Jersey Pattern Hanging Question

B

bbforstr

Joined
Jul 10, 2013
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324
I've got a Kelly Perfect Jersey pattern axe head. I got it cheap but it was in bad shape. It seems that the previous owner(s) used it more to drive wedges than as an axe. The poll was mushroomed 1/4" + on each side, it was painted and was very dull. I spent several hours cleaning it up with an angle grinder, flat bastard and a wire brush. It turned out looking pretty nice but I cant't seem to get it hung properly.

When I try to drive the handle into the head, the handle goes crooked and one side of the head digs into the handle. The eye might be distorted from its use as a maul. Does anybody have suggestions for hanging the axe or am I just stuck with a nice looking paperweight?

See the photos.

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Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Your photos aren't showing up. If the lugs want to dig in, you can file the inside edge of them a little bit so they'll have a greater tendency to slide along the handle. Without seeing the photos though I'm just kind of taking a stab at it. You might have to file out some more inside the eye to get a good profile in there but you ought to be able to see anything that would be a problem visually...
 
VintageAxe said:
Your photos aren't showing up. If the lugs want to dig in, you can file the inside edge of them a little bit so they'll have a greater tendency to slide along the handle. Without seeing the photos though I'm just kind of taking a stab at it. You might have to file out some more inside the eye to get a good profile in there but you ought to be able to see anything that would be a problem visually...
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One of the lugs is definitely digging in to the handle. I'll try smoothing the lug inside the eye and see if that helps it slide. I ruined one nice handle trying to force it straight. Chalk one up to experience. If you look at the last photo, you can see some distortion in the eye. Do you think that could be straightened with some judicious hammer work? I thought about heating it a little. I don't think the area around the eye is hardened.
 
One of the lugs could be throwing the handle off, but as you said, you could also have a seriously deformed/drifted eye. Axe head patterns that are tall (like the Jersey) can appear to have a 'good' eye, but will hang offset.

Also, you're certain the tongue on your haft is straight, right? I was hanging a DB not long ago, only to find out the tongue was the cause of my troubles.
 
I've tried two different handles. Ruined the expensive one with a crack. Both handles had one of the lugs digging in. Do you think heating the eye to hammer it straight would hurt the head?. It's a nice looking head other than its more than "Jersey Typical" difficult to hang.
 
The axe was really abused before I got it. I think the weight of the bit may have damaged the eye when it was used to pound things with the poll. I didn't spend much money on it, but I did put a lot of time into making it look nice before I realized it would be difficult to hang. I don't regret the time though because I learned a lot about restoring a damaged axe. I' starting to think issues with the eye are major issues.
 
bbforstr said:
Do you think that could be straightened with some judicious hammer work? I thought about heating it a little. I don't think the area around the eye is hardened.
Click to expand...

Absolutely you can fix that eye with a little hammer work. As a safety precaution wrap a wet rag around the bit to keep it cool. Then heat the flared eye with a torch. You don't need to get it red hot. Remember, it flared out while it was cold. It will hammer back nicely with a little heat. I've re-shaped several eyes this way with no problems. Only heat one side of the eye at a time. The other cold side will offer the resistance needed to shape the hot side.

You've got a fine looking axe there. It's worth the effort to finish the job.
 
Square_peg said:
Absolutely you can fix that eye with a little hammer work. As a safety precaution wrap a wet rag around the bit to keep it cool. Then heat the flared eye with a torch. You don't need to get it red hot. Remember, it flared out while it was cold. It will hammer back nicely with a little heat. I've re-shaped several eyes this way with no problems. Only heat one side of the eye at a time. The other cold side will offer the resistance needed to shape the hot side.

You've got a fine looking axe there. It's worth the effort to finish the job.
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Thanks for the confirmation on heating the eye of the axe. I think I have a few good ideas for getting it properly hung. This is an outstanding forum for axe enthusiasts. I appreciate your recommendation. I' post some photos when I'm done. Looking forward to using this tool.

Later
 
Now don't take this wrong anybody because I'm being completely genuine and straight forward but since bbforstr is coming here out of Idaho somebody could get a mistaken idea. Ok, here it comes - I have seen it done that when heating a section of the head under repair, a potato is stuck over the blade acting as a heat sink and protecting the temper. Handier than a wet rag I think.

E.DB.
 
Ernest DuBois said:
Now don't take this wrong anybody because I'm being completely genuine and straight forward but since bbforstr is coming here out of Idaho somebody could get a mistaken idea. Ok, here it comes - I have seen it done that when heating a section of the head under repair, a potato is stuck over the blade acting as a heat sink and protecting the temper. Handier than a wet rag I think.

E.DB.
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Nice dig on Idahoans, but a great idea.

Thanks.
 
And you have lunch waiting when you are finished heating and beating.. :)

I am looking forward to seeing the end results. I have a Perfect Jersey head to hang soon. I am practicing now on an old no name sort of Jersey(flatter/thinner cheeks but same ears and breadth). IN between other things.

Bill
 
If the lug is digging into the handle, maybe you need to make there be less handle in the problematic area?
 
A picture of the handle alone and a pic of the head on the handle showing the offset would be helpful. I see deformation on the lug but not in the upper part of the eye itself. I often take a spokeshave or block plane to my jersey handles to get the right fit. I find it's easier to adjust the wood than the steel.
 
Jerseys are difficult to hang. The lugs tend to dig in and cause the head to cant even if things are not deformed. I hope you'll keep us updated.
 
M3mphis said:
Jerseys are difficult to hang. The lugs tend to dig in and cause the head to cant even if things are not deformed. I hope you'll keep us updated.
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I'll definitely keep you informed. Just wish I could take some time off work to try some of the good ideas I've received on the forum. I can't wait to knock out my first chip with this axe. I'm usually a double bit guy, but I love the looks of this axe and can't wait to try it out.

E.DB.

I wasn't offended by your Idaho comment. You have to "dig" potatoes around here. We also have thick skins. Lol

Later.
 
Ernest DuBois said:
No dig at all, in fact stronger yet, sometimes I like to see myself as an Idahoan at heart.

E.DB.
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Idaho Potatoes and white Supremacists. That's what we are known for. But in all honesty a couple more Californians on bicycles might send me postal. In fact the only reason I am not in jail right now is the a$$ had his son with him. It is just not cool to make a point(example) of a man with his son to witness it. It has also happened while I was hunting. They were very fortunate. Just to dumb to know it.
Don't get me started!
Oh and not all Californians are created equal. Just saying I didn't have them problems till the a$$ holes moved here.
 
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