Redneck Axe Maintenance

T

trailmaker

Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
506
I suppose this is one way to keep your handle tight. I count eighteen in there but maybe theres a second layer underneath.
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Ha ha! I found 27 cents in the kerf slot of an axe once. A quarter and two pennies acting as secondary wedges. But this takes the cake.
 
I saw one like this before. Interesting no doubt. Have fun getting those out, I know mine was a blast!
 
I've read in old books about having the local blacksmith make a large metal wedge instead of a wooden one that has a flared top that completely covers the eye when inserted. Maybe they were trying for a similar covering effect?
 
Operator1975 said:
I saw one like this before. Interesting no doubt. Have fun getting those out, I know mine was a blast!
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I'm hoping I can just knock the whole the whole mess out from the bottom. It should be funny to see what comes out of the eye, I'll be sure to get some photos.
 
I work form and pour concrete, now we dont use axes but we do use a bunch of sledges.
The way these things are maintained makes me sooooo nervous.
I flat out refuse to use some of them.
People need to learn how to treat tools and a lot of accidents wouldnt happen.
 
I went by Harbor freight earlier this week, took a look at a few of their 4lb sledge hammers. A bunch of them had loose heads from just sitting on the rack. I wondered about if I could try to talk them into selling me the ones with defective handles for $1 each as they really were dangerous.

But then again I would rather get something from a quality company that I know will outlast me.
Council Tool, Estwing, Vaughn, etc. They are all made in the USA, and I can trust that they are properly heat treated and won't mushroom or worse chip unlike anything that I know of that comes from where ever the other guy's tools are made.

There really is something to be said about having a nice tool and knowing how to take care of it.
 
SamuraiDave said:
There really is something to be said about having a nice tool and knowing how to take care of it.
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Simple wisdom accounts for some of the most beautiful things in life, like being able to use a well designed tool as it was intended. Nothing like swinging an axe or hammer and doing exactly what you wanted to do with efficiency.
 
I have seen axes like that before but didn't realized they belonged to you Randy. Guess it has something to do with the geography.

Howard
 
SamuraiDave - When I first started teaching blacksmithing, I went to Harbor Freight and bought three hammers to supplement my personal one. I dressed their faces and turned my attention to other preparations for class.

Things rocked along just fine until near the end of class when a three pound hammer head suddenly went flying through the air. The hammer eye had been covered on the end with some kind of glue, and I assumed there was a wedge under there...nope! They just jammed the handles in and squirted glue to fill the top. The hammers were properly wedged before the next class. It's just lucky no one got hit. That's why they are loose while hanging on the rack.
 
That is a Walters, 2.3 pounds with the 18 nails still crammed in the eye. I tried to knock it out but it doesn't want to budge at the moment. I'm going to leave it in my greenhouse for a few days, I've had good luck with that in the past. I think the wild temperature swings each day really loosen up those handle remnants. I was hoping to turn this into a nice little user but now that I know it's been beat on with a hammer I'm not sure I trust it to hold together.
 
I had a hatchet yesterday that had a spade bit and a cotter pin drove down into the eye - that was a good time getting out, trust me. Never seen that before.
 
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