Faxon? Anyone know anything about that name?

G

G-pig

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Jul 5, 2011
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I bought an old adze the other day for less than 5 dollars, it is marked Faxon, and some other crap that looks like roman numerals or something I dont know anything about. it seems really old. Minimal pitting, only a bit of rust. anybody know anything about them?

the reason it was 5 bucks was the spike on the back that they used for driving pegs beyond flush and picking at knots and stuff was broken off. Im gonna try to weld an old round cold chisel to a piece of steel and then weld the steel back on, should be a fun little project. Already have a handle in the works.
 
Over 200 years old !?!

"...the Liberty Tool Co. has salvaged and recycled a number of hewing axes and other edge tools marked "Faxon". The origin of these tools, found in the Quincy, MA, area, was a mystery until the publication of the Directory of American Toolmakers, which notes a Richard Faxon working in Braintree, MA, circa 1795, and probably earlier. He was almost certainly the maker of the tools salvaged by the Liberty Tool Co. in the mid-1970s."

from The Davistown Museum
http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioEpstein.htm
 
Great detective work again, Steve!
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Now G owes us a picture of that adze.
 
Holy crap. Thanks Steve! I think I want to repair it even though it is a vintage piece. I would want my tools fixed if someone came across it 200 years from now.
 
I finished up carving and bending an Oak handle for it, and pulled it out of the vinegar bath this morning. I tried throwing a quick edge on and it wouldnt cut worth a lick. Someone had dubbed off the back instead of a proper gradual arc. Spent about a half an hour re shaping the back side and taking out some of the arc (almost half moon shape wouldnt bite the wood right). I wanted an adze with a curved or lipped edge for working without tear out but this one had a bit too much. Its fine now though, took a very nice edge and works nice. Very light and lively, easy to control. My plumb carpenters adze is a brute club (albeit not neccesarily in a bad way) compared to this one.
 
Holy crap. Thanks Steve! I think I want to repair it even though it is a vintage piece. I would want my tools fixed if someone came across it 200 years from now.
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My thoughts exactly- and now it is your tool
 
A Visitor said:
My thoughts exactly- and now it is your tool
Click to expand...

Im not sure if Im going to repair the broken pick or not- leaning towards no. If I needed to weld more steel back on for the integrity of the eye I would, but this doesnt affect that. I feel like its not really worth doing to such an old tool if its not neccesary. Besides, the missing pick is part of its history and adds character and a certain mystique to it =D
 
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