Today's projects....3 single bit axes and 3 double bit axes and more!

S

Suppressive-Fire

Joined
Jan 2, 2013
Messages
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So I was pulling some of my projects out and cleaning them thought I would share. I cleans 3 single bit axes Kelly works woodslasher, Kelly works flint edge, and I think I'm gonna like the Kelly works Vulcan most. It was not only heat treated on the blade but also on the poll portion. Then the 3 double bit axes are a Stanley, Kelly works flint edge, and a plumb. Then I have a true temper flint edge adze, boys scout hatchet, and a Stanley bell system hammer. Now I have to put handles on everything. Hehe
 
Folks are increasingly so starting to recognize the 'rafting' and/or 'construction' axes via their bevelled corners and high polls plus the surprise temper lines after a vinegar soak. Myself for sure. I suspect that you're going to love the Vulcan; a practical axe that you don't have to hide away anytime a metal wedge, timber spike or metal pin needs attention. All axes should have been made that way.
 
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300Six said:
Folks are increasingly so starting to recognize the 'rafting' and/or 'construction' axes via their high and bevelled cornered polls and the temper lines after a vinegar soak. Myself for sure. I suspect that you're going to love the Vulcan; a practical axe that you don't have to hide away anytime a metal wedge, timber spike or metal pin needs attention. All axes should have been made that way.
Click to expand...

Yes, I want another Vulcan single bit axe because they heat treated properly. I am restoring it and see its quality. Looked on eBay and I can't find one.
 
Suppressive-Fire said:
Yes, I want another Vulcan single bit axe because they heat treated properly. I am restoring it and see its quality. Looked on eBay and I can't find one.
Click to expand...

Hardened poll axes would never have been common. Mostly the price (50% more according to a 60s catalogue price list posted on another thread) would have scared off most prospective buyers. This then would also have affected availability because stores generally don't stock stuff that doesn't sell. In my half century of using axes I was entirely unaware of the existence of these until I joined this forum. And to be honest you personally have to experience the deformation (mushroom the head) of your own new or pristine axe before you fully appreciate that ordinary axes were not meant to be used as hammers. And then it's a whole other rare leap in order to discover, or be told, that you can actually go out and buy an axe that is specifically built to take abuse.
When you're young and the boss instructs you to drive spikes or rebar into railway ties or 6 x 6s and the handle on the sledge breaks you merely go out and beat up the truck axe until it too fails!
 
I don't know if all rafting axes have harden polls but I am now aware that they probably are and I am going to gravitate to everyone that I can find!

300Six said:
Hardened poll axes would never have been common. Mostly the price (50% more according to a 60s catalogue price list posted on another thread) would have scared off most prospective buyers. This then would also have affected availability because stores generally don't stock stuff that doesn't sell. In my half century of using axes I was entirely unaware of the existence of these until I joined this forum. And to be honest you personally have to experience the deformation (mushroom the head) of your own new or pristine axe before you fully appreciate that ordinary axes were not meant to be used as hammers. And then it's a whole other rare leap in order to discover, or be told, that you can actually go out and buy an axe that is specifically built to take abuse.
When you're young and the boss instructs you to drive spikes or rebar into railway ties or 6 x 6s and the handle on the sledge breaks you merely go out and beat up the truck axe until it too fails!
Click to expand...
 
USA-made heads tend to have standardized eye sizes that correspond to suitable handles. Made in Canada heads less so. Measure yours up carefully (length and width) and then peruse the House Handle (for instance) site to see what they have available to fit that eye size. Right off the bat one conundrum you're going to face (since you can equally use both ends of a rafting/construction/miners axe head) is whether to use a curved handle or a straight.
I don't think there is any outright convention on this because the 50s era construction Plumb I just received has its original curved haft despite the hardened poll.
Nice thing about a straight is they are a lot easier to craft yourself using only rudimentary tools, and end grain orientation is nowhere near as critical!
 
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