Started another restore tonight

fast14riot

fast14riot

Joined
Oct 27, 2010
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Picked up this unmarked axe this summer for $5 as is. Tested the edge with a file and it was good, the grain was almost perfectly aligned in the haft, and not in terrible shape. Head was a little loose but that's ok. Its a newer made axe, has remnants of a paper label bar code sticker on one side. The only markings appear to be "3 1/2" over "M".

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Its a nice axe, very pleasing shape I think. Nice and thin in the cheeks, enough meat on the poll so it balances well right at the front of the eye. The only issue I see is that it has a barbed soft aluminum wedge. I'll show how I deal with those, its a quick method, only took me maybe 5-8 minutes to pull the wedge.

Drill a couple of holes in the wedge, run some screws in, and use your favorite nail puller to work it out in combination with other methods.

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Well now the axe has been decapitated. The eye is tapered nicely and noticeably. Looks like the haft is perfectly acceptable for reuse. Also here is the grain direction. Compared to my Woodings Verona 4lb it actually has better balance.

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This should make a pleasant little user once its done and hung. I should have it done tomorrow.


-Xander
 
Steel the trick all you want! These were just drywall screws, the heads snapped off when the claw slipped. It works well.


-Xander
 
I've got one of these as well. I restored it for a friend, and they never came to retrieve it. Notice the flat sawn haft. There's practically no swell in the knob. Probably cut as a plank and then routered. Cheaper than turning on a lathe. The steel on mine was a little on the soft side, but I haven't used it yet.
 
Well, it ain't pretty, but its prettier than it was. Just finished it up a few minutes ago, the BLO is soaking in and I wil check it shortly if it needs more. It has several coats on it now.

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I know I need more practice at hanging heads, but its on there solid and I drenched it with BLO to swell it up a bit. I also wiped down all my hammers since I was already getting messy.


-Xander
 
That trick with the screws is pure genius!!!

It usually takes me an hour or two of hard work and swearing to get the wedge out. You are definitely my favorite person right now.
 
Excellent extraction technique. Your axe looks fine now, though a little thin in the cheeks for my liking.
 
The wedge removal method is how Dave from over at Axoexa told me how he does it. I haven't tried it yet because I haven't had to, but I'm sure ill get a chance one of these days.
 
I learned to "Think smart, not hard" while working as a foreclosure contractor for several years, needing to get the job done with what I have available. I was fussing with trying screwdrivers and prying when I saw that I needed greater leverage in the right direction to get the wedge out, this just made sense to me. I don't recall seeng it done before and thought it just might be a common trick, it just makes sense to me this way.

Btw, I know this isn't an ideal axe, but for $5 and some of my time it will work well for me. I live in the middle of a big city with a small yard, but I do have 8 trees to take care of and I like using an axe/hatchet/hawk. :thumbup:


-Xander
 
fast14riot said:
I learned to "Think smart, not hard" while working as a foreclosure contractor for several years, needing to get the job done with what I have available. I was fussing with trying screwdrivers and prying when I saw that I needed greater leverage in the right direction to get the wedge out, this just made sense to me. I don't recall seeng it done before and thought it just might be a common trick, it just makes sense to me this way.

Btw, I know this isn't an ideal axe, but for $5 and some of my time it will work well for me. I live in the middle of a big city with a small yard, but I do have 8 trees to take care of and I like using an axe/hatchet/hawk. :thumbup:


-Xander
Click to expand...

LOL...I was just curious. I posted that same method last week on BCUSA. Works like a charm especially on those PIA aluminum wedges. :thumbup:
 
Haha, great minds think alike, and so do we!

I've only been on BCUSA a few times, but that was looking for camping stuff, haven't been there recently!


-Xander
 
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