What did you rehang today?

A new Cabela's opened up here. I got it there as well as restocked for one of my other hobbies... It's OXPHO-BLUE from Brownell's. Years ago I tried my hand at bluing a Soviet block pistol- was unhappy with the results. I think it was the bluing itself - Casey, I think. This Brownell's stuff is a completely different animal.
 
Drove down to Wichita on Friday to help my inlaws put up Christmas decorations. While I was in the garage, I asked my FIL about the old beat up axe hanging on the pegboard. Rusted, poll was mushroomed, handle severely cracked and wrapped in duct tape. The head was wedged with a couple of steel washers. Dull as a spoon. Grant said, "Throw it in your truck, I haven't used it in 20 years!" I asked him how long he had had it - he said 40-50 years - probably coincided with his duties as the boy scout master when my brother in law was growing up. Got it home - Shapleigh Hammer Forged boys axe! I ground off the mushrooming on the poll and cleaned up the face. Got the start of a nice appleseed grind on the edge - it had a 45 degree grind. I think I am going to leave the remnants of the original red paint on the head. Found out that the local hardware store has Link handles in stock and got a really nice one - in the process of thinning it down, sanding off the laquaer and getting it ready to hang - stain and finish with 3-4 coats of linseed oil and a coat of Tung oil. I told my wife that I wanted to get it restored and show my FIL what it turned how it turned out. Much nicer than buying off of the bay - alot of family history in this one.
 
I picked up a Shapleigh boy's axe head that was so rusted I couldn't see the logo. Cleaned it up and hung it and I think it's probably the some of the best steel i've seen. I was going to sell it but I'm not sure anyone else would be good enough for it. Please post pics when you're done.
 
I haven't been taking many pictures of the projects I've been re-hanging so today I took some pictures to post here.

First an older (I think) german/european style hatchet, was able to re-hang it on the original handle with the original aluminum wedge. I used a dark walnut stain to hide some of the staining that was on the handle that didn't sand out. I just need to put a final sharpening on the bit and make a sheath.




Next up one of my most recent projects a really nice champion stamped house axe head that I hung on a n.o.s. LaPierre camper/ house axe handle that I saved from from a $1 barrel at the flea market. I did an aluminum lined lanyard hole on this one.



This is another I just finished up although it has been a long time project. Some of you guys may recognize the the head and sheath from my boot leather sheet thread almost a year ago. It is a unstamped True Temper tomahawk head with ridges in the eye. I hung it on a 19" octagonal house axe handle that I put some serious rasp/ sandpaper time in on to even up and shape, I also did a brass lined lanyard hole.




This is my favorite of the bunch, it started in early spring as what I'll call a "put together" a bunch of spare pieces I had from one project or trade or another. It's a pitted Plumb "rafting" hatchet head about 1 1/4lb. I got as part of a $15 flea market bunch and sharpened up, hung on an extra 28" octagonal boy's axe handle that I had sitting in the shop, with an estwing axe/hatchet sheath that I bought for a $1 knowing one day it would fit one of my projects perfectly. I hung this in early spring and didn't finish the haft until a couple weeks ago, I took it on 15 or so 1-2 night camp outs and 2 8-10 days trips and used it quite a bit splitting wood around our backyard fire pit. The whole while constantly refining the shape of the haft with a spoke shave, wood rasp and sand paper. After hours of work this thing feels perfect, slim, smooth, even angles, great curves. Finally satisfied I added a double aluminum lined lanyard hole just to be snazzy and finished it with b.l.o and tung oil. I can see this being a camping/ hunting companion for many years to come, its light weight but has the length and bit width to do much of the work of a full size axe and anything I've asked of it in camp. Kind of a more stout hudson bay axe.... I even dressed a couple small trout with it.


 
I agree. That is obviously a skill that carries over from knife making, and I think that it is a great fit. Well done!
 
Joe, I love that house axe. The stamp reminds me of some Kelly Champions I have seen, thats a great old handle.
 
Thanks guys! I've always liked the looks of a lanyard/hanger hole, and I'm pleased with how these came out. To be honest the first attempt was just kinda because I was bored and to see if I could and how it would look, now I've been doing it on more and more of my rehangs. It isn't terribly hard to do just adds a couple steps to the rehang process.
 
I am always reluctant to post my feeble attempts but this little hatchets begs to be noticed. American Axe and Tool; 1lb 3oz head, all work hand done, edge polished to 400 grit shaving sharp; HH octagon scout handle- finished at 1lb 8oz, 13.5" and a touch head heavy. I love the blend of heart and sap wood in a hatchet, nice fat wedge and drying its first coat of BLO. It will make a nice little belt axe.
Bill





 
My father-in-law expressed interest in a full-sized axe. I picked this up this summer, hung it, disassembled to made angle adjustments, and put it back together this weekend. The handle grain isn’t the best but it fits really well and I think it is “pretty”.

My FIL showed me his axe the other day… Chinese Olympia, hung upside down, with almost two inches of movement. I mentioned that it wasn’t safe and he shrugged it off – The Plumb should do him fine. I will get that other one from him after a drink, make it safe and return cleaned up.
Earlier this year I redid a Plumb Boy Scout hatchet for his birthday. This will kind of complement his “collection”.
The head itself is in good condition.
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Pindvin said:
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Before putting linseed oil on the handle.
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I wish that I had the time and patience. There are people selling polished heads and custom handles on eBay for hundreds of dollars. I don't have the time or skill, but if I did I'd be afraid that I couldn't bear to sell them. Very nice.

The only problem if I owned such an axe is that it would be like the Ferrari from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The owner would never drive it, just stare at it and polish it with a cotton diaper. :D
 
Actually, you can polish an axe in like 30min-1hr if you would cool it down from time to time. Just use an angle grinder with different grit discs. I used those grits: 120/240/400/800/1500/2000. With 120 grit it takes the most time because at this point you have smooth out all the dings, pitting etc.
I decided to give it a polish since it is probably the best axe i know and i will be using it. After every use i'll just wipe off all the dust, moisture etc. Also im planning a sheath that covers the entire axe head.
 
Pindvin said:
Actually, you can polish an axe in like 30min-1hr if you would cool it down from time to time. Just use an angle grinder with different grit discs. I used those grits: 120/240/400/800/1500/2000. With 120 grit it takes the most time because at this point you have smooth out all the dings, pitting etc.
I decided to give it a polish since it is probably the best axe i know and i will be using it. After every use i'll just wipe off all the dust, moisture etc. Also im planning a sheath that covers the entire axe head.
Click to expand...

I suppose that it would be easy to keep clean if you stayed on top of it. I salute you. Please do us a favor and post a pic after oiling. It demands to be seen and appreciated.
 
Little hatchet rehang for my sister-in-law. Not sure of the maker but there were some sticker remnants before I messed with it. The handle is from a different project – one of those “Made in West Germany” hatchets that float around.
Just put a nice edge on it, BLO then BLO/stain mix.
I think she’ll get a kick out of it. I hung an axe for my brother this year and his wife always asks why she doesn’t get the “cool guy gifts”.
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AgentH- I love seeing nice clean hangs that put a tool in use. My wife has one of the tiny Crafstman hatchets in the kitchen and loves it!

I have an even smaller head than than the Craftsman now and need to make a handle for it.

Bill
 
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