Latest acquisitions (Files, Great Divider, Craftsman Axe and Monster splitter maul)

I

Irongun324

Joined
Mar 22, 2012
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4 files: Top to bottom: 1)Nicholson Smooth Made in USA 2) K&F no other markings 3) Nicholson Smooth Made in Brazil 4) Bluegrass?! Can't make anything else out.

Files

Both Nicholsons are flat on one side, convex on the other. Anyone have more info on the other 2? Are any of these good files - suitable for metal shaping? Whats the best way to clean them - vinegar bath and brass wire brush with care?

Craftsman: Seems like a camping axe size? Barely bigger than a hatchet but has a longer handle (27.5 inches end to end of the wood). Doesn't seem particularly special, but useable for $3. Also appears to be the original handle. Planning to lower the head on the handle by a half inch or so to get it on little bit more solid wood if it's worth it (see bottom of post).

Craftsman

Next up: Guess the weight! Freaking long steel tube handle on it (39 inches).

Super splitter

Finally ( and most exciting for me ) : The Great Divider! I'd only heard about one of these briefly before, but a buddy spotted it at a local flea market, and I went and grabbed it. All of it seems in good shape, except that the spring has unhooked and bent a bit away from one of the sides. I'm planning to remove the assembly and see about re-aligning the spring and patterning it somehow. Unless someone knows where to buy one new?

GD1
GD2

The Craftsman and GD handles still seem very solid, however both show signs of being very dry. I've already dismantled the craftsman (had a 4" nail and thick washer as it's "wedge") and sanded it very quickly. Will a good sanding from rough to smooth then multiple coats of linseed oil bring these back to life enough to be reliable? Will that kind of "refresh" the wood and fill in the little crevices?
 
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I'm guessing those files are too far gone, but you might get some life back into them with your planned vinegar soaks and brass wire brushings. If they are "dead", you can give them to a blacksmith for knifemaking material.

Lots of linseed oil would be the thing to try to restore those handles, but I'm guessing that with those cracks the Craftsman (at least) would not improve all the way to "reliable".
 
Ill post updated pictures later, but the files seem to work well enough. I've never worked an axe like this, but I cleaned up the edge of the craftsman with the K&F file mostly (seemed to have a bit more bite than the smooth ones) to the point of looking a little more proper. It had a really bad grinder edge (. The handle looks and feels good cleaned up, but like you say those cracks are leery. Where can one usually find a 27inch handle like the one it has? Or can you and I need to learn to make handles soon?!

FYI: The splitter maul is 25 lbs. Not sure how regularly that thing will get used...
 
Nice mega maul. 16lbs? I've got a "Great Divider" myself but I haven't hung it yet.

edit: I see it's 25lbs. Might be good to have around for the really stubborn rounds.
 
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coreboy said:
boys axes are addictive. careful. i think those files are done
Click to expand...

I've never used a file, but I cleaned up the edge of the boys axe in 30 minutes or so with the K&F. I haven't even done the vinegar soak yet, just tried it. I need to finish that up (smoother grit and/or stone). I dont have a strop made yet.
 
You can still buy the Chopper One new, which is smilar to the Great Divider. They also offer replacement parts on their website, which might be useful if the designs are similar enough. I've never used one. Would be interested to know how it splits.

https://www.chopper1axe.com/
 
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