Jersey with small crack

Agent_H

Agent_H

Joined
Aug 21, 2013
Messages
3,898
I picked up what I thought to be a Jersey pattern but I know there are some nuances in shapes/bit length and/or shape.

No markings, painted red, rust where steel was exposed. I did the vinegar soak and a small crack showed itself after a scrub. Thought it was a scratch from the outside but after cleaning up, it was apparent that the crack runs through the eye.

I've looked through a lot of posts and seen a lot of recommendations on cracks but is this a deal breaker?

side without crack:

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Side with crack

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Closer of crack:

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Inside eye

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I thought it looked like a handsome axe head but I am concerned about safety.
Other than that spot, the lines seem clean and not damaged.
I guess I'm looking for honest opinion whether to hang it or not?
 
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Do you have a buddy with a welder? With the crack welded I wouldn't have any issues about hanging it and using it.
 
I've been using a full sized single bit with a much bigger crack at the back of the eye for over a year to split firewood without any issues.

Could the axe fail if used? Yes. Will it? Probably not. Even if it does, it'll probably just be a widening of the crack that lets the head work loose with use. Just don't try to hammer with/on it and it should be fine.
 
Square_Peg - i do have a buddy who runs the shop at work. Is there any particular weld/materials you recommend? He's very good but I think it would motivate him if I showed up with some ideas. He might put it on his short list if I could throw an idea at him.

Grease- using it and not bashing on it is good also. I actually picked this one up for my brother. If I keep it I might just do that. As a gift, I think I'd feel better handing him something solid.
 
I sounds like a job for a tig welder. You might consider that. After clean up you probably wont be able to tell it was cracked and may be as good as new.
 
Open it up with an angle grinder. Then pre-heat and weld it with 7018. Tie a wet rag around the bit before you pre-heat to protect the temper.

Cracks like that usually arise from the freezing of a water soaked handle. Simply leaving it out in the weather is all that's necessary for it to happen. Once welded up it will serve you for the rest of your life - barring abuse.
 
Thank you for all of your input. My buddy isn't a member here but I think I'll pull this thread up for him to read. He will refuse payment of course but he's expressed interest in a boy's axe size chopper. Maybe I can work a "goods for services" surprise for his time.
 
I love this thread I just locked in to a bummer buy on an auction site and now stuck with a cracked head. Glad they can be fixed, will post when I figure it out.
 
I just fixed 4 cracked heads last month. I ground a groove down the crack with a radiac, about 3/4 through the eye wall, then drilled a 1/8" hole at the furthest end of the crack. My brother (an ace fabricator) welded it back up and I ground it back flush- you can't tell where the crack was, and the steel isn't compromised by it. If you do it right, you'll never know the weld is there and she'll be usable again in an hour or less.
 
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Welding can be used to build up lost eye/poll material, too, if you don't mind meddling with the originality of an abused tool.
 
Axe Master '94 said:
I just fixed 4 cracked heads last month. I ground a groove down the crack with a radiac, about 3/4 through the eye wall, then drilled a 1/8" hole at the furthest end of the crack. I welded it back up and ground it flush- you can't tell where the crack was, and the steel isn't compromised by it. If you do it right, you'll never know the weld is there and she'll be usable again in an hour or less.
Click to expand...

Good to know, I have a nice Connecticut that had an eye crack only about 1/3 down from the top of the eye. The trick is going to be how to get it to it's forever home with a person that knows about/can do this work. I sure can't.
 
Axe Master '94 said:
I just fixed 4 cracked heads last month. I ground a groove down the crack with a radiac, about 3/4 through the eye wall, then drilled a 1/8" hole at the furthest end of the crack. I welded it back up and ground it flush- you can't tell where the crack was, and the steel isn't compromised by it. If you do it right, you'll never know the weld is there and she'll be usable again in an hour or less.
Click to expand...

This is good knowledge. I considered buying a welded head on ebay because no one was bidding, and the weld looked well done, forgot all about it though until reading this.
 
So if I have this wrong let me know. Grind out the crack say at 45 degrees to form a groove. Drill the ends of the crack. Would one want to put a copper backer behind crack inside eye to limit filing slag after repair? Keep head wrapped with wet towel from cheeks forward to edge to preserve temper. Preheat to 250F-300F and check with temple sticks. Limit welds as not to overheat head. Short welds needle out any slag between passes. Weld with 7018 rod. Grind repair and polish? If I'm missing anything please let me know, I am just about ready to do this on my head. Thanks for your time.
 
I just did a vertical groove grind with the radiac, but a wider angle trough would work too. Didn't preheat mine, but I did do the cold rag treatment. The rest sounds pretty good.
 
Sluicebox said:
So if I have this wrong let me know. Grind out the crack say at 45 degrees to form a groove. Drill the ends of the crack. Would one want to put a copper backer behind crack inside eye to limit filing slag after repair? Keep head wrapped with wet towel from cheeks forward to edge to preserve temper. Preheat to 250F-300F and check with temple sticks. Limit welds as not to overheat head. Short welds needle out any slag between passes. Weld with 7018 rod. Grind repair and polish? If I'm missing anything please let me know, I am just about ready to do this on my head. Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

That sounds good. It'll be a better repair then some in my collection which work just fine. Please let us know how it goes.
 
jblyttle said:
Good to know, I have a nice Connecticut that had an eye crack only about 1/3 down from the top of the eye. The trick is going to be how to get it to it's forever home with a person that knows about/can do this work. I sure can't.
Click to expand...

I might want to adopt that old cracked axe, what is your rehoming fee?
 
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