Hudson Forge hatchet thing - it chops!

[daizee]

So while looking for something else, I turned up this thing on the pile of overflow tools on the end of a bench:

what's it for? I'm not overly fond of the shape, but if it had a handle it would be off the dang bench and usable.
Is it any good?

There is more post-forging attention to detail than on the Plumb, but this thing is a bit more asymmetrical - perhaps on purpose, as the two edge bevels are rather different. I could cut off the bottom half of the Plumb's former handle and shape the top to fit this eye. That would be TWO in-the-way things back in service.

-Daizee

 

[fervens]

It's a rigger's head. They are nice for all around chores. I have one i use for kindling i keep with my firepit. I would say that the grind is from someone doing a quick sharpen on a grinder or something. These are usually beater tools that take a lot of damage in their life. I say handle it. You'll find a good use for it.

 

[daizee]

Hm... should I re-handle it, or TRADE it for something that I really want? Hmmm....
maybe re-handle it in either case.

 

[markv]

lathing hatchet or half hatchet
real handy tool for all sorts of chopping chores
good little hatchet to have in camp for splitting kindling and cutting up big animals
buzz

 

[fervens]

I'm not really sure what it would be worth to someone else. As far as i've seen, they're pretty common at the bottom any tool box(maybe not that brand, but that tool. then again, so are axes). And i like your idea of using the plumb handle. If you do re-handle it though, post it up. I would love to see it on a longer handle and see how it works. I'm still waiting for mine to break to give it a shot.

 

[Bo T]

Looks like someone tried to make it into a left handed carpenters hatchet. Could have been used to touch up notches for log construction.

 

[daizee]

I cut down the broken ex-Plumb handle. What do you think? It won't be a super-long swinger:

 

[Square_peg]

I think it's long enough but it won't be very comfortable to use the hammer side of it with that handle.

 

[daizee]

impatience won.
I wasn't starting with a pre-shaped handle this time, so it was a learning experience. This one didn't come out as well as the Plumb. The wedge is poplar, cut from some scrap. I just used a scotchbrite pad and piece of wood as a sanding block to clean the surface, then ballistol'd it. It's pretty sharp

 

[daizee]

it chops!

It splits wood ok, but I can't see an actual safe way to use it for that job. I don't wanna hold the log still while I swing at it. At the same time, I don't want to stand up and swing as the blade will come back at me...

I used it to strip the bark off a couple oak logs that will become anvil stumps, or something similar. It did that pretty well.
All in all, it feels about as weird as it looks.

 

[Bull Mountain Custom]

That turned out nice.

 

[combs6136]

I ground mine down in a tomahawk shape...........Its lighter and cuts great..................carl..........I can email a picture of it.........

 

[Arathol]

Its a shingle hatchet. Not for chopping wood but for splitting wood shingles down to size. The beveled edge is most likely not an add on. Most were made that way.

 

[daizee]

Ah, nice. My house is cedar-shingled.

Combs, can you post a url? what did you use to grind it?
Since these things seem to be bit-hardened I suppose it wouldn't be as bad as all that... But the silly poll on the back will look goofy no matter what. I like me a square poll.

-Daizee

 

[John Frankl]

Looks fine.

I like the hole you drilled, too

 

[Square_peg]

Your workmanship is first rate but I would have preferred to see a straight handle on that type of hatchet. Just being honest.

 

[daizee]

Your workmanship is first rate but I would have preferred to see a straight handle on that type of hatchet. Just being honest.

I agree on the handle (not so sure on the workmanship, but it hasn't fallen off yet!). It feels like it was hung too 'closed', but you can see that the head is perpendicular to the handle at the mating point. However since the head was free from a pile of stuff from who-knows-where, the handle was free from the Plumb's previous service, and it cost me only an hour to do, I may pull it apart and do it again if it seems worth using. But I'm still ogling pictures of hatchets online.

ya gotta admit, tho, the red handle really sets off the black patina. The red was free too.

-Daizee

 

[M3mphis]

lathing hatchet or half hatchet
real handy tool for all sorts of chopping chores
good little hatchet to have in camp for splitting kindling and cutting up big animals
buzz

I'm with buzz. That's not really a shingle hatchet. It's a half hatchet (Below is a random google image of a "full hatchet"). It's intended to be used more for carving or notching purposes, not splitting shingles or otherwise. The main bevel being on the left would make it intended for a left handed user. Those make great little carvers, but if you're right handed it may be a little awkward.