Hand me down Plumb hatchet project

scruffuk

scruffuk

Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
2,679
A couple of weeks ago, when I visited my folks, I took a look in my pa's 'workshop' and discovered he'd aquired a 'new' axe. He'd found and cadged it from my grandpa recently, and they belived it to be my great grandfathers. Not sure if this is the case but its an old Plumb hatchet.

d0ff2761.jpg


Look at the handle!!! I insisted I'd refurb it and promptly swiped it.

In his eagerness to use it, he had also 'sharpened' it....with an angle grinder!! He's and engineer, and knows enough about steel to keep it cool. That said I still told him off and it needed the edge sorting before I could bare to go any further. I'll be doing more to it but I have convexed the edge back. It seems to have a nice bite upon this wee bit of sharpening its had. I've found that this 'feeling' often means the steel is good, so I'm optimistic it's not been ruined.

530f6f32.jpg


9e3952ca.jpg


You'll also notice its mushroomed slightly. My pa had blitzed this. It'll need some more tidying. The black paint shall be going too.

fa90b0c6.jpg


I've salvaged a piece of Yew from the fire wood pile. I think it may hold up to some stick....but it's as tough as iron to shape! More of my progress on this project to follow....if you folks don't mind?

Edited to add:

Please could I ask you good folks about the handle?
Is it a true hatchet? (I think that means 14" helve, but this is currently just shy of that and it seems a little short for the head size. This weighs in around a pound and a half).

Should I go straight or not?

Your advice would be much appreciated by this axe returning novice.

Thank you

scruff
 
Last edited:
Great little Plumb you have there. And so cool that it has a long family history. It definitely needs to put back to work. I'm sure your great-grandfather would approve.

That existing handle appears to have been cut off at some point. The colts foot doesn't have the swell in it that it should. For regular hatchets like this I prefer my handles to be 14"-15" long and curved not straight.
 
im with pegs!
if it were mine id go with a 14-15" slightly curved haft... and congrats on the find, family history adds much to a tools 'joy'...

and yes, i would call that a true hatchet...
 
Just an update.

Had to abandon the yew, it had too many knots in the wrong places.

Went up the woods at the back and harvested some beech from a sizable fella that has been down for over a year. It still seems very green and there is some light spalting. I'm hoping it's not going to affect its strength.

4ba7f752.jpg


Shaping has all been done with my Japanese Satsuma Yoki. Really a great little hatchet for carving I've found.

Also cleaned up some of the mushrooming and liberated the original wedge.
I've used Camelia oil to help lift off some of the rust after a touch of filing and sanding.

Wasn't gonna use a cross wedge but it seems only right to keep as much of the 'original ' together as possible.

1419adc1.jpg


More to follow later.
 
That's a great start. You're pretty handy with that Satsuma Yoki. It looks a lot like an HB.
 
Well, I screwed attempt two up by thinning out incorrectly and snapping the head section of the handle.

Attempt two looked like this:
bd28b0e3.jpg

A purchased 14" hickory handle...but it just felt too short for the weight of the head.

I scrapped that handle and went for an 18", again a purchased handle. Here is a side by side comparison of the handle before and after it was shaped and oiled with raw linseed:
P5173803.jpg


Had to remove 1/4" from the back of the handle but the front was a perfect fit for the eye...seriously PERFECT!
P5173802.jpg

It really didn't need the metal wedge (hell it nearly didn't need the wooden one it was so snug) but it was the original.
Unfortunately the wooden wedge split ever so slightly....bloody Yew! (Salvaged from the knotty MkI handle)

P5173801.jpg

Grain not 'ideal' but should be fine for the size and intended use.

P5173800.jpg

I decided to leave the paint on...where possible. Still needs a final edge honing...and maybe a sheath if I have time before Monday.

I'm much more pleased with the way this feels in hand, hopefully my pa will appreciate it too.

Comments and criticisms very welcome.

Thanks for looking.
 
That's a nice job. You are lucky to find something so old in such good condition. With family history too. I think one of the best things about your project is you have left the paint on. Makes for a very good look.

regards...Frank
 
Beautifully done!
bow.gif


I'm with Frank. I like the paint. Looks like you've done a fine job of honing the edge, too. Great-grandpappy would be pleased, I bet.
 
Thanks gents.

Coop - Keep hunting I'm sure you'll find one.

Frank-New Zealand said:
That's a nice job. You are lucky to find something so old in such good condition. With family history too. I think one of the best things about your project is you have left the paint on. Makes for a very good look.

regards...Frank
Click to expand...

Thanks Frank. It's sure been nice to work on this one. I was aiming to preserve what I could of the axe and it seemed only right that the paint should be some of that. Let's face it, that very paint has preserved the axe itself already very well, why not let it do so for a good few more years.

I'm sure something you wrote the other week about paint on heads struck a chord with me too if I'm honest, so thank you Frank.

ATB

scruff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top