Hudson Bay belt axe project (probably pic heavy)

phantomknives · Jan 20, 2018

So like I said in let's use those axes for what they're meant for, I got this axe from a scout camp after the edge chipped off.

I'm gonna make it a belt axe. You can see my plans here for grinding. I'll see if I can get to cutting tomorrow.

After the grind, depending on the Sparks I get, I may do some case hardening. Before I go through all that trouble, I will anneal, and normalize.

Do you guys think it should have a flat toe or keep it as is?

Miller '72 · Jan 20, 2018

phantomknives said:
So like I said in let's use those axes for what they're meant for, I got this axe from a scout camp after the edge chipped off.

I'm gonna make it a belt axe. You can see my plans here for grinding. I'll see if I can get to cutting tomorrow.

After the grind, depending on the Sparks I get, I may do some case hardening. Before I go through all that trouble, I will anneal, and normalize.

Do you guys think it should have a flat toe or keep it as is?

I say stick to your sketch. I like the idea of what you are doing, repurpose to reuse. Perfect!

Hickory n steel · Jan 20, 2018

I say go forward as planned, but maybe go with a bit more of a Kelly type phantom bevel.

Square_peg · Jan 20, 2018

I like more subtle bevels like this:

42e515e8d5da16ddfd8f91f979a16b4b--camp-axe-felling-axe.jpg

or this.

phantomknives · Jan 20, 2018

my dremel exploded so we'll have to see if i can pull off the kelly bevels with an angle grinder

Miller '72 · Jan 20, 2018

Square_peg said:
I like more subtle bevels like this:

or this.

That is one sweet Collins sir

Hickory n steel · Jan 20, 2018

phantomknives said:
my dremel exploded so we'll have to see if i can pull off the kelly bevels with an angle grinder

Yep, they'll do that.
I've got an original one from the 70's in it's case which I was given and I'll bet it will eventually let the ghost out.
I don't use it all the time though due to it's very thick stiff cord compared to my much fancier modern one.

Square_peg · Jan 20, 2018

Miller '72 said:
That is one sweet Collins sir

Not mine.

Miller '72 · Jan 21, 2018

Hickory n steel said:
Yep, they'll do that.
I've got an original one from the 70's in it's case which I was given and I'll bet it will eventually let the ghost out.
I don't use it all the time though due to it's very thick stiff cord compared to my much fancier modern one.

The ghost LOL!
We call it "letting the smoke out"

I like the ghost out!

My 3/8" black and Decker/porter cable generic, probably 20 years old...died as I was building my saw vise, I had abused this poor drill for all those years.

Happy Sunday

phantomknives · Jan 21, 2018

Grinding is done, looks like I need to move the bevels up a bit. It's about 5.5 inches now

phantomknives · Jan 21, 2018

ah HAH, deep inside the darkest corner of the laundry room, i found an old battery op dremel

Hickory n steel · Jan 21, 2018

phantomknives said:
ah HAH, deep inside the darkest corner of the laundry room, i found an old battery op dremel

If it's a little translucent blue or dark grey one don't bother, they don't have enough power to do hardly anything.

phantomknives · Jan 21, 2018

Hickory n steel said:
If it's a little translucent blue or dark grey one don't bother, they don't have enough power to do hardly anything.

not translucent blue but blue and grey nonetheless, we'll see if she's got the proper power

Brian Rust · Jan 21, 2018

If it’s not too much trouble could you show a picture of the process of using a Dremel for the bevel? I’m sure it is self explainitory but I am curious. You have a lot more control with it I’m sure since it doesn’t take much material. I have never used one so I’m curious. Thanks for the thread!!

Square_peg · Jan 21, 2018

Miller '72 said:
We call it "letting the smoke out"

That's what we call it when we burn up a tool or short out a wire. You see, wires come sealed from the factory, full of smoke. Once you let the smoke out they don't work anymore.

phantomknives · Jan 21, 2018

Brian Rust said:
If it’s not too much trouble could you show a picture of the process of using a Dremel for the bevel? I’m sure it is self explainitory but I am curious. You have a lot more control with it I’m sure since it doesn’t take much material. I have never used one so I’m curious. Thanks for the thread!!

sure man, just took it off charge, i'll show you in a bit

phantomknives · Jan 21, 2018

don't worry, it's far more even than it looks, i tried to find a marker to touch up the spots where i gouged it a little but i couldnt.

anyways, what i'm doing is putting the head in my right hand (left on the dremel 'cus i'm a lefty) with my thumb on top, putting my thumb in the finger notch on the dremel and rolling the dremel over my thumb. this works better than free-handing because you have a guide.

the spark test was good enough so yay, no case hardening!

Hickory n steel · Jan 21, 2018

phantomknives said:
don't worry, it's far more even than it looks, i tried to find a marker to touch up the spots where i gouged it a little but i couldnt.

anyways, what i'm doing is putting the head in my right hand (left on the dremel 'cus i'm a lefty) with my thumb on top, putting my thumb in the finger notch on the dremel and rolling the dremel over my thumb. this works better than free-handing because you have a guide.

the spark test was good enough so yay, no case hardening!

Looking good .

phantomknives · Jan 22, 2018

Convexing cheeks and grinding bevels, pictures soon

phantomknives · Jan 22, 2018

you can tell which one was done with my off hand or in an awkward position. still have a bit of clean up on the top bevel. i tried to deepen the notch with my grinder but it didnt work that well. I convexed the cheeks with my sanding disk. the marker is there to better show where the bevels start/end