Tools for Axe care

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Sep 11, 2012
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I am wanting to compile a list of all the important tools needed to maintain an axe and refurbish an axe. Can you all help me out??

Looking to start refurbishing my own, want to start right.....
 
File - 10" 2nd cut or mill file
File card - for cleaning your file - absolute necessity. It's the other half of a file.
Honing device(s) - at least a multi-grit axe stone.
Drill and drill bits
Vise or variety of clamps
4-in-hand rasp
sandpaper
non-marring hammer or mallet.
Fine tooth hand saw

I think that's about the minimum kit. It would be really nice to add a 4-1/2" angle grinder with a wire cup brush - either brass wire or knotted steel wire. If you get the grinder you must also get eye, ear and nose protection.
 
In lieu of spending money on a grinder you can get pretty good results by soaking a rusty axe head in vinegar for a couple days. It removes the patina along with the rust but at least it cleans them up. When I joined this forum 1-1/2 years ago it seemed like all anybody ever talked about was vinegar baths. Few used the wire cup brush back then. But we made believers out of them by posting pics of patina'd axes.
 
The folks above pretty much covered it, but for what it's worth, here's my set up:

Bastard files (2) for general edge work/profiling. I like Nicholson, but many others are good too
DMT diafold coarse/fine (not always necessary, but cuts quickly and can come in handy)
Norton axe stone (silicon carbide, my preferred stone for basic sharpening)
Large rasp (shaping the handle to the head)
4 1/2 in angle grinder w/wire and felt wheels (Operator's recent post shows this tools usefulness)
Large leather strop (made myself, it's about 4" x 12" and wood mounted--great for final edge work)
Irwin quick grip 12" clamps (very handy for securing the whole length of a complete axe to your work surface for sharpening or other maintenance)

6" vise or similar - indespensible
Drill + variety of bits
1 in cold chisel, or similar piece of steel capable of being battered on (used to aid in removing old handle through eye of axe head)
Speaking of battering on things, you'll need a good engineer's/single jack type hammer for heavy work, and then I prefer a 20 oz wooden block mallet for the type of wacking needed to fit the head to the haft and to drive the wedge.

Linseed oil, sand paper, these are great for finishing off the handle. I'm very likely forgetting things which I regularly make use of, and of course there are plenty of other tools and products which are very nice, also. This is just a summary of what's in my shop.

Good luck!
 
Bro!

A 6" vise, if it is a real vise, will weigh over 150 lbs. and be more than most of us ever need, unless we are also running a welding/fab shop:)

I have a 3.5" vise on the bench now and it is good. 4" would be just about ideal for a one-man, non-industrial shop.
 
Perhaps 6" is a bit much if one is merely refurbing axes... I suppose I enjoy having a vise which is capable of anything I can throw at it :)
A good 'real' vise is a great thing, IMO.
 
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