New guy - True Temper Kelly Works Jersey

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brettdean

Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Messages
72
Hello all,

Ok, new to the forum, and I may have a new "small" addiction to vintage axes. I love vintage tools and I currently collect and restore Stanley 9 1/2 block planes, because I also build bamboo fly rods.

Okay, so, I just bought (ebay) the coolest 4 lb. True Temper Kelly Works Jersey axe head, and will be restoring it. Restoring process will be a vinegar soak and steel-wool, then a good sharpening, hafting, a boiled linseed oil finish, and sheath.

So my first question is, am I missing anything with the restoring process? And, where is the best place to get a handle or haft for this? I read somewhere I may need a "competition" axe handle? Is that because the eye on the head is "long/deep"? And last, length, I'm thinking a 36".

I'm trying getting most of my information from this forum and youtube.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again


/Users/bdean/Desktop/Screen Shot 2013-01-13 at 7.05.19 PM.png
 
Welcome to the forum :)

Your pics not showing up for me :confused:

Lots of folks use an angle grinder and knotted brush to clean the head instead of a vinegar soak. This keeps the patina on the head. It's a personal choice. Sometimes I keep the patina and sometimes soak in vinegar. It just depends on what I'm looking for in a particular axe.

House Handle or Tennessee Hickory are both good companies.
If using House call and ask for hand select AA premium grade.
They are both on the Internet.

I prefer a shorter handle. On a KP Jersey I would go with a 32".
 
brettdean said:
Hello all,

Ok, new to the forum, and I may have a new "small" addiction to vintage axes. I love vintage tools and I currently collect and restore Stanley 9 1/2 block planes, because I also build bamboo fly rods.

Okay, so, I just bought (ebay) the coolest 4 lb. True Temper Kelly Works Jersey axe head, and will be restoring it. Restoring process will be a vinegar soak and steel-wool, then a good sharpening, hafting, a boiled linseed oil finish, and sheath.

So my first question is, am I missing anything with the restoring process? And, where is the best place to get a handle or haft for this? I read somewhere I may need a "competition" axe handle? Is that because the eye on the head is "long/deep"? And last, length, I'm thinking a 36".

I'm trying getting most of my information from this forum and youtube.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again


/Users/bdean/Desktop/Screen Shot 2013-01-13 at 7.05.19 PM.png
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are on the right track jersey heads can be hard to rehandle I would just check the local hardware stores for a house or link handle make sure to measure your eye but handles made these days are often oversized so you will Likely find one easy just check for grain.
 
You could also check out J. Hollywood Edge Co.
Colorado's right, you should check locally first, but more often than not I find it hard to find what in really looking for locally.
Especially if its a 32" SB handle.
Since you mentioned a 'competition' handle, those are in the 28-32" range which as I said above I prefer.
 
What Bear said. J. Hollywood is where I got a racing handle for my Kelly Jersey. I'm sure we will all want to see pics as this project comes along as well.
 
bearhunter said:
You could also check out J. Hollywood Edge Co.
Colorado's right, you should check locally first, but more often than not I find it hard to find what in really looking for locally.
Especially if its a 32" SB handle.
Since you mentioned a 'competition' handle, those are in the 28-32" range which as I said above I prefer.
Click to expand...

Not seeing his pictures either and I have never ordered handles befor always have wanted to but with my work at a conservation corp I buy a lot of handles so I know when the good ones are in and also have five hardware stores within five miles of eachother. Bear I Always wanted to buy a compitition handle any suggestions. I E were to buy such a handle
 
J Hollywood sells them as does The Hickory Handle Store which is on eBay.
Their a 'branch' of Tennessee Hickory.

Heck, I don't know, but House might make you one via special order. I haven't ordered yet, but I've corresponded with them via email and they said they would make a certain handle for me.
It's worth a try I guess.
 
Humm I will have to try that after I explain to the wife why I need to spend more money on somthing for an axe thank for the info bear
 
Coloradoman24 said:
Humm I will have to try that after I explain to the wife why I need to spend more money on somthing for an axe thank for the info bear
Click to expand...
Your welcome!

LOL. My wife's supportive of my axe habit... Woops... I meant hobby ;)
However, over the past couple of months I seem to have 'overextended' my axe budget. So I think I'm going to have to sell a few to pay her back :(
I just don't know how it happened :confused:
But...but... I NEEDED that one too :D
 
Bear I hear you to save money form buying axes I desided to make them which my wife was ok with until she realized I suck at smithing and spend way to much time out side after work so she worrys about my time away from her then the money I spend
 
A 4-pounder is a big axe and can benefit from a full length 36" handle, especially if you're going to split with it.

I'll second what the other guys have said about House Handle and Tennessee Hickory - both good companies with great products. If you want to use a handle as-is, straight off the shelf, then House Handle is the better choice IMO. They do a great job of shaping and slimming their handles. OTOH, if you don't mind doing a little work yourself then you might make a better handle from a Tennessee Hickory handle. TH handles come way too fat. But their wood is excellent - really second to none. If you're able to do some shaping on your own then you can turn a TH into truly first rate handle.

Edit: And BTW, O.P. Link makes some good stuff, too. Keep an eye open for them at your local hardware store. Occasionally a real gem turns up.
 
Smithing is something that I've always wanted to try my hand at.
There are a few other smiths on here. I know Pegs is one.
I guess I need to get to work on my blacksmithing shop :)
 
brettdean said:
http://s1288.beta.photobucket.com/u...lyWorksJersey_zps754ddbc8.png.html?sort=3&o=2


Ok, this might work. This is the Jersey I just bought.
Click to expand...

Yep, she's a nice one. I remember seeing that one up for auction.

When hanging those Jerseys, make sure you get those lugs down on the shoulder of the handle. It's going to take a little patience and time, but its worth it to do the job right.
You'll probably have to rasp quite a bit, but hey, it's fun and end the end it'll look good :)
 
I wouldn't say you NEED a competition axe handle. If you want one that's another story. I've found the competition axe handles from J. Hollywood and hickory Handle store (both use the same source - Tennessee Hickory) are really big and require a lot of trimming down by the purchaser. A personal preference for sure but I wasn't impressed by the handles considering the cost (I bought one from each store).

I've been able to fit most of my jerseys on House Handle handles or other locally bought ones by seating the axe further down on the shoulder.

Yes, jersey's need more attention. I like to bring the whole shoulder down to fit the lugs (as opposed to trimming the handle near the shoulder to specifically fit the lugs. If the lugs dig into the handle a lot, the axe head isn't going to seat well.

Check out posts by M3mphis on here. He's done some really nice ones and I learned the technique from him.
 
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