Hey, y'all wanna see my axe crack?

3

.30WCF

Joined
Jul 25, 2016
Messages
101
I was thinking of cutting and making a pickaroon and Hudson out of it, but I'd rather grind it out and weld. I've read about the heat sink wrap on the bit. Any other advise. Otherwise this is in pretty good shape. Very little mushroom.

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Nothing to fear welding that far from the bit. I had one welded toward the front of the eye - zero issues at all.
 
Agent_H said:
I don't know about fixing the head but I do like your file handles.
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Trailsawyer said:
I would weld it!
I really like the file handles!
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Cobs make great handles. They stick on the file very well. The rusty chainsaw file has had that handle on it about ten years or so. If the cob has been shelled it's very grippy in your hand. The other is full figured.


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Should I just grind a notch in or cut through the crack, drill a hole at the end of the crack to stop it from growing, and ever so lovingly try to tap the cheek back in before welding?


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Drilling the end of the crack is normally a good idea.But if you'll burn it with the rod,nice and hot,it'd probably not be critical.(If you have reservations about welding it,just do so with the axe sticking out of a coffee can filled with water to above the bit level).
Look at the grain inside the crack,if not too corroded,can you see,with a naked eye,the individual grains?If so,then chances are that the entire axe,or it's poll at least,is embrittled thusly(a by-product of an improper HT).

If you Really cared for this particular axe,you may want to re-HT the thing,doing the proper Normalising cycles to control the grain growth.
 
Love the corn cobs. I'll have to try that.

.30WCF said:
Should I just grind a notch in or cut through the crack, drill a hole at the end of the crack to stop it from growing, and ever so lovingly try to tap the cheek back in before welding?
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Don't bother drilling. Just grind a V-groove and do try to re-align the crack before welding. Preheat and weld with 7018 if you have it on hand. But whatever you have on hand is likely good enough.

One other thought, the toe looks considerably worn. It may not be worth fixing. This is a good candidate for a vinegar bath just so you can see how much bit steel remains. In general the toe should be slightly longer than the heel.
 
Square_peg said:
Love the corn cobs. I'll have to try that.



Don't bother drilling. Just grind a V-groove and do try to re-align the crack before welding. Preheat and weld with 7018 if you have it on hand. But whatever you have on hand is likely good enough.

One other thought, the toe looks considerably worn. It may not be worth fixing. This is a good candidate for a vinegar bath just so you can see how much bit steel remains. In general the toe should be slightly longer than the heel.
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All I have is 30 mig wire. Argon/C02


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Lined up and welded.
The little notch in it is just were I got a little crazy with the file.

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.30WCF said:
Lined up and welded.
The little notch in it is just were I got a little crazy with the file.

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Almost looks like it could use a teeny bit more weld to fill in the bottom edge but maybe that's just the camera.
Looks good , hope it serves you well 👍
 
I wish many more folks would devote time and effort to reviving old axes, such as you have admirably just done to the extreme, rather than rushing out with cursory knowledge, and thick wallets, to buy 'fashionable' new ones.
 
300Six said:
I wish many more folks would devote time and effort to reviving old axes, such as you have admirably just done to the extreme, rather than rushing out with cursory knowledge, and thick wallets, to buy 'fashionable' new ones.
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Thank you for the compliment. Im just trying to learn some new stuff.
 
Looks solid to me! I've got a head I need to weld up myself. Thanks for the inspiration to finally get to it.
 
I saw an old council head at a junk shop with a crack a couple weeks ago I might go pick up.
I think I'll go one setting hotter next time though.

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