i have been meaning to post these two up for a few weeks. found locally, both were on good hafts. both were had for less than $5.00... i always forget to take before pictures, which bothers me quite a bit. i would like to document what these things start out as.
Mann double bit. this ax was in pretty rough shape. fully covered in rust, with slight(IMO) pitting. the haft was in very serviceable shape, but i pulled it anyway. i acquired an old slim, beautiful NOS Wards DB haft at the same place where i found this guy, so i put them together after rehabbing the steel. i scrubbed it starting with 320 paper, and moved up to 400 over the whole thing. then i moved up to 600 on the bevels, then 1500. at this point, i did a very small bit of profiling and putting the edge curve back into shape. needed NO thinning. once i got both bits where i wanted them, i spent some time with the bench buffer with emery compound, and finished with white polishing compound, which is a "medium" cutting compound. it is mirror fine, with a bit of pitting showing through. here are a couple pics, and i will post a couple more in a bit in natural light outside. handles is treated with medium walnut Danish oil, beeswax after cured.
WC Kelly Perfect Michigan. this ax was on a rough,very dry, octagonal haft. the head was very rusty, but with very little pitting. it had been sharpened all to hell, so i did not reprofile this one. used a scrub pad and then 320 and 400g paper, and oiled it. the haft got sanded starting with 100, up to 320. the Ol Lady wanted to use black walnut danish oil on it, i protested heavily and explained how dry the wood was and that it would turn out MUCH darker than any of our others... she insisted, and slathered it on... needless to say, it turned out VERY dark. doesnt look bad at all, and after drying and waxing later, looks pretty darn good! still much darker than i prefer a haft, but good nonetheless. it resides on the wall with the rest of her personal axes.
also picked up another no name hewing hatchet with no haft. have yet to hang this one. very clean, no rust.
Mann double bit. this ax was in pretty rough shape. fully covered in rust, with slight(IMO) pitting. the haft was in very serviceable shape, but i pulled it anyway. i acquired an old slim, beautiful NOS Wards DB haft at the same place where i found this guy, so i put them together after rehabbing the steel. i scrubbed it starting with 320 paper, and moved up to 400 over the whole thing. then i moved up to 600 on the bevels, then 1500. at this point, i did a very small bit of profiling and putting the edge curve back into shape. needed NO thinning. once i got both bits where i wanted them, i spent some time with the bench buffer with emery compound, and finished with white polishing compound, which is a "medium" cutting compound. it is mirror fine, with a bit of pitting showing through. here are a couple pics, and i will post a couple more in a bit in natural light outside. handles is treated with medium walnut Danish oil, beeswax after cured.
WC Kelly Perfect Michigan. this ax was on a rough,very dry, octagonal haft. the head was very rusty, but with very little pitting. it had been sharpened all to hell, so i did not reprofile this one. used a scrub pad and then 320 and 400g paper, and oiled it. the haft got sanded starting with 100, up to 320. the Ol Lady wanted to use black walnut danish oil on it, i protested heavily and explained how dry the wood was and that it would turn out MUCH darker than any of our others... she insisted, and slathered it on... needless to say, it turned out VERY dark. doesnt look bad at all, and after drying and waxing later, looks pretty darn good! still much darker than i prefer a haft, but good nonetheless. it resides on the wall with the rest of her personal axes.
also picked up another no name hewing hatchet with no haft. have yet to hang this one. very clean, no rust.
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