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Plumb Axe Questions

S

Snow Walker

Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
93
Greetings all…I'm new to this forum. Decided I would start my questions in the axe section.

Yesterday, I acquired an axe from my father. It belonged to my grandfather. Single edge, older replacement handle beginning to slip out of the head, the word "PLUMB" stamped on one side and a funny little triangle mark on the other side. I remember the original handle being curved, but I don't remember which direction. My grandfather snapped it limbing an old spruce tree. It's fairly sharp, but it's a typical farmer sharpening job done with an old farm shop file.

So…
1. Any history on this type of axe head?
2. If I were to replace the handle, where could I get an appropriate replacement? My grandfather was right-handed, so I assume that makes a difference.
3. Any sharpening hints for this type of axe head?

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
Plumbs have been around for a while. Good steel. Look at House Handles for a quality yet inexpensive haft replacement and some time with a steel, puck, canoe or diamond stone should work well to sharpen. Good luck and welcome to the forums! :)
 
I can't be of much help but to say that my grandfather was a mechanic and had lots of hand tools by Snap-on, S-K, and Plumb. He only had the best, so it's probably a very good quality axe, fwiw...
 
Snow Walker,
Post a picture and you will more than likely learn a lot more about your Grandfathers axe.
Like hara-kiri said, Plumbs are good quality tools.
 
I just picked up a Plumb axe at a yard sale today. It looks to be a Plumb Boy's Axe. It's pretty old, rusty, the bit and toe areas look like they have seen a ton of use. Also, the poll has been beat up considerably. It also needs to be re-hung. I got it for free, just for coming to the sale, and my intention is to clean it up, re-hang it and use it. I would also like some further identification/information on this (my) axe, but I don't want to hijack the thread.

I'll wait until Snow-Walker has his questions answered before me.
 
Looked at all the thread pics and didn't see this one. It belonged to my Grandfather. I traced it back to the 40's or 50's. He bought his house in '53 so that makes sense. This is not the original handle or the original style. I had an old Plumb single bit of his that I rehung. I took the old handle and since this needed to be rehung, I cut it in the middle then carved it down to fit, then sanded it up nice and oiled it. It's not the original style handle but it will stay in the family anyway and both Plumbs will go to my son, and grandchildren, and so on.
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I'm still working on the whole picture thing…not sure how to do it with my not-so-smart phone.

Tdhurl1103…ask away. It might be awhile before I get pics up. Thanks for the answers so far!
 
Nice Plumb Hale Storm. To some people they can't seem to get a grasp that them axes where designed to drive nails as well as pull them. They will have a hardened poll and as you know a straight handle usually.

Snow Walker, you need to upload the photo to a sight like photo bucket, google ect. Then just copy and paste.
 
Nice Plumb Hale Storm. To some people they can't seem to get a grasp that them axes where designed to drive nails as well as pull them. They will have a hardened poll and as you know a straight handle usually.

Snow Walker, you need to upload the photo to a sight like photo bucket, google ect. Then just copy and paste.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I know that handle is not proper for that type head. I like the way it feels and it's a helluva chopper. I won't be pulling any nails with it and in the off chance I do, it will still work. Not too many handle choices around here for some reason. Anyone know where I can get the correct one. Now that I think about it, I'd rather put the correct handle on it.

I use Tinypics. I'm not a computer guy and I figured out how to make it work.
 
Hale Storm said:
Anyone know where I can get the correct one. Now that I think about it, I'd rather put the correct handle on it.
Click to expand...

A claw hatchet like that will do well with a riggers hatchet handle. Those are commonly available at many hardware stores (I bought my last one at Do-It-Best). And go ahead and clean up the claw and pull nails with it. It won't hurt it. Most of those claws get damaged by using them as picks or cold chisels.
 
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