I'll start by saying that I'm a dumbass and didn't take pictures of the work in progress. You know how you start making something, not really sure what but by the end it's something cool and there's no documentation? Yep, did that this time.
Anyway, it started when I went to get my mail at the post office, which is right next to the Habitat store. I usually wander in there after I get my mail to see what's new. I find this thing
on the tool shelf, no handle, covered in a thick layer of rust and old paint. They're asking a dollar for it. I always liked the hatchet/hammer combo and liked the squared off look of the thing, so I take it home.
Drop it into a deli tub, cover it with white vinegar, and leave it overnight. In the morning I take all the rust off with a wire brush, wash it, and spray it with WD-40 (tools that get the vinegar treatment rust again immediately if not oiled, no matter how well you clean them). Now what to do with it?
It weighs 11.5 oz. That seems light to me for a hammer/tomahawk tool; I usually use hammers in the 20-24 oz range. I'm looking around for ideas, and find the shepherd's axe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd's_axe). Looks like a good camping/hiking tool. FWIW, I think this thing was originally a lather's hatchet http://www.hardwareworld.com/Lather-Hatchet-California-Style-~-20-oz-pYB7I7N.aspx . No maker's marks that I can find.
Out in the shop I find a 3'x1" oak dowel I picked up a while ago at Habitat for reasons I don't recall. Now we're getting somewhere. Some whittling and work with the Microplane rasp and the end fits the eye of the hatchet near perfectly. Sand it a little and finish it with boiled linseed oil. Now what to do with the other end? I go back to Habitat and find this copper plumbing fitting that's 1" on one end and, I think 1/2" on the other. No plain caps around. Another $2.25 and I take it home. Almost but not quite fits over the end of the dowel, so I heat it up until it does slide over the end and I can tap it down to where it narrows (using tongs to handle it, of course). Stick it in a bucket of water so it won't burn the wood any more than it has to, and it's secure on there. Then mount the head on the other end, using some aluminum nails I also bought at Habitat as wedges. Here's the end result:
I made this with a total of about $5 worth of stuff I got at Habitat. Looking forward to taking it on the next camping trip.
Anyway, it started when I went to get my mail at the post office, which is right next to the Habitat store. I usually wander in there after I get my mail to see what's new. I find this thing
Drop it into a deli tub, cover it with white vinegar, and leave it overnight. In the morning I take all the rust off with a wire brush, wash it, and spray it with WD-40 (tools that get the vinegar treatment rust again immediately if not oiled, no matter how well you clean them). Now what to do with it?
It weighs 11.5 oz. That seems light to me for a hammer/tomahawk tool; I usually use hammers in the 20-24 oz range. I'm looking around for ideas, and find the shepherd's axe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd's_axe). Looks like a good camping/hiking tool. FWIW, I think this thing was originally a lather's hatchet http://www.hardwareworld.com/Lather-Hatchet-California-Style-~-20-oz-pYB7I7N.aspx . No maker's marks that I can find.
Out in the shop I find a 3'x1" oak dowel I picked up a while ago at Habitat for reasons I don't recall. Now we're getting somewhere. Some whittling and work with the Microplane rasp and the end fits the eye of the hatchet near perfectly. Sand it a little and finish it with boiled linseed oil. Now what to do with the other end? I go back to Habitat and find this copper plumbing fitting that's 1" on one end and, I think 1/2" on the other. No plain caps around. Another $2.25 and I take it home. Almost but not quite fits over the end of the dowel, so I heat it up until it does slide over the end and I can tap it down to where it narrows (using tongs to handle it, of course). Stick it in a bucket of water so it won't burn the wood any more than it has to, and it's secure on there. Then mount the head on the other end, using some aluminum nails I also bought at Habitat as wedges. Here's the end result:
I made this with a total of about $5 worth of stuff I got at Habitat. Looking forward to taking it on the next camping trip.
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