Researching for my first restoration

S

Sn0man

Joined
Jan 4, 2012
Messages
26
My uncle died and left me some tools. Among them I found this old axe head. It says True Temper 3 1/2 lb. I don't know anything about this stuff, so I've done a little research on the Internet. It seems like the more I research, the more I found out I don't know, but I think this is a Yankee profile. I would deeply appreciate any help I could get identifying this thing and figuring out the best way to restore it. Should I polish it? Should I clean it and retain the patina? Should I grind down the burrs on the poll, or leave them?

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Nice find!! From what I can tell from the pics, the rust doesn't look like it goes very deep. If it was mine, I'd start with a brass bristle brush either by hand or at low speed with a drill or Dremel tool. I'm partial to original patina, and don't really care for the color changes that soaking in vinegar produces vs a patina on a head in this shape. Anyway, you'll get good advice from others on this forum with much more extras me. If you take it slow and do the least drastic rust removal, you may see things under that rust that guide you further depending on your desired end result. You have a nice clear stamp and this is a great manufacturer with Kelly and it is a Perfect to boot. Try searching the forum for "good rust bad rust", as I posted that and got a lot of good advice from others for a head I'm working on.
SwedeFP
 
SwedeFP said:
Here's the link to the post mentioned above:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/good-rust-vs-bad-rust.1761854/
I've since gotten some Ospho for rust conversion and permablue gel for trying a bluing treatment after the rust removal is done.
Click to expand...

Hey Swede, do you know of an online source for handles that is reliably good quality? Or should I just go to the hardware and pick one out?

Also I watched a video of a guy restoring an axe, and he just used a wood wedge in the handle, so metal wedge. Is there a technique for pulling that off?
 
Sn0man said:
Hey Swede, do you know of an online source for handles that is reliably good quality? Or should I just go to the hardware and pick one out?

Also I watched a video of a guy restoring an axe, and he just used a wood wedge in the handle, so metal wedge. Is there a technique for pulling that off?
Click to expand...
Sn0man
 
Sorry for non reply above, still getting used to posting.
Handles: I've bought from House Handle (HH) and like the number of choices on handle length, and this is something you might not find at a hardware store. I do buy from my local store or Tractor Supply, but these are 36 inch. I do find some decent grain in some of these handles (like Truper brand who bought Collins Axe) and the thin layer of finish on them is easy to sand off for applying your own (raw linseed oil for me). HH has options to have them hand pick for grain, and maybe heartwood (more red) vs lighter sapwood, and they will remove the finish all for small up charge. The handles are worth checking out, but shipping adds up especially if ordering only one.
Hanging the head: I just use the wood wedge and no metal yet. They are holding just fine. There are people on this forum with lots of experience, who hopefully will make a comment. Definitely check out "An Axe to Grind" and use it for a guide. Old Axeman, who posts on this forum is the author. You've come to the right place to learn about axes, and the old posts found through searches and just following new posts can get quite addictive.
SwedeFP
 
Nice head.
HH is 50/50 for me but reasonable enough priced to get a few. Some of my best handles have come from them, also some wood for my grill.
Local hardware stores may offer Seymour or Link handles, pick through them for grain and staightness and you can get an excellent handle.

I have been trying something different for mushroom at the poll. I used to just file it away but now I am using a ball peen hammer to "lightly" push that metal back into place. You will still need to file/stone but lose less steel.

For cleaning rust, I use a wire wheel on a bench grinder- steel or bronze depending on how deep I want to go .A cup brush on a drill or angle grinder also works. My heads only see the grinder for purpose of intimidation if they are not behaving.
Bill
 
SwedeFP said:
Sorry for non reply above, still getting used to posting.
Handles: I've bought from House Handle (HH) and like the number of choices on handle length, and this is something you might not find at a hardware store. I do buy from my local store or Tractor Supply, but these are 36 inch. I do find some decent grain in some of these handles (like Truper brand who bought Collins Axe) and the thin layer of finish on them is easy to sand off for applying your own (raw linseed oil for me). HH has options to have them hand pick for grain, and maybe heartwood (more red) vs lighter sapwood, and they will remove the finish all for small up charge. The handles are worth checking out, but shipping adds up especially if ordering only one.
Hanging the head: I just use the wood wedge and no metal yet. They are holding just fine. There are people on this forum with lots of experience, who hopefully will make a comment. Definitely check out "An Axe to Grind" and use it for a guide. Old Axeman, who posts on this forum is the author. You've come to the right place to learn about axes, and the old posts found through searches and just following new posts can get quite addictive.
SwedeFP
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reference. I have downloaded it and will read it tonight.
 
lmalterna said:
Nice head.
HH is 50/50 for me but reasonable enough priced to get a few. Some of my best handles have come from them, also some wood for my grill.
Local hardware stores may offer Seymour or Link handles, pick through them for grain and staightness and you can get an excellent handle.

I have been trying something different for mushroom at the poll. I used to just file it away but now I am using a ball peen hammer to "lightly" push that metal back into place. You will still need to file/stone but lose less steel.

For cleaning rust, I use a wire wheel on a bench grinder- steel or bronze depending on how deep I want to go .A cup brush on a drill or angle grinder also works. My heads only see the grinder for purpose of intimidation if they are not behaving.
Bill
Click to expand...
My uncle left me a brass (or bronze) wife wheel on his bench grinder. I'll give it a shot. Have you done electrolytic rust removal?
 
I have not used electrolysis but some like the process. Please do wear eyepro with that wire wheel... I pick tiny pieces of wire out of my cheeks sometimes.

Bill
 
If you end up sorting handles at a local store, consider info in this thread on grain runout. I think it is safe to say that many handles can have some grain issues and some amount of runout can be common, but knowing this information may help you decide which one is best for your use. You may also stumble upon some forum posts that question the standard of grain needing to run parallel with the orientation of the bit. There are other sources that say the same.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/grain-runout.1766543/
SwedeFP
 
Wow, you people are very helpful. I hope I'll be knowledgeable about something you need someday, so I can pay it back. I am a professional brewer. Maybe I can help you with some homebrew.
 
"My uncle left me a brass (or bronze) wife wheel on his bench grinder. I'll give it a shot. Have you done electrolytic rust removal?"

I think many of us would like an update on this! Pictures?
 
Trailsawyer said:
"My uncle left me a brass (or bronze) wife wheel on his bench grinder. I'll give it a shot. Have you done electrolytic rust removal?"

I think many of us would like an update on this! Pictures?
Click to expand...

I will be more than happy to post some progress pix on this project! It's the least I can do for your help. But first I'm going to practice one some other pieces, because I've never done this, and it's a family heirloom from Uncle Steve. When I first started this thread I had no idea what I was getting into -- I didn't know how many ways there were to ruin this thing!
 
Sn0man,
Apologies for not mentioning foremost in the first reply, but sorry for your uncle's passing. Hope the practicing and eventual cleaning of the Kelly goes well. While reading up on using molasses to clean rust off of tools, I stumbled on this site which be worth reading.
https://clutchaxes.com/axe-restoration-by-hand/
SwedeFP
 
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