Fixing the hardware store hatchet

[HeavyHanded]

Was recently on vacation and wound up buying an off the shelf hatchet to split wood for the fire pit. Being in the Adirondacks, the hardware stores often have older stock and was able to get a Made in USA for under $20. The geometry was still horrendous, so gave it the standard tune up, beginning with a 12" mill bastard file and finishing on WB.

It makes a tremendous difference in how they perform. The shaping recipe I use is taken from a turn of the century quote in the book Camping in the Old Style. Is the second traditional hatchet I've done like this, the first one turned out so well it outperforms both of my Fiskars hatchets, capable of some incredible work for its size.

Every time I do one of these I forget it will need a scabbard when I'm done...

[video=youtube;yzbeeHnFPEs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzbeeHnFPEs[/video]

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Martin,

Thank you for sharing!

Few questions/comments:
- Does it mean when you bought & used it during the trip, it did not perform as per expectation?
- The harness to hold it (rope, stepped) is really genius!
- What are the two rods plugged on the table for? The one you removed towards the end of the video?
- 'better than Fiskars', does it mean that Fiskars should actually better, but older stuff with tune up can be better? Is it possible to also improve the Fiskars?

I am guessing: you'll make Kydex sheath for it

 

[HeavyHanded]

Martin,

Thank you for sharing!

Few questions/comments:
- Does it mean when you bought & used it during the trip, it did not perform as per expectation?
- The harness to hold it (rope, stepped) is really genius!
- What are the two rods plugged on the table for? The one you removed towards the end of the video?
- 'better than Fiskars', does it mean that Fiskars should actually better, but older stuff with tune up can be better? Is it possible to also improve the Fiskars?

I am guessing: you'll make Kydex sheath for it

Chris,
It performed exactly as expected off the shelf - dreadful but good enough to split some wood into kindling. If I'd had a larger knife on me I would have just batoned it down instead.

I can't take credit for the rope - saw that on a video some time ago and thought was a very intelligent solution for axe/hatchet sharpening. The pins keep the whole thing from rotating away from the file like the hand on a clock.

Fiskars hatchets and axes come with pretty good geometry. Off the shelf their hatchets are light years ahead of the cheaper traditional hardware store hatchet. Problem with Fiskars is how flat the primary grind is. This limits how much work can be done in shaping the edge. Presumably I could thin the heel on one but would be huge amounts of steel removed to make it happen. The flat grind also limits how well the bit can be shaped for penetration. The hollow cheeks on a traditional allow for less steel behind the edge, and still have good (or better) wedging action for splitting than a flat grind. The perfect shape for this sort of work.

Next up is definitely a sheath, have to see how much Kydex I have on hand, I know its getting low....

 

[awestib]

Excellent video once again Martin! Thanks for sharing.