My Vintage Axe Search (yours too)

[cckw]

Here are the axes I mentioned above. the smaller was my dads "good axe" It was in excellent condition when I was a kid. seen some rougher treatment in my brothers hand in the last 10 years. The large one is the true temper that I got from his friend for $5. Handle is bad inside the head.

 

[DNK]

For this group, I used a combination of a flap sander on a hand drill followed up with lots of hand sanding. More recently I soaked a couple of heads in CLR for about a week. It took them from fuzzy rusty to very clean. I'll probably go this route from now on.

Jeff

I've had a lot of success with EvapoRust. Eats the rust right off and won't harm anything else. You just have to make sure the item is thoroughly degreased first. Also enviromentally safe.

 

[BRab]

I've been collectiong old axes for a while now. Here's a few shots of my collection, and some shots of my Norlunds (my favorites). I took these with my phone, but when I find my camera I will take more detailed photos.

 

[cckw]

I've been collectiong old axes for a while now. Here's a few shots of my collection, and some shots of my Norlunds (my favorites). I took these with my phone, but when I find my camera I will take more detailed photos.

Why are you so fond of Norlund? any tips on finding heads. I have found some, but it sure has been work to turn them up. Cant wait to see more

 

[Mick57]

I've used a stiff wire wheel on a bench grinder for cleaning up old rusty heads like the ones in this thread.
Works like a charm......IMHO the only way to go. No muss, no fuss & it's quite easy to do. (& fast)

 

[BRab]

Why are you so fond of Norlund? any tips on finding heads. I have found some, but it sure has been work to turn them up. Cant wait to see more

Norlunds have great steel and blade profiles. I think they have the best designed axe heads. However, pretty much all old US made axes are of very high quality, so it's mainly just personal preference. I've had good luck at flea markets finding heads, but never found a good axe at antique stores at a reasonable price. I've also got a number of heads on the big auction site. Most axe heads there go for too high a price, IMO; but if you are patient you can get some good deals. I got a lot of about 20 rusty axe heads a while back for ~$4 per head. I cleaned them up and most were quality old heads.

Here are a few more pics:

A few Mann axes:

2 Plumbs and a Collins:

This one is marked "Mack Axe Beaver Falls, PA." I've never seen another one of these.

 

[cckw]

Another pick-up! $10 at an antique mall along the interstate locally. Good usable Axe. Collins 3.5lb head. I'm going to make a wood wedge of sorts to put down the front side of the handle. In the narrow spot at the front it has a gap, otherwise the rehandle job is good. I don't know for sure that the gap is a big deal, but it seems like it would cause the head to loosen much quicker by having some give there.

I'll sharpen it and give it to my brother in exchange for our dads axe that he gave me a couple weeks ago. He gave me that one because he wanted a larger one, so win-win.

Edit to add this: I don't post anything on the days I come home empty handed, so don't let my posts make it look like these are everywhere. There are 200 cast iron frying pans to every decent axe head. But if you hit enough shops you will earn some finds.

 

[Iboschi]

I'm digging this thread!

 

[cckw]

I picked up this Keen Kutter at an antique mall for $19.00. Really cool handle. octagonal plus the fancy butt. I'll keep it as it is.

 

[Dusty One]

Here are a few I picked up and cleaned up.

 

[knifehound]

Here is a Collins made axe retailed by Abercrombie & Fitch that I picked up at auction about a year ago. Love the handle, feels great in hand.

 

[cckw]

So this is the axe all the rich chicks would be using?

 

[knifehound]

So this is the axe all the rich chicks would be using?

Guess so, along with the Scagel knives that were sold there. :thumbup:

 

[Dusty One]

Nice looking axe....And it still had its sheath with it !

 

[Loosearrow]

What is CLR?

Here is a LL Bean Hatchet I found in a used tool store

Looks like a Norlund doesn't it?

 

[rjdankert]

Hi, this is my first post. I am retired and have been getting into woodworking as a hobby. I have lately been interested in hand tools including axes and hatchets. My first is a Hults Bruk which I cleaned up and rehandled with Osage Orange.

Here it is with the log the handle came from:

Made an oak wedge for it:

And a sheath:

Thanks for looking, Bob

 

[killa_concept]

Hi, this is my first post. I am retired and have been getting into woodworking as a hobby. I have lately been interested in hand tools including axes and hatchets. My first is a Hults Bruk which I cleaned up and rehandled with Osage Orange.

Here it is with the log the handle came from:
[xIMG]

Made an oak wedge for it:
[xIMG]


And a sheath:
[xIMG]


Thanks for looking, Bob

Dang nice mate! That certainly came out wonderfully - right down to the grain orientation too which is just spot on! Out of curiosity, did you base the handle shape/dimensions off a pattern or just freehand your own?

Either way, amazing job! :thumbup:

 

[Operator1975]

Hi, this is my first post. I am retired and have been getting into woodworking as a hobby. I have lately been interested in hand tools including axes and hatchets. My first is a Hults Bruk which I cleaned up and rehandled with Osage Orange.

Here it is with the log the handle came from:

Made an oak wedge for it:

And a sheath:

Thanks for looking, Bob

That is some really nice work. Congrats!

 

[rjdankert]

Thanks, I used the handle that came with it for the pattern. Don't know if the old one was original, but it needed replacement.

 

[rjdankert]

Thanks