"my little bush hatchet" : update

Well I decided to do a little filing with a Kobalt file that has a flat side and a "half-moon" side. I still have got to go over it with some fine sandpaper and then some extra fine sandpaper. Also going to wipe the handle down with Boiled Linseed Oil. I will get some pics of the final product up as soon as I finish it though :) thanks for the inspiration on this one thriller. I must say the handle is much more comfy and feels like I have more control. If your wondering about all the grinder marks on the head of the hatchet I just havent gotten around to filing those away and making it looked more polished. I had to remove some of the blade because it was too thick near the edge for my liking. I find a hatchet that has a little thinner metal near the edge goes into the wood easier making it more efficient. I hope it turns out good after I finish it completely. The very next thing I'll do is file the grinder marks away with a bastard file. Anyway here are the pics haha

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The File:

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After a little 320 grit sandpaper and some boiled linseed oil to help stabilize the handle and bring a more uniform color out. Still think I am going to go to lowes maybe tomorrow and pic up some 600 or 800 grit to see if I can get rid of all the file marks. Then I shall put a couple hours into getting the grinder marks out of the metal. I am always open to suggestions to what I might be able to improve on so if anyone sees any flaws or just something you think you should say please post it up.

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VERY NICE CHEVY !!!:thumbup: im happy my hatchet work inspire someone:D keep up the good work,im gonna be taking mine out for some more testing here in the next few days.i think ill put together a vidof it in action:D
 
Wow, kudos on all that elbow grease, like the new look of that axe. For the last one, be careful removing too much wood for those finger grips, if you chop too hard it's a weak point and no telling where the sharp end will end up.
 
I appreciate it thriller. Also I thought about how much I could remove before sacrificing the stability of the handle. I have tested it out on some Fatwood/Fatlighter and it did pretty good. I am also gonna test it on some hickory and oak that I have split up in the back yard. I have been hit in the chin with friskers 17" camp axe and let me tell you it hurt. This happened about 2 years ago but it defiantly taught me to think about the structure of the handle. If this one does break I will replace it again and remove just a little less on the grips until I find that sweet spot. I just like having the deeper finger grips/choils so I can feel the grips coming up between my fingers which gives a little more control and comfort. I did leave enough at the top of the handle so I can use it to make tinder sticks or chop up kindling. As soon as I take the chainsaw to the fatlighter stump I have I'll try and remember to get some pics or maybe a video of the hatchet doing its job. I have got to head off to the woods here soon and get a few more fatlighter stumps. Gone through 3 so far this winter. Ill defiantly let y'all know if I removed too much on the handle and it breaks though.

I am also open to any suggestions of what I should do to the hatchet head itself. Kinda want to dress it up a little bit to make it look a tad bit better to the eyes.

I was gonna PM this link to you thriller but the site says I cant access that page due to restrictions but I will post a link below that you might want to post up in. Just another hatchet thread that I started and I am thinking of just turning it into a picture gallery for custom hatchets but I'm not sure if it will take off or not. I hope it not against the forum rules to post this link.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=210766

Best Regards,
James
 
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im making a new(slightly larger) bush hatchet :Dfeaturing a longer handle out of a cut off grub hoe handle and a bigger slightly bigger head than the last one...having problems with pics today,should have them up tomorrow:D
 
ok so here is the new handle im gonna work down for my long bush hatchet.was trying some things with painting awhile back....that all wil be sanded off. looking for a nice hatchet head to pair with it:D i have another vaughan carpenter and a plumb carpenter,but was hoping to get something a little bigger on it if at all possible:D
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the handle is just a beaver hair under 22" long and 1 1/2" x 1" widths
any suggestions on a good sized head that might fit?
can someone give me eye dimentions for a norlund hatchet?
thanks in advance,and thanks to everyone who has followed this project:D
 
It's been a rainy day here so I figured why not do a few tests on the handle. Anyway here are a few pics.

Hickory:

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Red Oak:

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The total outcome:

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Overgrown Privet Bush (Ligustrum). Its pretty well much a tree as it was planted when the house was built (1938). Needed trimming on the lower part.

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I did have a few glancing blows to the handle right behind the head and the handle held up pretty well. I will have to continue testing to see if it will continue to hold up and not break. I do agree the handle may be a little on the thin side but I can say it is comfortable. There are no hotspots so I'm pretty happy with it but for the next handle I modify I will take a regular circle file and make the handle grooves a little more shallow to increase the stability of it.

Best Regards,
James
 
BTW thriller I hope this link can help you out with the Norlund hatchet head you have. The link is posted below and I will edit this post if I find any more links that have to do with the Norlund. Looking forward to seeing that hatchet head on that longer handle. Should make a great Bush Hatchet. Your also yet again giving me some ideas of what to do for my next hatchet project. Keep up the good work man

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/872844-Norlund-Hatchet-With-a-New-Handle-Plenty-of-Pictures-as-always

Here is another link to the Norlund Co. website. The author of the website has put his email at the bottom of the page and says to email him if you have any questions regarding Norlund equipment. The email is (Tom@YesteryearsTools.com)

http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears%20Tools/Norlund%20Co..html
 
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