Not very many miles on that one, and hasn't been left sticking out of a stump in the outdoors either. Likely a tad oversize/overweight for wandering around in the bush with but at least now you're on the road to learning how to sharpen one up and use it. And your dad will thank you for giving it a tune-up!
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First axe - $100 max budget
- Thread starter 00ChevyScott
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I picked up a sweet Sadger Chemical at what would have been sold at a garage sale for $3.00, with a little elbow grease this could be yours,
Check the local Garage Sales.
Check the local Garage Sales.
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I had some vintage axe heads that I have owned for years.
Truetemper (double bit), and Alltrade (3.5#).
Not the best but basically forgot I had them (after being in an out building for 25 years).
My thoughts, not knowing anything about axes, was I wanted to learn how to haft, and sharpen axes before spending any money on a good one.
So I bought the Mexican Collins boys axe ($18) at a local hardware store.
I had read the reviews.
I was extremely hard on the Collins, yet it never failed me.
Cut/split ect. then "honed" my sharpening skills.
Eventually after 6 months, I had to re-haft it (after extremely hard use).
I can say, it has served me well, and taught me alot about axes.
JMHO, but the skills I learned from this axe (sharpening/hafting, ect.) it was worth every penny.
Then I moved on to my better axes, with a better understanding of what I was doing.
I think it would be a smart move to invest in a somewhat cheaper axe (not saying Collins necessarily), and the sharpening equipment required to keep one going, and learn your way around one.
It would also offer a great perspective on how to use one in the field (and thats key).
The stories my cheapo could tell (cutting my way out of an ice storm for instance).
I have since moved on to more expensive axes, biding my time to find the right one (having learned my personal needs from the boys axe), and having confidence in using one also learned from the boys axe.
If its your first axe, then I would get some experience with a cheaper one first, then look for the better ones (as I did).
It sure helped me.
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Subject change but think its a good one for the OP.
How do you guys sharpen your axes? Tools, angle etc... I've never really honed my skill at it. Since I make knives I just throw it on my belt sander and grind it out on a higher grit, aluminum oxide not ceramic....
How do you guys sharpen your axes? Tools, angle etc... I've never really honed my skill at it. Since I make knives I just throw it on my belt sander and grind it out on a higher grit, aluminum oxide not ceramic....
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My personal preference is a file and diamond stone, by hand.
I have a 1x42" Grizzly belt sander, but prefer the "hand" method for axes anyway.
Nothing like shaving hair off your arm with an axe.
There are some great vids on Youtube on how to sharpen an axe, a skill more important than the axe itself, IMHO.
Another great thing to look into, is making your own handle, in an emergency, the little time spent learning how to make one, pays huge dividends in the field.
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My personal preference is a file and diamond stone, by hand.
I have a 1x42" Grizzly belt sander, but prefer the "hand" method for axes anyway.
Nothing like shaving hair off your arm with an axe.
There are some great vids on Youtube on how to sharpen an axe, a skill more important than the axe itself, IMHO.
Another great thing to look into, is making your own handle, in an emergency, the little time spent learning how to make one, pays huge dividends in the field.
Awesome Thanks. I have a ton of fresh Hickory to test my skills with making a handle. I'm a pretty good carpenter so I Should be able to.
I have put a stone to my axe after the belt and I have used files before but I haven't really nailed down a technique or process.
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I use the poll as a guide for my file, raising the file slightly, and filing from poll to edge, never filing "into" the edge.
I usually get it to a sharp/clean (free of any chips/voids), and finish with a med. diamond stone.
YMMV, but after you do a few, you will see what works best for you.
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I picked up a sweet Sadger Chemical at what would have been sold at a garage sale for $3.00, with a little elbow grease this could be yours,
Check the local Garage Sales.
2 Temper lines on each Bit?????
Government of Ontario (Lands & Forests Dept) taught us (me, anyway) how to use Nicholson axe files in 1970. Nice enough edge to want to be able to shave may be an ideal (with an axe, and can be done relatively easy enough with more elbow grease) but when you swing one all day long there does become a degree of sharpness that is plenty efficient for the job at hand and does not involve multiple grit stones and all the other fussy stuff that only serves to cut into work time. This is an axe we're talking about, not a surgeon's scalpel or a hoity-toity custom carving knife.
Get yourself a decent quality mill bastard file and practice on some expendable blades. It is a unique and satisfying effort when you can feel and see and read when/how a sharp file bites into whatever you're working on. And you'll be tuckered out long before you manage to ruin the edge or profile on something as thick and durable as an axe.
Electric grinders have done wonders for creating new customers in the axe market; tinhorns and folks with no patience have ruined more heads and blades over the years than darn near anybody else.
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I hope I never get to the point that I have to swing one all day! LOL!
Prolly going to have a heart attack a few days afterwards.......
I do like carving stuff with a boys sized axe also, and a razor sharp edge comes in handy for that, tent stakes, spoon, ect.....
Much respect for the loggers, using an axe all day, I sure enjoy watching them on Youtube, but have ZERO experience myself (I'm a Stihl MS type guy when it comes to that:thumbup
.I'm an 'old cat' now too and Stihl products do wonders for me. But carving with a ordinary axe? Fixed blade knife/chisel is handlier and way better for that task!I hope I never get to the point that I have to swing one all day! LOL!
Prolly going to have a heart attack a few days afterwards.......
I do like carving stuff with a boys sized axe also, and a razor sharp edge comes in handy for that, tent stakes, spoon, ect.....
Much respect for the loggers, using an axe all day, I sure enjoy watching them on Youtube, but have ZERO experience myself (I'm a Stihl MS type guy when it comes to that:thumbup
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To the OP, I have an Oxe Head axe I picked up recently, it is right in the middle of a Boys axe, and a larger axe (3# head I think, 26" handle) and have been highly impressed with it.
I bought it brand new for $80.
Pretty sweet, I can't compare it to the higher end axes, but I have been highly impressed with it.
You might be better off, saving alittle more money, and stepping up the ones mentioned, but for the money, I would definitely recommend it.
Just my .02 cents.
My next one will prolly be the Council Velvicut boys axe.
I bought it brand new for $80.
Pretty sweet, I can't compare it to the higher end axes, but I have been highly impressed with it.
You might be better off, saving alittle more money, and stepping up the ones mentioned, but for the money, I would definitely recommend it.
Just my .02 cents.
My next one will prolly be the Council Velvicut boys axe.
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I use a combo of both, but the boys axe size, sure saves me some time, provided it has a "very sharp edge".
Have my doubts your older than me.
Edit: I guess you are!
I was 7 years old in 1970.
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00ChevyScott
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Well, how'd I do? Hopefully I'll be able to find a good handle for it locally and get it hung up.
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Square_peg
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That's a good guess. The Mann/Collins era was from 1966 to 2003. I think the older ones had a stamp on the handle rather than just a sticker.
Awful, just awful. Here, just send it to me and I'll hide it for you before anyone else sees you with it.
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Well, how'd I do? Hopefully I'll be able to find a good handle for it locally and get it hung up.
Haha you beat me out by 50 cents on that one! I'm glad it went to a fellow BladeForumite!
Congrats, and enjoy the process of putting an old tool back into service.
00ChevyScott
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Damn sorry bud. I'm actually surprised I won it, I seem to never win auctions haha. I'll try to give it a good home. The seller didn't list the weight but based off the size I'm assuming its 2 1/4 lbs right?