Papaw's Hatchet

[Blakecauthen]

My grandfather passed away about 6 years ago. Since then, my grandmother has been wildly protective of his belongings mostly due to some family members "scavenging" and pawning some of the tools and toys that Papaw had loaned them when he was still living.

I had mentioned to Mamaw during a weekend visit that I was going to buy some camp tools (axe, hatchet, shovel, etc) for an upcoming camping trip. She surprised me when she told me to get the hatchet and camping shovel from his toolbox. This was a huge deal. She also asked that I look into cleaning up some of the other tools and knives that I might find.

Long story short, this restoration is a labor of love to prove to her that I respect her belongings and much as she and Papaw did.

Any suggestions would be welcome. I worked for an hour with a steel brush and some penetrating oil to knock of some of the rust so far (I included a progress picture). The sharpening I will do on his bench grinder unless filing by hand is a better option.

 

[Squashfan]

You might consider getting a mod to move this thread to the "Axe, Tomahawk, and something else" subforum.
I don't see a pic. Does it need a new handle? Also, since it seems you have access to a bench grinder, I would get a wire wheel for it and do the rust removal on that. An angle grinder would also work. ***Which ever you choose, make sure you wear eye protection, along with a heavy long sleeve shirt over a heavy apron. This is necessary to protect you from the wires flying off of the wheel.***

Also, I wouldn't sharpen it on a benchgrinder, if this is your first time to sharpen something on a bench grinder. I have tried and it is super easy to over heat the edge and ruin the temper/hatchet. Sometimes, it just ruins a small area, though. Heavyhanded, another member here, recommended using a file when I was adding the bevels to a machete. He says to us 12" bastard file for reprofiling. If you want to, get a 6 or 8" file to do the actually sharpening. (Sear's should carry them both. Lowe's used to but the no longer do in my area.) The file will not run the risk of ruining the hatchet and cut fairly fast once you get used to it. This guide to filing was a big help to me: http://www.evenfallstudios.com/woodworks_library/nicholson_guide_to_filing_2006.pdf

 

[HeavyHanded]

Fantastic sounding project (I can't see any pics either). For heavier rust removal, sandpaper over a piece of leather or a few layers of denim etc - something to soften it a bit. If you use wet/dry you can use oil with it, or buy some of those heavy duty Scotchie pads. Once it gets down to a more satin finish you can decide how much more of a polish you want to use if at all. Please do not sharpen on a bench grinder - as mentioned above, a large file will work a lot better to repair and re establish a good edge, then finish it off on sandpaper or with a bench stone, puck, etc.

Very cool, I received precious little of my ancestral tools/hardware to use or pass on.