New axe addict

S

sywagon

Joined
Jan 28, 2013
Messages
44
Hi folks, first post.

I thought I would join since lurking a very short while as I have found a lot of helpful threads and useful information here - thank you all.

I hope you all don't mind if I indulge in posting just a couple pics of some axes (this will be two parts)!

It is a pretty simple story. I've been using axes since I was a boy, but I never really stopped and looked at one. I got this old double bit from my dad a couple of decades ago and have used it to split a good chunk of wood and felled a bunch of tulip poplar saplings with it last summer. It performed those tasks admirably, but last time I sharpened the portions that weren't nicked I thought I'd take the time and clean it up when I had a chance. During the process, as I'm sure many of you did, I became thoroughly addicted.

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I was un-appraised of the wire wheel/vinegar debate so I used an approach that I learned for cleaning up pitted blued firearms to preserve the patina. As you can see I like a completely manual approach. It still needs a little more work on the edge - I quit on the medium stone but it is cutting paper well already. I think it is the original handle possibly and it is tight to the head. The grain is very tight but oriented incorrectly. I'm not sure if I can save it given the abuse we gave it on the shoulder (any tips there?).
 
Welcome...Thanks for the pics...Nice piece cleaned up great !
 
Nice work on the restore. Who knew there would be a Plumb hiding under there. As for the handle. If it's still tight and hasn't broke by now I'd maybe just sand it and put some BLO on it and keep on using it. Nice axe you have though.
 
And so it begins. I've been doing a lot of reading about manufacturer's history and looking at axes all over the internet. I stopped at a pawn shop and an antique store but came up blank. A few things happened along the way though, and here is what arrived today. I'll be getting a few more that are in the mail, and have a couple more bids going now, so I'll update this some more later.

For obvious reasons, I do like Plumb - too bad he monkeyed up the edge a bit, but the hamon you should be able to barely make out is back very near to the nail notch on the shallow side. $22 IIRC
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This one I just had to have for the price, even though it is abused thoroughly. Apparently someone ingenious came up with a method to torque it with the haft when it was sunk in a block or something. It came with another old Plumb that was cracked the same way (perfect bevel, different pattern, unwelded, and even worse condition) and I don't think it is a design fault. I think the repair might be solid and I'll work on the appearance, but I it will ever be aesthetic. The edge has not been worked back much if any. It tips the bathroom scale to around 3lb. (+/- 0.5lb?). I would REALLY like to get another one of these in better shape. $7.50 for the lot.

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Dusty One said:
Welcome...Thanks for the pics...Nice piece cleaned up great !
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Thanks!

OutdoorEnvy said:
Nice work on the restore. Who knew there would be a Plumb hiding under there. As for the handle. If it's still tight and hasn't broke by now I'd maybe just sand it and put some BLO on it and keep on using it. Nice axe you have though.
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Thanks!

I actually had no idea it was even marked. I have since sanded the haft lightly and oiled it with a light coat of Fluid Film. It is actually my favorite metal protectant - it is basically Lanolin, all natural, smells great, and works as well as CorrosionX IMO. I had read somewhere that lanolin was good to use, and it seemed to do the trick nicely. I'll look into getting some linseed to compare.

I was more wondering if maybe I could come in with a chisel and delicately chip the splintery bits out of the shoulder or something. Here is how it sits as of now:
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Oh yeah, one I forgot to post - this was $41 + shipping new. I'd tell you all where happily but they have since revised it to over double the price. I think it was a mistake but thankfully they shipped it and didn't cancel me out.
SAW 13H
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Welcome to the Axe Forum! Glad you found us. Great looking old axe you have there.

sywagon said:
I'm not sure if I can save it given the abuse we gave it on the shoulder (any tips there?).
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Basically just what Outdoor Envy already suggested. Sand it back to the end of the splinters and give it a few coats of linseed oil or tung oil. As the oil dries it will help bind any damaged fibers back together.
 
sywagon said:
I was more wondering if maybe I could come in with a chisel and delicately chip the splintery bits out of the shoulder or something.
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Most definitely. I'll sometimes just trim the rough spots with a utility knife.
 
Square_peg said:
Most definitely. I'll sometimes just trim the rough spots with a utility knife.
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Great, thanks!

BTW, a number of your posts were quite helpful in inspiring this addiction and very informative indeed.

Would you by chance know if that little Plumb broad hatchet is hardened (top of my second post in this thread)? It seems to have been beat on a bit but there are only a few little divots in it (I forgot to take a pic.). I was thinking, why would there be a nail puller without a hammer...? That would be pretty cool if it was.
 
sywagon said:
Would you by chance know if that little Plumb broad hatchet is hardened (top of my second post in this thread)? It seems to have been beat on a bit but there are only a few little divots in it (I forgot to take a pic.). I was thinking, why would there be a nail puller without a hammer...? That would be pretty cool if it was.
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It's possible but my broad hatchets don't have hardened polls. Those nail pulling notches are common on many hatches. Kindling is often full of nails which need pulling. Now if you find a hatchet with a nail pulling claw then it's a good bet you have a hardened poll.

Two sure tests are the file and the vinegar soak. Check if the poll files easier than the bit.

One other sign that can hint at a hardened poll is the stout eye walls on your hatchet. If a hatchet or axe was intended for pounding it will often have thick eye walls. But the file is the surest test.
 
Square_peg said:
It's possible but my broad hatchets don't have hardened polls. Those nail pulling notches are common on many hatches. Kindling is often full of nails which need pulling. Now if you find a hatchet with a nail pulling claw then it's a good bet you have a hardened poll.

Two sure tests are the file and the vinegar soak. Check if the poll files easier than the bit.

One other sign that can hint at a hardened poll is the stout eye walls on your hatchet. If a hatchet or axe was intended for pounding it will often have thick eye walls. But the file is the surest test.
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Ok, thanks for the info. As well as I can see the temper line on the cheek I really can't convince myself there is anything on the poll after looking at it again. I'll test it with a file though.
 
Welcome to the forum, with a warning. These things, axes, we call them, are more addictive than you may realize. Like any addiction, it may start out slow but before you know it you are completely under the influence...of these beautiful, practical tools. You may never again be satisfied with things that other people consider to be a sufficient replacement for a good axe, like chainsaws, wood-splitters, etc. :)

Your old double bit is a beauty for sure. With a bit of care, the handle may last for decades to come, regardless of "proper" grain alignment. One way to deal with the shoulder would be to wrap it with a light cord; I've seen many splitting axes and mauls wrapped with wire to prevent that from happening in the first place. That said, the damage is minor, so I would second the advice on sanding it down and oiling.
 
Sparrow92 said:
Welcome to the forum, with a warning. These things, axes, we call them, are more addictive than you may realize. Like any addiction, it may start out slow but before you know it you are completely under the influence...of these beautiful, practical tools. You may never again be satisfied with things that other people consider to be a sufficient replacement for a good axe, like chainsaws, wood-splitters, etc. :)

Your old double bit is a beauty for sure. With a bit of care, the handle may last for decades to come, regardless of "proper" grain alignment. One way to deal with the shoulder would be to wrap it with a light cord; I've seen many splitting axes and mauls wrapped with wire to prevent that from happening in the first place. That said, the damage is minor, so I would second the advice on sanding it down and oiling.
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Thanks, and quite well said. My wife has seen plenty of worse things happen before in our few decades together though. She'll have to understand that it works out cheaper than cars, guitars, and rarely even cigars.

I'll see how it feels when I have it to where it won't stab me and may seriously look into a wrap then.

Coloradoman24 said:
Yeah they are great - one of the few breweries I trust to get a sampler and enjoy them all. I love the Claymore.

Welcome to the forum from a newbi who loves Colorado beer and axes which should not be mix unless you have a junker from chine and steel tied boots and shin guards and a spotter. Any ways nice pics
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Roger, loud and clear - save the mixing of axes for whiskey.
 
What showed up today - Hultafors small felling axe I grabbed for $61 new, small "SWEDEN" hatchet ($20), Plumb raft hybrid "32" "patent applied for" ($20).

The Hultafors is 2# on a 26" haft. I should mention the grain alignment is perfect on both this and the Wetterlings. There isn't quite the centerline high profile of an old American head, but it isn't flat.
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Sweden small hatchet on a Forest King haft. Kind of looks like a Super Banko? There is a screw in the wedge but it looks like it can be fixed with just a new wedge. Few nicks on the edge but it looks to have only seen a file. Does anyone know about these generic "SWEDEN" stamped things? It seems to have some age. I assume the haft must be a replacement being American. If Forest King stopped making hafts when they stopped making axes in 1955 (I think) that would put it back a ways.

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The Plumb is in great shape but someone lost the edge shape. Appears to have been filed (it is worse than in the pic). I don't think I'll have to go back too far to get it un-"fixed". There was some question in another thread on if the poll is hardened - I'll test it later but can't tell for now. It does appear to have been hammered a bit with very little damage (should have taken a picture). It is a hefty poll regardless and I don't see wanting to beat stuff with this anyways. I wonder if "3 2" refers to 3 pounds 2 OZ or 3.5 pounds - I see that a lot.

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The plum is a 3.5 pound have the same one and so far it might become my number one to use have another one in the mail. Even through we have no water in Colorado the rafting axe pattern is useful with its larg poll love what you got there
 
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