Recommendation: fixing up a old hatchet

[McCarthy]

So I've got a broad ax hatchet. The blade is chisel ground, but it think that over time people have tried to sharpen both sides. The edge is pretty dinged up but nothing too big. The poll is mushroomed pretty badly. I don't think I'll have to replace the handle, it doesn't have a wood or medal wedge in it right now, but it's pretty tight. I figure I'll pull it out while I modify the ax then stick it back in with a wedge. It looks pretty old and it has a cross shaped logo on the blade and says Chipaway.

Sooo without totally modifying this thing, what would you do to make it more usable? I'm thinking soak the head in vinegar to get rid of the bit of rust on the blade, without taking of the patina. I think I'll take a file to the mushrooming on the poll, and resharpen the blade. I'm not really sure what to do with a chisel ground though? oh and I'm going to re-attach the handle. I think that I want to leave as much of the patina intact as possible. What do you recommend?

 

[Square_peg]

Usually the position of the eye of a broad hatchet is aligned for use as a broad hatchet not for use as a carpenters or riggers hatchet. Changing the grind may leave you with a hatchet that isn't optimized for anything.

The fact that a previous owner has sharpened a bevel on the flat of the chisel grind is an issue. If you have a good file and a way of securing the hatchet to your bench or vise then you can correct the grind without too much difficulty. A grinder could be useful if you're very careful about not tempering the edge.

But if all you have are stones and/or diamond hones then you might be better off just sharpening it in it current shape. I would concentrate my sharpening efforts on the side that already has the chisel grind. Eventually you sharpen away the mistake of the previous owner.

Definitely fix the mushroomed poll. You'll lose some mass but probably not enough to make much difference.

If you want to leave patina then a wire wheel is a much better choice than a vinegar soak. A wire wheel on a grinder would be your best bet but even a wire wheel made for you cordless drill would be better than a vinegar soak IMO.

I like saving and re-using old handles. Giving them a few coats of boiled linseed oil or tung oil will benefit an old handle

 

[garry3]

So I've got a broad ax hatchet. The blade is chisel ground, but it think that over time people have tried to sharpen both sides. The edge is pretty dinged up but nothing too big. The poll is mushroomed pretty badly. I don't think I'll have to replace the handle, it doesn't have a wood or medal wedge in it right now, but it's pretty tight. I figure I'll pull it out while I modify the ax then stick it back in with a wedge. It looks pretty old and it has a cross shaped logo on the blade and says Chipaway.

Sooo without totally modifying this thing, what would you do to make it more usable? I'm thinking soak the head in vinegar to get rid of the bit of rust on the blade, without taking of the patina. I think I'll take a file to the mushrooming on the poll, and resharpen the blade. I'm not really sure what to do with a chisel ground though? oh and I'm going to re-attach the handle. I think that I want to leave as much of the patina intact as possible. What do you recommend?

If you are going to use it you will love the grind on that axe. It is amazing how accurate you can be with an axe. If it is gound on both sides it just don't get it.

 

[trailmaker]

As Pegs said, use a wire wheel to remove rust and preserve patina. Vinegar will remove the old patina and lay down a new (inferior one IMO) patina. Some broad axes are made with a double bevel so you still might be able to use it in some way.