What did you rehang today?

Here is one I started hanging on an obviously flawed handle that I probably picked up at a garage sale. I just was not paying attention until I had the head almost seated. I had also started to thin down the very thick handle. I went off half cocked on this one.

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The problem is glaring in the picture above. The hang will be way to open.

Not to be defeated I decided to torcher the wood into submission. It would have moved much easier had I not already thinned the sides down.

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That's looking better now.



Never could get a fit that suited me with the over sized eye of the HB boys axe. Just to much wedge in the top of the eye in a funny shape. I just can not add material. It was very close but not close enough and I still am not happy with the shape. Its still a little more open than I would like.

Not fooling with it any more. Going to be smoking some ribs soon. :thumbup:
 
aikonen said:
. . . I completely missed checking the alignment. It's waaay off, but I hope it still will work. I've had a couple of Hultafors' with the same alignment that worked just fine.
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I hope it works out for you. I wonder if your head is bent (the axe head that is:)). Not disagreeing with garry3's observation about the eye not centered, just curious.

This was more of a photo editing exercise for me, but Ill toss it in. I think is shows why I wonder if it is bent.


Thanks, Bob

BTW you do good work.
 
rjdankert said:
I hope it works out for you. I wonder if your head is bent (the axe head that is:)). Not disagreeing with garry3's observation about the eye not centered, just curious.

This was more of a photo editing exercise for me, but Ill toss it in. I think is shows why I wonder if it is bent.


Thanks, Bob

BTW you do good work.
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It has crossed my mind too, and I think both of you are right. The two theories in conjunction could've explained the misalignment. Thank you for your kind words Sir
 
Not sure what caused the haft to crack. I guess I pounded the wedge in too hard. The kerf wasn't deep enough for the wedge to go all the way in so I cut it deeper with a coping saw to match the depth of the wedge. I'm going to use it as it is and just keep watching it, if if spreads or the head gets loose I'll start over. Sure is a fine piece of steel, my old USA Nicholson wouldn't bite, it bites on my TT Kelly Perfects but I had to put my Pferd on this one. Finished it out with a stone then stropped it, she shaves hair off my arm now, I like it on the 18" haft, tried it out trimming some small oak limbs, good weight and easy to maneuver in tight spots.
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Sucks when it happens. I had one do that not long ago. The eye is probably going to contain the crack for a good long while. Just use it and don't worry about it. If it starts to widen then think about re-hafting.
 
Came out nice Rockman, I am jealous! Going to need to get mine hung also.

Yours seems to be a little harder steel than the one I have. Only the best files will touch it is just great for a hatchet. You got lucky!

I have fixed splits worse than that before by wrapping with sinew and hide glue with great success. Probably would add some overstrike protection also. Some water proof epoxy glue over the sinew after it dried would make it all weather ready. Not an attractive alternative for everyone but I don't mind it at all. If you like to choke up on the hatchet to carve things you can sand the sinew or it will just be really rough.
 
Thanks Square_Peg and Garry, the crack doesn't appear to be very deep. I added another shot of the view from the bit so you can see it does not show up there. I put a lot of time into thinning it out and fitting the head, I don't use any power tools just a vice, rasp and files. I know it isn't a great job of re hanging but it's my third time so I'm learning as I go and having lots of fun. Interesting idea on the sinew and glue, it's obvious my work isn't beautiful so I may decide to try the sinew/glue.
 
That is a nice looking old head on that Hibbard. Too bad about the crack but I would do the same monitor and live with it plan. Sometimes I think the handle wood is dried too much in the kiln.
 
I like the hatchet. That is always disappointing when a crack shows up after all the work.

Recently over-struck with my favorite boy's axe and it sort of blew out pieces about 4" long. Wood glued it, wrapped it a bicycle tube (someone here mentioned it), let dry, and wrapped in electrical tape.

I bet your hatchet gets a lot of use if/before you have to rehang it. Nice lines to that head.
 
At the risk of sounding like Wally on "Leave it to Beaver" we have a swell bunch of guys on here and I sure appreciate the knowledge you guys share with everyone. I could not have managed the rudimentary work I've done to date without this forum.
 
Just finished this one. It's a Vaugh Value Brand Boy's Axe - my first Vaughn. The eye is quite small, and I had a hard time finding a haft for it. I ended up ordering a Wetterlings haft. The haft was the right size for the eye, but almost not deep enough to get the handle through the eye. I had to go as low as I dared on the shoulder. Still, it seemed to work. Judge for yourselves. Constructive feedback always welcome!
 
Looks really good to me Curt. I think big shoulders on hafts just give the appearance of being stronger because they are more robust but actually a sharp shoulder is just a place more likely to fail, so that looks right to me.
 
I posted some pictures of the swell/knob work on this one in another post but just took some pictures today out back. We all like axe/tool porn.

6lb Kelly Standard Fire Axe.

Markings
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Bit Alignment
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Pointy end
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Haven't sharpened it. Not sure what I would use it for on a regular basis- nothing I hope ;)
 
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Gracias Quinton. Was it you that mentioned using a cabinet scraper previously?

Rockman- It's more axe than I need for what I actually use an axe for. It feels big for most uses. I'd end up not swinging anything for a while if I attempted a large job with it. Now, if you want through a door...or a wall maybe :)
 
Rockman- It's more axe than I need for what I actually use an axe for. It feels big for most uses. I'd end up not swinging anything for a while if I attempted a large job with it. Now, if you want through a door...or a wall maybe :)[/QUOTE]

Yes sir, that's what it's best suited for!
 
Agent_H said:
Gracias Quinton. Was it you that mentioned using a cabinet scraper previously?

Rockman- It's more axe than I need for what I actually use an axe for. It feels big for most uses. I'd end up not swinging anything for a while if I attempted a large job with it. Now, if you want through a door...or a wall maybe :)
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Y, yes, yes it was.. Keep your scraper good and sharp and it will remove a lot of wood in a controlled kind of way. Again, nice hang!
 
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