Finally hung my rafting axe

Thanks, gang. I'm super happy with this thing. I shelled out a good bit more than I normally would to get this axe. But I have absolutely no regrets. Like some of you I've wanted a rafting axe and when I saw this waffle pattern I just had to have it. I have a pretty complete set of working axes - that's been my focus. But I didn't have a full size with a hardened poll until this one. I'm likin' it!
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cooperhill said:
That vice is amazing. Need something like that as well as an outdoors work area.
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It's an 85-pounder with 6" non-marring jaws. A blacksmith's leg vise. 1-1/2" screw. I LOVE that vise. One of the best tool investments I've made. I have a nice 4" machinist vise in the garage shop but I prefer to work out on the covered patio. Better light, better air and I just prefer working outdoors.
 
Dang Square pegs, You ain't screwin around. Broke out the big power tools on this one. Like a coworker says"stand back I'm gona make sht happen":D.
Come out nice, you are going to get alot of use out of that one:thumbup:.
 
I've got a Kelly Vulcan rafting head....Thanks for the info, I need to hang it. I guess I never thought of using it for splitting rounds...But it sure makes sense. Thanks for sharing.

Tom
 
You gotta try the Tom Clark style tilt to the swing. That big poll would do a dandy job with that. I was a skeptic before splitting a couple cords of "tough" wood this fall with a 3 1/2 pound double bit. Ran the gambit from seasoned in the round Red Oak to green dripping wet Sugar Maple. I was splitting the Maple faster than they could buck it with a husqy. The 7 pound Maul still comes along for the ride most of the time but I seldom use it. I have a few axes in the 4 to 5 pound range that I want to get hung on Ash handles for splitting axes in the future.
 
I had a little fun with this axe today out at the splitting stump. The thing is amazing. It has absolutely no respect for knots.

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You can chop right through 'em. The combination of weight, sharpness and bit geometry is just devastating.

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You can also set the piece of wood on its side and split the knot lengthwise.

You can see the waffle pattern on the poll in this image.

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Or if you hit knots square on center you can split them with an end blow.

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I had dueling brothers out at the wood pile today, the big 5--pound rafter and his little brother, a 3-1/2 pound Plumb single bit. The 3-1/2 pounder did fine on most stuff but on the big knotty stuff it was no contest.

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If you've ever framed houses then you might know the pleasure of driving a hardened 'teco nail' into a knot where you could never drive a sinker. That's kind of how it feels to bash the crap out a knot with this axe. It's like getting even with all the knots that ever got in your way.

Good fun!

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That sure is a nice lookin' axe. I also am fond of the rafting pattern.

My older brother also loves to split wood. He was admiring a few of the axes I had brought home during Christmas break and I got the sense that he kinda wanted a nice axe of his own. I was thinking of getting an old rafting pattern from ebay and hanging it for him. This thread has finally motivated me to do it. I'll be watching the auctions closely now.
 
I'm definitely intrigued by this axe, Pegs. It sure looks like it could hold it's own in chopping too. What's the verdict on that?
 
I haven't done any real chopping with it yet. I took a few swings at a small log I had in the back yard but that's not a real test for this axe. I'll take it out in the woods one day soon and get back to you.
 
The hardened poll, and consequently the ability to hammer right through those tough pieces, looks like a real asset for splitting those knotty pieces! Absolutely love how this axe looks. The long face and heavy poll just look like they were meant to slice right through the toughest wood.

Absolutely love the photos! Thanks for sharing!
 
I recently posted a picture of this axe along side a fresher axe and it made me realize how badly I needed to re-grind the waffling on the poll. It's something I've wanted to do for several years but I held off because I knew it would be difficult to do.

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Today I finally got around to it. I started with a cant file (not safed) to re-establish the lines. Later I switched to a triangle file to shape the points and grooves.

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Here you can see how I set it for filing in my vise. A scrap of hickory protects the bit from the screw while two elms wedges help secure the axe in the jaws.

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In the more worn areas it was really tough to carefully re-establish the lines. Tedious and painstaking. It took me over two hours to do. The file had to be brushed out constantly.

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Almost finished

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Tools.

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Finished waffle.

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I have not seen a 5lb rafting axe, I have not seen one with a textured/cross-hatched surface. Very nice axe!

Also, we all know what a nice handle job can be done with lots of time. To do %90 as good in 10 minutes is excellent. Kudos.
 
Square_peg said:
Finished waffle.

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That is impressive Square_peg. The whole project is. You use your axes, have you used the shorter-handled one much or find the longer handle more effective for splitting?

Great collection of rafting/miner axes and that box makes for a neat "package" as well.

That old vise is always fun to see in action too.
 
I don't use the short one. Having the original handle I just don't want to risk damaging it. But the one I milled is a regular user and still my primary and best splitter.

If someone were extraordinarily ambitious and skilled with a file I believe they could mill a waffle pattern on a smooth face poll. And I bet it would be much easier on a poll that wasn't hardened.
 
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