Vintage Craftsman Makeover 20 imgs

C

cattledog

Joined
Oct 7, 2011
Messages
319
Here it is from start to finish.

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cheap vinegar soak
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Gun Brushes work well on the eye
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after a little sanding
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$10 hardware store handle ames true temper
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no extra top length used it all
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I use carpenters glue on the wedge that's how I learned, I beat the hell out of the wedge, still a good half inch left
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cheap ax cheap handle cheap beer
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Inspired by SkogNivs recent stain post. Rustoleum American Walnut
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Collins Old Timer for Comparison Similarities?
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There it is. During the sanding and finishing I dropped this head three times and twice it hit the cement slab the other time a garden brick. I cringed each time when I saw the stone dust on the edge but each time I picked it up I just wiped it and nothing happened to the edge. Nice little gashes in the cement and stone though. That's happened with a couple other axes I own and I always had a nick of some sort.
Anyhoo I really like the stain effect and props to SkogNiv for the recent post about it.:thumbup: The stain gives it character, an already broken in look to it. I just love it.
The balance on this one is weird in so much as it feels good in your hand but strecthed out over chair arms it points bit down.
Unfortunately I only have dinky little wood until I wood up so it will be a bit until I can give it a full workout.
As always comments constructive criticism welcome!
Thanks for looking!
 
Looks great!! I am not a fan of gluing the heads on but other then that you did an amazing job!
 
Looks really good, cattledog. Thanks for taking pics throughout the process. Very cool. After you get to use it some, I'll be curious to know how you like that handle. It looks like a nice shape, but I haven't run across any locally that have flat sides like that.

Take care.
 
M3mphis said:
Looks really good, cattledog. Thanks for taking pics throughout the process. Very cool. After you get to use it some, I'll be curious to know how you like that handle. It looks like a nice shape, but I haven't run across any locally that have flat sides like that.

Take care.
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Thanks for the comments M3mphis;
The handle is the same as the one on my old timer in the photo. I've had that a couple three years now, when I first hung it I beat the crap out of it smashing up hickory and whatever was in the woodpile. It has held up great so far and is comfortable too.
One thing I question though is if it was maybe cut out from a board instead of turned? I don't know how to tell but it feels good in hand and lasted a little while. Got it at Lowes home improvement store.
 
Nice work and pics cattledog. Looks like it would feel good in the hands and be a beautiful general around the ranch or camping axe.

Howard
 
cattledog said:
One thing I question though is if it was maybe cut out from a board instead of turned? I don't know how to tell but it feels good in hand and lasted a little while. Got it at Lowes home improvement store.
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That could be, I don't really know either. I can't image going to the expense of turning a handle that has flat sides anyway, you know? $10 ain't bad. I can get house handles locally for $8-10. They are turned, but I have to really dig through to find any that don't suck.
 
HandAxeProMan said:
Nice work and pics cattledog. Looks like it would feel good in the hands and be a beautiful general around the ranch or camping axe.

Howard
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Thanks and funny you should say that because that's exactly what it's going to be used for now.
I originally was going to use it for landscaping doing rough work. I help out a landscaper in the summer, chopping root balls, stumps, swinging in the dirt etc..
It came out to nice though so I'll use a scrappy old double instead.:D The landscaper would use a shovel and I'm like hey there's an app for that it's called an axe. He since bought one of those yellow handled pos and likes it. You should see the edge on it:rolleyes:
 
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Good work cattledog... Id love to have a weekend just to axe it up. Here is a picture of the only craftsman I have. Any way of telling who actually made this one?
 
Broady said:
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Good work cattledog... Id love to have a weekend just to axe it up. Here is a picture of the only craftsman I have. Any way of telling who actually made this one?
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Thanks,
I can't find any info on Craftsman line of vintage axes, only from what I've read in the old tool catalogs. Maybe the collectors will chime in or perhaps you should start a new thread about them. I'd like to know too.
I like your vanadium steel double oval piece, they seem to go for a little more money on the bay. Gonna put it in my crosshairs for future finds.
 
Nice job, Cattledog. I think those old Craftsman axes are underrated. I think they're Vaughans with pretty good steel. I have one I need to re-hang - estate sale special.

cattledog said:
.....I beat the hell out of the wedge, still a good half inch left
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Be careful doing that. I've had an eye crack while pounding in a wedge. I believe it wasn't tempered properly. It was on a user that I've had for 30 years and grown attached to. I ground open the crack and had a buddy weld it. Needless to say I was a little gentler wedging it the next time.

Instead of carpenters glue I use construction adhesive. I goop it on to fill every void between the haft and the eye. It oozes out when I wedge it. I started doing this with framing hammers 25 years ago. It really helps keep a head on.
 
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