I Blood 5 Ballton NY

Celtic_Iowan

Celtic_Iowan

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Mar 23, 2026
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I picked up a this hewing axe for $50 USD. The other day. Its in fairly good condition for being at the youngest, 130 years old from what I can tell from the history of the Blood company.
It has some rust and pitting on it and I would like to clean up a bit and hang it in our great room. Just not sure how to go about respectfully to the tool. The handle is an after market so Im not worried about the handle.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
 
The ideal approach is electrolysis set up in such a way that it's producing as little water-splitting as possible to avoid hydrogen embrittlement, followed by a light and fine wirebrushing to knock the converted rust off, then a clear coat of a hard wax polish. However, a stiff steel wire wheel can be used as the sole cleanup method if desired, so long as you don't bear down on it with excessive force, as doing so can end up producing scuffs in the soft iron cheeks/eye. Avoid vinegar, as it leaves a very ugly finish and etches the metal. I personally like to only remove any active red rust and leave the rest in place, as the original patina tells the story of the tool, and more thorough cleaning strips it of that information, and the black oxide patina also serves as a mild rust preventative.
 
If the head is really old it will have a wrought iron body with a forge welded steel bit usually just welded to the flat side on the hewing axes.

I use soft brass brushes only on wrought iron heads, as a steel brush will scratch the soft wrought iron.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
The ideal approach is electrolysis set up in such a way that it's producing as little water-splitting as possible to avoid hydrogen embrittlement, followed by a light and fine wirebrushing to knock the converted rust off, then a clear coat of a hard wax polish. However, a stiff steel wire wheel can be used as the sole cleanup method if desired, so long as you don't bear down on it with excessive force, as doing so can end up producing scuffs in the soft iron cheeks/eye. Avoid vinegar, as it leaves a very ugly finish and etches the metal. I personally like to only remove any active red rust and leave the rest in place, as the original patina tells the story of the tool, and more thorough cleaning strips it of that information, and the black oxide patina also serves as a mild rust preventative.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this! I really appreciate it!
 
Sorry, I tried to upload photos but I can't seem to figure it out.
 
Last edited:
garry3 said:
If the head is really old it will have a wrought iron body with a forge welded steel bit usually just welded to the flat side on the hewing axes.

I use soft brass brushes only on wrought iron heads, as a steel brush will scratch the soft wrought iron.
Click to expand...
Thanks to you also! I appreciate that advice
 
crbnSteeladdict said:
Yup. I suspect it to be a broad hatchet with 6 inch cutting edge and the weight around 3 lbs (might be a bit less)
Click to expand...
I think I have some no 1's but none of the larger hatchets. Pretty sure I could find something to do with them if I did though.
I'm going to help a friend build a split rail fence this summer (post and rail) and one might find a use for one there. Not exactly skilled hewing but any excuse to use old tools is a good one.
 
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