Looking for advice on potential Trail Boss mod

19-3ben

19-3ben

Joined
Jul 27, 2015
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Hey guys. Had a thought I wanted to run by you.

Was thinking of buying a CS Trail Boss to mod it.
The baton the axe comes up a little above the same plain as the top of the poll/eye. I was thinking of grinding it down so that the entire top of the head runs flat along from the poll to the top of the bit. I think it would give it a pretty traditional Hudson Bay pattern head if I did this. of course it would cut down on some of the bit length, but that's ok with me.
The review from woodtrekker shows that it has a very bit heavy balance anyway, so I'm thinking this might even it out a little.

Just wanted to run this by you guys, who have much more experience than I do. I have some bad ideas every so often. Some of them are very bad. Does this fit into that category?
 
For thirty bucks it sounds like an interesting experiment. I wouldn't expect much from the item itself. The steel in many of the Cold Steel offerings is really poor from what I've seen over the years. You'll have to re-hang the haft for any kind of dependability regardless. Go for it is my recommendation. Sounds like fun to me. Ya never know if you don't try.
 
cityofthesouth said:
So, in English, what would this mean? :)
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Yeah, sorry. Autocorrect got the better of me without my noticing. "baton" should read, "bit on."

The Trail Boss has a bit that comes up slightly above the level of the top of the poll and eye, kind of like the way Greenland patterns do. My thought is to grind down (with heat sink so as to avoid messing with the temper) the part of the bit that comes up so that a straight line can be made right across the poll-eye-bit. I'm thinking it would end up being more like a HB pattern, and possibly even remove enough weight from the bit to balance it a little.

It's just for fun. Not trying to do anything monumental here.

What do you guys think this would have on the handling, and abilities of the axe? I'm thinking that focusing the force with a narrower bit might help chopping as it would not have as much bit length to disperse energy on impact. Less weight at the top of the bit might also help with finer carving and such. But you guys know much more about these things than I do, so figured I'd ask.
 
Ohhhhhh "bit on" ... ok. When I read baton my mind was stuck on something made of wood. I don't see how it would negatively impact the tool. I mean, it's fair to say that for certain uses the extra toe may have a useful purpose, but obviously it's not as if perfectly good axes haven't existed without it. And it may turn out as you theorize, with a closer to center balance. But it could be that your thinking is similar to mine in that, it's actually a less expensive way, and much simpler way, to get and try out an HB pattern, or something similar?

ETA: Pics!
 
cityofthesouth said:
Ohhhhhh "bit on" ... ok. When I read baton my mind was stuck on something made of wood. I don't see how it would negatively impact the tool. I mean, it's fair to say that for certain uses the extra toe may have a useful purpose, but obviously it's not as if perfectly good axes haven't existed without it. And it may turn out as you theorize, with a closer to center balance. But it could be that your thinking is similar to mine in that, it's actually a less expensive way, and much simpler way, to get and try out an HB pattern, or something similar?

ETA: Pics!
Click to expand...

The regular council tool long handled HB is just a little more than the trail boss, and it is a nice little axe once the metal wedge was replaced.

I assume the intent is to make a modification. I would go with the truper boys axe at Tractor Supply. $14 and plenty of material to be removed if desired on both head and handle. Truper says 1045, which one could heat treat at home if inclined, but I have a couple of their axes and they are quite serviceable as is, just not ultra hard.
 
It should work fine. There's nothing inherently wrong with a bit-heavy axe, though. It just alters the hang or bit design requirement for the design. That is to say that a bit-heavy axe should have a bit that that's more closed (relative to the handle) to align properly with the stroke, and that can be done either by hanging the head more closed or (if making a head from scratch, which is not the case here) setting the heel of the bit behind the toe.
 
BG_Farmer said:
The regular council tool long handled HB is just a little more than the trail boss, and it is a nice little axe once the metal wedge was replaced.

I assume the intent is to make a modification. I would go with the truper boys axe at Tractor Supply. $14 and plenty of material to be removed if desired on both head and handle. Truper says 1045, which one could heat treat at home if inclined, but I have a couple of their axes and they are quite serviceable as is, just not ultra hard.
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I meant that vintage HBs go for more, typically (when ebay is your only source), and the "simpler" part was that rather than waiting around for one and bidding and hoping, he can just order it up. Plus, get a project out of the deal.


ETA: and I had to look but a CT HB ranges from ~75% more to twice the money of the Trail Boss. Of course there is the made in USA aspect ... and the fact that it's already an HB pattern.
 
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cityofthesouth said:
I meant that vintage HBs go for more, typically (when ebay is your only source), and the "simpler" part was that rather than waiting around for one and bidding and hoping, he can just order it up. Plus, get a project out of the deal.


ETA: and I had to look but a CT HB ranges from ~75% more to twice the money of the Trail Boss. Of course there is the made in USA aspect ... and the fact that it's already an HB pattern.
Click to expand...

I see. There was and maybe is a Collins(?) Ie truper HB cheaper, also. I wasn't sure if he wanted to end up with an HB pattern or just wanted to modify something. I don't take issue with any approach except modifying vintage heads in good shape!
 
Rest assured, no good condition vintage head will see a grinder, cutting wheel, or any other implement of destruction.

Just looking for a fun project, and mostly something to screw around with. I checked out the Truper boy's axe today. Interesting, but not quite sold on that one yet. Not going to stress over a few dollars though.
 
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