WC Kelly Boy

S

sywagon

Joined
Jan 28, 2013
Messages
44
WC Kelly Charleston

As it was sold - good shape except the nicks and crappy sharpening that lost the edge shape...

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As of now -
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This is a neat little boy's axe I just finished. It is on the low end of 2#. WC Kelly old pre- True Temper head that is really good quality steel and shape. I say that given it took me maybe 8 hrs. to file this by hand (pretty cool way to meditate though). I got the handle (28") from handle house and paid the $2 for hand select and got the no-varnish option. I had to clean up the shape a bit but they are a great bargain and it had great grain alignment with little run-out. Fitting the handle was tedious with just sandpaper but I got it really tight. Everyone wants you to use boiled linseed oil but after reading the label warning of brain death etc. I passed on that and used this lanolin stuff I have for my guns (fluid film) - I like that very much as it conditions the wood but drys non-slippy (and it smells good).

I'm actually really attached to this thing now - if I had to choose I'd take it over my Hultafors any day. Plus I'm only into this $20 including the handle.
 
Nice work! I've wondered about those warnings on the BLO containers too. I'll still soak the head/eye in it after hanging to firm it up but I don't use it on the rest of the handle since I work bare handed much of the time, and don't know how much of what is coming in through my skin. My question is how did all that nasty stuff get in there in the first place? It's not in the plant before they expel the oil....
 
VintageAxe said:
Nice work! I've wondered about those warnings on the BLO containers too. I'll still soak the head/eye in it after hanging to firm it up but I don't use it on the rest of the handle since I work bare handed much of the time, and don't know how much of what is coming in through my skin. My question is how did all that nasty stuff get in there in the first place? It's not in the plant before they expel the oil....
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Yeah, I think it is extra stuff to thin it out or something. It probably isn't too bad once it dries.

My only experience with linseed is that I presume it was used on my Swedish axes I bought new - I don't see how it is any better than the results with lanolin so I'll not bother with it.
 
Nice work. Use raw linseed oil. Not cut with petroleum or whatever they use in boiled linseed.
 
I wear rubber gloves when applying BLO but I don't worry about it once it's dry.
From the Material Safety Data Sheet:


3. Hazards Identification

Emergency Overview
Potential Health Effects (Acute and Chronic)

INHALATION ACUTE EXPOSURE EFFECTS:
May cause irritation of respiratory tract, and cough.

SKIN CONCTACT ACUTE EXPOSURE EFFECTS:
None known.

EYE CONTACT ACUTE EXPOSURE EFFECTS:
May cause irritation.

INGESTION ACUTE EXPOSURE EFFECTS:
Inedible -- not to be taken internally. May cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

CHRONIC EXPOSURE EFFECTS:
None known.
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I suppose the label is probably overly dramatic as a result of someone being stupid enough to stick their face over a bucket of it to try to get high.

That being said, I'm unclear on what if any advantage linseed would have over lanolin. The stuff I have (fluid film) is a household staple and it seems to do a very nice job on the wood (a traditional use) in addition to protecting my battery terminals, guns, and metal tools (it is on the head in that pic too) etc.. It works better than anything I have tried (well, maybe tied with CorrosionX), smells good, non-toxic, and good for your skin like lotion. I slap it on every head as soon as I get them, and a bunch of rust will just wipe right off while you are applying it. I tried some GunZilla on a Warren head with the wire wheel and that seemed too aggressive leaving it with more of a vinegar sheen and stripping the patina. Works great for cleaning guns though and it will strip lead out of a barrel like you wouldn't believe.

Sorry for the plug - I'm no rep. or associated in any way.
 
That's a good looking axe!
I bet she'll be a fine chopper :)

I personally don't worry about the BLO getting on me.
Everything is harmful and bad for you these days :rolleyes:

I don't intend on drinking it though :p
 
Sweet looking Kelly. That's an early logo stamp on it. It is definitely pre True Temper, 1949. Nice job hanging her.

Tom
 
Nice job on that axe. I work in my garage or outside in the summer to lessen my exposure to blo fumes.
 
Thanks everybody - first time hanging an axe and it was very satisfying experience. I was intending to seat it lower on the shoulder but it got good and stuck on a test fit when it was just a bit proud so I ended up just having to tamp it home. I'm glad for the little bit of extra length though and I spent some time reducing the bulge at the shoulder to try to make it flow a little better. It is a pretty nice feel to choke up on now.

Double Ott said:
Sweet looking Kelly. That's an early logo stamp on it. It is definitely pre True Temper, 1949. Nice job hanging her.

Tom
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I've been trying to run that down since before purchasing it. Charleston opened in 1904 when they moved from Alexandria VA. I believe it read "WC Kelly Patented" on the line above that. I have another one (bigger) that is stamped "JP Kelly Patented" and has different bevels. WC and JP were sons of the original William C.. The latest of the patents referred to are from 1889 - the WC ones are for the bevels that would become designated the "Perfect" design. I'm not sure if these patents expired in 20 years back then but I believe so. The pattern seems to have been produced by various other manufacturers in the early 1900's so the patent stamp would seem irrelevant by 1909.

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Reading through yesteryearstools I also get the impression it would be before 1921 and more likely earlier. In 1921 they took over AAT and had factories in several locations and WC Kelly (son) was no longer president shortly after that. I.e. having WC Kelly and Charleston on the label both seem unlikely after 1921. In 1930 American Fork & Hoe Co. bought them and began using "Kelly Axe & Tool Works", so I think it is safely before that at least.
 
coreboy said:
SWEET looking axe. Boys axes are my favorite. i have 4. nice work
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Thanks - I like the boy's size too but they can be a little hard to come by. I was looking at a sweet Keen Kutter that I fell asleep on at the end and it went for ~$14 IIRC. It still makes my stomach turn a little that I missed that one. I also have a little Plumb that is kind of the Hudson Bay style with the rafter shaped poll but it is more of a large hatchet.
 
sywagon said:
Thanks - I like the boy's size too but they can be a little hard to come by. I was looking at a sweet Keen Kutter that I fell asleep on at the end and it went for ~$14 IIRC. It still makes my stomach turn a little that I missed that one. I also have a little Plumb that is kind of the Hudson Bay style with the rafter shaped poll but it is more of a large hatchet.
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Like this one?

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