Kelly Dandenong with new handle

T

Treemo

Joined
Jun 14, 2015
Messages
18
Hello everyone.

Went to the markets today and decided to chase down an axe as I don't often get the chance to go and grabbed this Kelly from Canada.

Just want to ask, what's gone on there with the handle wedge? Should I be concerned with that effort? What 's the reasoning behind a metal wedge as well? Clicking on the images twice should get you a larger resolution. I suppose rehanging is next on the skills to learn...









 
Thats a real beauty of an axe. I would only rehang it if the head is loose or I didn't like something about the haft. If it were mine I might thin that haft down a bit but otherwise leave it alone until it needed some love. The metal wedge probably went in because it came with the replacement haft and whomever hung it used the metal wedge because it was provided. That and/or they figured it would fill more space in the eye and insure a tigher fit. I don't much like those little metal wedge thingies so I don't use them in my axe hangs. I used 2 metal wedges diagonal in the eye of a recent framing hammer hang and they split the wood in the eye, I was bummed but it isn't hindering the performance one bit.
 
OK, thanks for the reply.

There was some Hytest and a Plumb that had thinner handles (and some English brands and a Collins), this feels good to hold but slightly heavier due to the thickness. This Kelly head looked to be in the best condition and the handle was the newest so I figured at least most of the work has been done since axe hanging is not my thing.

Small rounded chip in the edge and I don't have a vice here so I tried freehanding it out with a file, tis only minor. Ordered some sandpaper and ran some 600 (all I have) over the edge but that was taking too long to get the file marks out. It's a sharpened but not sharp edge.

It's for cutting/splitting Eucalypts and small removals so the weight will help hopefully.
 
You can. I live in a warm climate.

With a chainsaw or precut rounds, I could split a year's worth in an afternoon.

If I happened to buy a woodstove, then it would start to suck.
 
Well, now with more Plumb with a far better handle (estimated hickory). Just sanded some potential splinters out of the handles and will go get some boiled Linseed to treat.

A deepish rust scar on one side that the photos aren't showing up unfortunately:






 
I really like the looks of those Tasmanian pattern axes. I never see them here in the states.
 
One school of thought on the steel wedges is that they lock the wooden wedge in place. I have never had a problem with a wooden wedge backing out myself.
 
You guys have it good though. I ordered a Condor Kephart and got here for $32 and locally it's $80.

Lucky for me, I have someone that travels between the US and Aus reasonably frequently. Super lucky actually, I'll be buying a heap of blades from your side of the ocean.
 
Fine piece of gear...... looks awesome.. gotta know how to swing the fucker if you want results, nowadays you just get it delivered chopped..... mmmm.
 
Sweet axe! I so want a Dandenong! They seem to have a nice balance of Maine wedge and Connecticut pattern that I find really appealing. Very nice! Hope you find it as nice to use as it is to look at.
 
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