Legitimus - Reborn!

Brian Andrews

Brian Andrews

Joined
Dec 11, 2006
Messages
1,659
I am sure you guys remember.....a couple days ago I posted pics of this Vintage Collins Legitimus head that I came across.

IMG_1396.jpg


IMG_1397.jpg


Well, I got some time to work on it.

It is now the hardest thing that I have to photograph, due to the reflections. But, here is a shot at taking some decent pics of it.

IMG_1509.jpg


IMG_1510.jpg


IMG_1512.jpg


IMG_1513.jpg


IMG_1514.jpg


IMG_1515.jpg


It is not perfect, but I am more than happy with it. It was never meant to be a show piece. I just wanted to get it ready for use again.

I have a 36" hickory handle on the way, but it won't be here until Friday. It will still take a bit before I am done because I plan on doing the sanding, linseed oil, beeswax treatment to the handle.

After that, in my experience, re-handling an axe is easy. Doing it correctly is a real test of patience :D

B
 
wow what a difference!

how did you go about doing this? just on the grinder until all the rust and patina was gone?

looks like a totally new axe from this end.
 
Wow, that looks awesome now, can't wait to see it complete with shaft !!!
 
siguy said:
wow what a difference!

how did you go about doing this? just on the grinder until all the rust and patina was gone?

looks like a totally new axe from this end.
Click to expand...

Pretty much. But most of it was patina, so I really didn't remove material. Just made some dust fly :D

I did the top and bottom against the flat platen. Then on a slack belt, I took just a hair off that edge.

The remaining was done with an 8" wheel, down through all the grits. I saved the edge for last, which was just done on the slack belt, again through all the grits, finishing on leather.

Sounds like a lot, but it really wasn't bad at all.

You can see a couple spots in the picture, where there was a small pit, and it is not shiny. Since it is a user, I did not think it was worth it to remove enough material to make those go away. It is good enough for what I want.
 
WOW... what a transformation! :eek: I also would like to know about the process. I've got an old double bit to clean up for my dad, and I'd like to knock his socks off with something that looks like that.

Jeff
 
It looks too nice to use! Nice job. Please let us know the steps you took to bring it back to that condition.

Makes me wonder how many nice tools lie lurking in the garages and sheds of the world just waiting for someone to bring them back to their former glory.
 
brian, thanks for letting us know.

another big reason i want to get a big powerful grinder is so that i will have contact wheels to work on...
 
Holly mackerel How did you do it?????? What type of an edge did you put on it?? From the work you posted on here before i bet the handle would be something that would fit that head.... Nice job

sasha
 
That is a really great axe! thanks for the pics. Gene
 
briangandrews said:
It is not perfect, but I am more than happy with it. It was never meant to be a show piece. I just wanted to get it ready for use again.

B
Click to expand...
I looks like a show piece to me. Great work.
Hope that you will share more pictures as the project moves along.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top