SC T100's Axe Projects (Pic Heavy)

I like what you've done with it. Please keep us posted on how it performs as a carving axe. That grind is better for carving than for chopping. Looks like it might have more roll on the edge than I would like. I think a straight Scandi grind works better for carving.
 
Square_peg said:
I like what you've done with it. Please keep us posted on how it performs as a carving axe. That grind is better for carving than for chopping. Looks like it might have more roll on the edge than I would like. I think a straight Scandi grind works better for carving.
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Thanks, and I will. I agree a true v-grind would be better for carving, but from my quick tests this thing carves like a knife. My SFA, with the same covex edge carves verywell, and this bit is a little thinner, and appears to carve very easily. I'm loving it so far. It got a few more coats of BLO this weekend and will get a few more. It feels great in the hand.
 
Chignecto Woodsman said:
What's the story on Pickett's Pride (details of the axe name)? And how will a handle with damage like that hold up? Amazing looking axe.
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I have no idea. I contacted Council through their website when I picked it up to try and figure it out, but never got a reply. I probably need to call over there and ask around.

Thanks, it really does look awesome...much more so than I originally thought it would. The handle is fine, as the only real damage is on the tip of the handle. The eye area has some nail holes, but that shouldn't bother it too much. It's also got a tiny bit of overstrike damage, but it must be a strong handle as it has a LOT of runout on the leading edge. It's hard to see as it's so dark, but the handle is also stamped Council so in all likelihood it's original. It probably won't get used much as it's just so cool and nice looking (and I have 10 other axes to choose from), but I wouldn't be worried to use it.
 
"The Import"

I was given this axe recently by an elderly friend of my family (actually my family accepted it for me, as they know I have a proble...I mean...affinity for axes). I got it home and took a look at it. It didn;t have the feel of a vintage US axe, but you never know under the paint and rust. The handle was extremely dry, and as usual the head (formerly red) is pretty rusty. I saw only the 3 1/2 stamp at first. But I noticed the curved heel...looks a LOT like a Rockaway! Odd axe, for sure.

Well, I got to cleaning it a bit...oiled the handle (wow was it thirsty), and looked closer at the sticker remnant, and cleaned it a bit with a scotchbrite near the weight stamp. "CH..." Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a Chinese axe. However...the profile and straight (?!?) handle should make it a great splitter.







It'll split, and after I clean it up, I'll put a decent splitting edge on it and use it as display and as a loaner. Imports need love too, sometimes. :)
 
How do you decide whether the haft is worth saving? With a lot of grain runout and dried out wood, I tend to give up quickly. My thinking, which may be wrong, is that you cannot bring weakened wood back to full strength.

Thanks for your thread. I'm learning a lot.
 
Maybe it's a "CHouncil Tool" Jersey? :)

Be sure to thank everyone involved - I've ended up with a few axes through word of mouth.

My wife's coworkers think I run a recycling company...
 
Twindog said:
How do you decide whether the haft is worth saving? With a lot of grain runout and dried out wood, I tend to give up quickly. My thinking, which may be wrong, is that you cannot bring weakened wood back to full strength.

Thanks for your thread. I'm learning a lot.
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I'm not sure...usually if the haft isn't cracked or broken and the head is tight (or easily re-wedged), I'll run with the handle. I've only bought a few with handles, so I'm certainly no expert. I like hanging axes though, so I guess I really don't mind if I break one (outside of the safety issue obviously). Hickory tends to be plenty strong, even decades after it was installed in a head, so it would need to be in pretty rough shape for me to toss them anymore.

The Council with the blown out eye is a good example of a haft I would think is probably unsafe if I were to use it...the wood is very, very weathered. But I thought the Pickett's Pride handle was toast too, but once I got to work on it, it turned out to be the best feeling and looking handle I have. I've pulled some handles that could have been saved, too, though (like the Merit hatchet and the Cayuga), so I guess I just go by what feels right! I may still re-hang the Merit on its old handle, but it has a lot of damage to the swell so it'll need to be repaired before I do that. The Cayuga was hung tilted, and I ruined the handle trying to get the head off and hung straight. So, I guess it all depends. :) I also give a little more leeway to original handles. If it's been re-hung, and it's a bad handle that needs too much work, I'll toss it in the corner for some other project.

I'm glad you like the thread...it's funny, but I can see my lessons learned and how my hobby and skills are evolving as I learn more as true amateur.
 
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Agent_H said:
Maybe it's a "CHouncil Tool" Jersey? :)

Be sure to thank everyone involved - I've ended up with a few axes through word of mouth.

My wife's coworkers think I run a recycling company...
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One can only hope...I guess I'll find out when I clean the head up!

Yes, I am always quite thankful when people enable my addictions. I mean hobbies...definitely hobbies. :)
 
It's been a while, so it's time for some updates!

The GB Kubben carves fantastically. It's super comfortable, has great edge geometry, and holds it edge very, very well. It's a gorgeous, useful tool. Love it. I used to help rough out a spoon recently. It's also received a bunch more BLO treatments, and is now feeling great.


 
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"The Import"

The haft was shot (rotted), so I pulled the head and threw it in vinegar. It's the one on top in the photo below.



I think I'll turn it into a splitter...it has a nice wedge profile for it (on the bottom in this photo). The other head is a no-mark unknown head with a slightly warped eye and bad peening. I don't think I will even hang this one...something's not right about it.

 
"The Merit"

Well, I stared at the Merit's original haft for too long. After giving it a few BLO coats, and thinking it over, I pulled the head off the new handle and put it back on the original (I think) haft. It's now back to it's original 1930s (I believe) goodness. It's a gorgeous old haft and feels great. It turned out pretty well, I think! Unfortunately, I couldn't fix the damage on the swell, so the other side has a bit of a chunk missing, but it's not noticeable in use, so it's only an aesthetic issue.

 
"The Hammer"

I also finally got around to re-hanging my Plumb half hatchet. I had a beautiful nice new haft from HH, as I wanted it longer than original (it felt too heavy for such a short handle). It was a nice 16 or 18 inch handle all ready to go, and even had a few BLO coats already.



I hung the head, and pounded the wedge, and promptly heard a "pop." Uh oh...I hope I didn't crach the head. Well, I didn't, but this happened.



Welp, what to do? Well, I was wondering if I could make a longer handle...a budget SFA or something. So I grabbed the old, non-original, haft from my Norlund and cut and shaped and fitted my way to this.





We will see how it hold up. I have serious doubts about it's stability, and the eye is so much smaller than the SFA's. I guess I need to get out and try it. I am also wondering if I could have seated it lower. I guess if it comes loose I'll try and rewedge it. I guess we'll see! For the weight, though, this length feels much, much better.
 
"The Norchet"

Well, with me re-doing the Merit, I had to try to re-hang the tiny Norlund head back on it's original haft too. It's a fantastic shape and feels great, and I was never super happy with the replacement handle. Unfortunately, a lot of the front-to-back eye wood was missing from the original handle, so I had to seat it on the shoulders mostly.



Unfortunately, I think this haft spent too long dried out, or I overpowered such a small handle. Crap!


It's my own fault. But even so, with such a small hatchet, I doubt it will have much of an effect. I ma end up selling this one, as I have a few other small hatchets, but alas, I damaged the original. I need to be more careful next time I guess. I was just trying to get a nice, solid hang with such a short eye. Lesson learned.
 
"The Sears Special"

I was gifted another half hatchet, and when I pulled the Merit's "new" handle, I had a spare, so i threw this on it. I'm not sure it works, but it works for now. It still needs to be sharpened, but it's useful again either way.

How it started:


And after a new haft.
 
"The Rough"

I posted in the re-hang thread as well, but I thinned a full-size 28" axe handle WAY down to put the Norlund Cabin Axe onto. It turned out beautifully, and it feels really, really great.

 
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