Is this haft worth trying to salvage?

stalbot

stalbot

Joined
Sep 7, 2012
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315
Took a look at one of my flea market finds, a hatchet of unknown make. The wedges in the haft were horribly done. So, I removed them and removed the haft. Here's what it looks like:
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I like the size and feel of the haft, but I'm worried it might be too far gone. I've already used lots of BLO. Thoughts?

Oh, and here's pics of the head. Anybody have an idea of what make it might be? The guy painted it, so any markings it might have are filled with paint.

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Thanks in advance for any help y'all can offer!
 
i have several bits like yours. none are marked, some had red paint, some didn't. all have the ridges in the eye.
if the damage is not to serious to the haft i glue the eye back together with good wood glue.

buzz
 
Scrap the haft, you might find a use for it if there is anything solid further from the top. How long is it anyhow? The axe is worth cleaning up and rehafting, if it remains nameless it is still a user or maybe there is a brand imprint under the paint....that would be cool to, especially if it is a good one.
 
That little head is awesome. I know a smurf who needs an axe.
 
Here's how I've treated some similar ones with wood wedges and expanding polyurethane glue. Use your own judgment.
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do you guys generally recommend a bit of glue for wedges?
I've found slight loosening of the wedge after use in a couple of my recent hangs. The head is solid tight and doesn't move, but the wedge works itself just slightly proud.
 
daizee said:
do you guys generally recommend a bit of glue for wedges?
I've found slight loosening of the wedge after use in a couple of my recent hangs. The head is solid tight and doesn't move, but the wedge works itself just slightly proud.
Click to expand...

Yeah, a little wood glue on the bottom of the wedge helps. You just have to wait a few hours (obviously) for it to dry.
 
DJG097 said:
Yeah, a little wood glue on the bottom of the wedge helps. You just have to wait a few hours (obviously) for it to dry.
Click to expand...

great, thanks. I'll do that next time. Maybe let a wedge work itself up a bit and then re-do it.
Man, I love my "new" axes. :-)
 
bearhunter said:
You guys are nuts !
Click to expand...
I think Bearhunter is referring to our gluing practices. A lot of serious hangers don't like glue, maybe because it shouldn't be needed if you're doing it right, and maybe because they like to be able to take their axes apart and fiddle with them.

I'm no expert, and I'm not telling anybody what they should do. I do it myself only with axes like those in my post: beautiful, sound old hafts that are a bit gone at the end. I think the glue and wedges extend their useful lives, and when they are finished, it's no big deal to drill them out.

Your experience may differ! Be sure to read, understand, and follow all safety instructions!
 
Thanks for all the posts guys. I've been crazy busy this week! I'll measure the haft tonight. It's a slender haft. Before I decide what I'm going to do I'm going to try to locate some new hafts to compare it to. May have to order a couple anyway. Again, thanks for taking time to help me with this.
 
This handle is 14 inches. I looked online at House Handles. They appear to have a good selection. I might order a couple of hafts from them.
 
Bit the bullet and ordered a couple of hafts - a 14" and a 16". Happen to have another head that needs a haft. The more I handled the old one and looked at it, I just don't see where there's enough wood to get a solid hang. Still going to use some of that expanding epoxy. I like that idea. Again, thanks for all the input!
 
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