What can I do with this old Plumb head?

[Col Defender]

Hi

Two problems with this head:
1. It is seriously assymetrical, probably from careless sharpening. It's actually more pronounced than the pic shows.
2. What should be an "edge" is at least 1/8 inch thick. So no edge at all.
Given how much metal has to be removed, and how thick it is at its thinnest point, could I use a right angle grinder (carefully and slowly) at least to restore something like the proper shape? And then switch to hand tools when I actually try to restore the edge.

Very little money invested here but there would be a great deal of time if I had to do it all with files.

Thanks in advance.

 

[nickzdon]

If you're willing to invest the time, and it'll definitely take some time, a grinder is the way to go. I personally never use motorized tools on my axes, but in this case, you're right in that it would take a verrrryyyyy long time to reshape and profile with just a file. That said I'd rough it in with the grinder and do the final profile by hand with a file. Like you said, slow and low is the way to go, excess heat will hurt the temper. Although, it looks like you've got very little to lose, it's not like you're going to mess it up any more than it is. And if you do ruin it, chalk it up to experience. You'll know what not to do next time! Give it a vinegar bath, that should reveal the heat treatment, and that way you'll know how much steel you have to work with, but my guess is that there's still enough there.

I'd probably give it the profile of an old Maine wedge just for the hell of it. Look them up if you haven't seen them. This thread is pretty fresh. They can be pretty stubby and thick behind the edge, and the geometry/profile isn't terrible complicated (relatively speaking). And I think it would be easily accomplishable with the head pictured. That way you can experience some fairly major reshaping and profiling, and get a taste of how another type of historic axe feels in wood. And as always take lots of pics to share!

This is just my two cents. Honestly, I'd probably not spend any time on it because of the misshapen bit (which was probably caused by chipping the toe in the ground and then filing it back). But I've got a dozen or so heads that need restoration (I'm way behind!), so this would be at the very bottom of my priority list.

 

[Operator1975]

I can reprofile a bit well with sandpaper via a belt sander. Less heat than grinder and smoother results. Will throw debris so have proper protective equipment on. Then finish by hand as needed.

 

[Frank-New Zealand]

I like the look of this head. A nice pattern. Why not try with a new, good quality 12" flat file before using any damaging power tools. A good file used correctly is quite fast and safe.

If she were mine I would take a bit out of the heel to even it up with the toe. It would give her a nice rounded face (which I like) for good 'lead-in'. I also like that nice rounded poll.

Any chance of an end on pic? Would like to see profile and how much weight above eye.

Anyone been in contact with Bear Hunter?

regards...Frank

 

[halfaxe]

Less mushrooming of the poll when pounding is the main advantage of the Michigan pattern, so some work is saved there. I have a couple like that I just work with a file a while, then put away until later. Eventually they may get done.

 

[Square_peg]

Using a coarse grinding wheel and holding the axe perpendicular to the wheel doesn't create a great deal of heat. You could re-shape the edge that way. Just keep a quench bucket handy and your finger near the edge to judge the heat. You'll temper a little bit of the very edge when you first start but you're going to be grinding that part off anyway. Do all the re-shaping perpendicular to the wheel. Then sharpen it with a good file. You can do that and not damage the heat treat at all. Coarse wheels create less heat than fine wheels because the metal is removed before it has much chance to heat.

FWIW, this is the proper position for filing an axe. Clamped in the vise by the flat of the poll and/or eye with the cheeks or bit laying on the vise. The vise should be belly high. This gives you a great position to really bear down on the file. It makes filing much less effort. You will file with a rocking motion of your upper body, not just with your arms. A great deal of material can be removed without a whole lot of effort in this way.