who has 'em? Show 'em

Miller '72

Miller '72

Joined
Jul 25, 2017
Messages
2,462
I have a head or two that show they once had a drift pin.
This is the only axe/hatchet I have that still has its drift pin and holding strong.

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I only cleaned this up yesterday, being part of what I picked up last weekend.
Its 2lbs total, 17 3/4" Length
Someone's pride and joy perhaps :)
Aside from the handle, which first drew me to it, the now very interesting part is the drift pin.
The handle is beautiful, the hang is solid. I just love that perhaps instead of rehanging...they drilled and hammered in a drift pin.
 
I've got quite a few that have pins. Most came as so but I've put them in as well.

I don't think its always done as a cure for loose heads, or because someone cant hang an axe, although no doubt some are.

Of course, timber sports require it.

The three things I think loosen heads the fastest are splitting(more precisely, wrenching a stuck axe out), pounding, and weather exposure.

Once a head starts moving a little, it wears in that area, moves more and the whole thing snowballs. Next thing you know its half off, then all the way off. A drift pin can help stop it before it starts.
 
muleman77 said:
I've got quite a few that have pins. Most came as so but I've put them in as well.

I don't think its always done as a cure for loose heads, or because someone cant hang an axe, although no doubt some are.

Of course, timber sports require it.

The three things I think loosen heads the fastest are splitting(more precisely, wrenching a stuck axe out), pounding, and weather exposure.

Once a head starts moving a little, it wears in that area, moves more and the whole thing snowballs. Next thing you know its half off, then all the way off. A drift pin can help stop it before it starts.
Click to expand...
It's definitely more common where heavy timber industry took place, in some parts I think it's required you have a pinned head if you use a wedge banger
 
I rehung a FSS TT boys axe that had one in Idaho but I didn't think to take pics. It had a hardware store brand oak handle on it and was very dull. Next time I head up there I'll bring a couple of files and my diamond paddles. Anyway, the only one I have with a pin is my pickaroon. King of the woodpile and I still don't have a pic just of him.
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Heres a few I have in different styles, and my thoughts on them.

Tension pin. I like these, and it's easy to change. Looks pretty good. Takes a fraction smaller hole than the pin, they stay put if done right. They come in a lot of sizes, and lengths.
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This tension pin was too long, and then peened flat. It would have been a lot better to shorten it a little first, better yet start with the right length.
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12 penny nail, 1/8" hole. Got several like this. Easy to file off the peen and drift out. Small hole in the head is less obtrusive, and would be very easy to weld up again. If I drill a head, it's this way.
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This brush axe has two pins obviously. I rehung it, but that's how these came from the factory.
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This is what I see a lot, and don't care for. Its ugly, the rivet heads get in the way and can cause a glancing blow, and they are really hard to change without a grinder. The hole is usually big. I don't think they work any better.
I've never had a pinned head any of these styles above come off, ever. The handles break sooner or later though. If I rehang a head done like this, I change to a tension pin. Sometimes the hole needs redrilled a size to work with one.

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I see quite a few that were drilled and pinned, but rehung and the pin left out. Doesn't hurt a thing to do that if you're not inclined to replace it.
 
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