Plumb axe, no temper line

S

survivor45

Joined
Feb 15, 2018
Messages
157
So a coworker has a double bit Plumb marked axe. He gave it a vinegar bath and there is no temper line.
The head does not look to me like it’s been ground back to nothing.
Did Plumb use supper steel that did not need tempering ?
I can get pictures if necessary. But I kinda figured this is a simple question for the more experienced.
Thanks
Andy
Edit: ok now with photos. And weight
Stamped 3 2 (3 1/2 lbs) weighs 3.40 lbs
Length of bit is 9 3/4”


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There is a hardening line in the 2nd picture. Had this head been somewhat cleaner (wirewheeled), you'd be able to see it more clearly.
 
I see what your referring to. But that line does not meet up with anything on the other side. Actually there are other “lines” on the other side.
This was the first time he’d ever soaked anything in vinegar. I think the lines seen are from the head not being fully submerged. I’ll post a photo of the other side.
 
Moonw said:
There is a hardening line in the 2nd picture. Had this head been somewhat cleaner (wirewheeled), you'd be able to see it more clearly.
Click to expand...

agreed - you can see in the second picture the steel closer to the bit has a different quality to it, it reflects the light a little different.

those other strange lines you are looking at can't be the temper lines.

can't remember if anyone else suggested that it maybe didn't soak long enough for the bit to get dark? takes a while.
 
survivor45 said:
If these are temper lines then Plumb should have sold this one off so some other department store, under another name.
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Click to expand...

They probably would've rejected it earlier through the manufacturing process :). There's no way for the top one to be a temper line, you're right.
 
Survivor45, the only suggestion I have is a longer soak indeed, as my esteemed colleagues said. Then, I'd wirewheel it, to make everything even more obvious.

Do you guys get vinegar of different strength or is it "standardized"?

Ultimately...as Square_peg said...a file should tell you everything that's needed to know in practice :).
 
Agreed also on the file test. I only have one plumb, but the bit is very hard and my old file skates right off.
 
Thanks for all your replies. I’m not going to worry about myself. He is just one of those guys who has to have everything perfect(or brand new). Or else he thinks it’s no good.
Thanks again
Andy
 
FLINT77 said:
Perfect. Tell him that the temper job was botched and it's junk, and you'd be willing to take it to the scrap yard for him..
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Well I offered to refurb it for him.
Spent two hours on it last night
Grinding the chipped edges back then hand filling the new cutting angles. Wire wheeled then sanded just the cutting edges with 220 grt paper. When he brings me a handle I’ll hang it for him.
 
I must admit I don’t have a lot of experience on testing axe steel.
It filed the same as every other axe I’ve filled. I’m sure it will work just fine.
 
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