What did you rehang today?

[marbat]

Got my little Made In Sweden done on a 14 inch handle a few days ago, think I'm going to like this little guy.


Also did this Gorilla head which I cannot find any info on but it sure seem like very nice steel. Took approximately one hour to file one side,was working on the other side after work and it bit me...four bandaids later so decided to finish another day. The odd thing about this head was the eye were the same size right through.

 

[El Quachito]

Yep, when you tart cutting yourself its time to stop. Nice axes.
Is that a House Handle in the Gorilla?

 

[Square_peg]

Also did this Gorilla head which I cannot find any info on but it sure seem like very nice steel. Took approximately one hour to file one side,was working on the other side after work and it bit me...four bandaids later so decided to finish another day. The odd thing about this head was the eye were the same size right through.

First of all, nice file work. That's a beautiful banana grind. Looks just like it should.

I can offer some suggestions to make that easier next time - maybe cut your filing time down to 10-15 minutes. File the axe head before hanging. Place it in a vise set with the jaws at about navel height. Clamp down on the eye and let the bit protrude out over the end of the vise. The bit should flare out over the vise jaws giving it support so you can really bear down on the file. And put a split section of hose on the tang of your file as a guard. See photos.

Tapered eyes may need to be wedged in the vise.

A slippery eye can be wrapped with duct tape to get a better grip on it.

Hone the axe with your stones while it's in the same position in the vise.

 

[marbat]

Yep, when you tart cutting yourself its time to stop. Nice axes.
Is that a House Handle in the Gorilla?

Both of them have House Handles and I left them natural as they were.

Square_peg, thanks for the tips and info. That is awesome and great help.

 

[Agent_H]

That diagram/scan of flat filing is great. Having the proper stance, pressure, and the chest initiating the movement is something I never consciously thought of.
I do something of the sort but always felt kind of goofy - I guess it wasn't far off though.

Those are great pictures of your leg/post vise in action. Wedging tapered polls with a piece of wood is a good tip as well. Thank you.

 

[jblyttle]

Hone the axe with your stones while it's in the same position in the vise.

Yes, I also benefited greatly from this post. Also, I love the spring in your vise. Resourcefulness is a virtue.

 

[jblyttle]

A friend owns the head, not for sale. The wedge is walnut, I like it.

 

[smith357]

Rehung this old Plumb 4# Cedar pattern. It took more time thinning the club of a handle to something usable than it did filing an edge on the steel.

 

[Remzy]

hehe Smith, is that some more of the "horse reference" going on on that handle?

great handle

 

[Agent_H]

Smith that is a great looking cedar pattern.

I like the swell shaping you did there as well.
Very nice indeed.

 

[SC T100]

I recently re-hung my Iron City sipwright's pin maul. I grabbed a heartwood sledge handle from the hardware store, and cut it to about the same length as ti was previously on the old handle.




The top of the eye isn't as filled with wood as I would like, but it seems to be on there tight. I have a few metal wedges I can throw in if needed though.

 

[Square_peg]

Love those knob end handles. That's a great looking axe now. Well done!

 

[BladeCommander]

I was given this Collins head with a broken handle. I was thinking about putting a boys axe handle on it to make a it compact, but I am not sure what type of handle should be on it. Wanted to get some thoughts before buying the handle. Do I need a full size, or would a boy's axe handle work for this bit?
Thanks.

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[SC T100]

You'll simply need a 28" full-size axe handle if you want a boy's axe length. I have a 3.5-er on a 30 and it's a good size. Give House Handle a call or order on-line...they have 28-36" full-size axe head handles. They even have eye measurements to make sure it'll fit.

 

[BladeCommander]

Thank you for the quick response. I will definitely check them out. I will have to take some measurements of the eye in case I need to verify the fit. Thanks again. Once I get a new handle on it, I will be back with more pics.

 

[Agent_H]

I've become a fan of the 3.5# on 28" handle. This lakeside is the one in the back of my truck. Felling a tree I would add a few inches but it's good for tighter spaces, camp/firewood splitting, and got used to remove maple windfall off the road a while back.

House Handle has a 28" full-size eye option.

 

[marbat]

Nice jobs guys, nice wedge job on that double Little and Smith people. I just redid a couple handles I was not happy with, mainly reshaping, no pictures yet though.

 

[Square_peg]

I think a 3-1/2 pound axe feels clunky on a handle less than 30" long. I don't think you develop enough speed with the shorter handles. Feels like you're hitting the tree with a maul not an axe. Not good penetration. A thin grind could compensate for that but would give up some durability.

I'd put a full size axe on a full size handle. If you want a shorter axe get a boys axe. They are super handy and just a pleasure to swing.

 

[Agent_H]

Here are some of the tools I’ve been working on lately.
There are several others that are finished, almost finished, or in the works.

Left to right – 2.5# Atha cross peen, Kelly Hand Forged double bit, 32oz ball peen, Lakeside 5# Jersey, and a 24oz Vaughn ball peen.
Hammers

Atha was from a sledge handle and finished with a BLO, spirits, and Danish oil mix.
The 32oz ballpeen was finished with leather dye.
I can’t seem to put the right amount on that it doesn’t take forever to get the excess off – should it be cut with mineral spirits?
The 24oz ballpeen was finished with Danish oil then BLO.
The hammers are from JBlyttle – thank you again, they cleaned up really nice.

The axes

Kelly Hand Forged. The handle it came with (original or not) I straightened by applying water from a spray bottle and laid 40-60 lb. weights on it for several days. It has the name “SAM” scratched into it – I purposely left that and the BLO mix brought it out.

The Lakeside took a little more to get back into shape. I posted that in the “It followed me home” thread – thank you again to the members for their advice on that one. The hammers came in handy. The handle came off a Kelly Works brush axe. The swell has a cut in it that looks like it was on purpose and I could have easily cut it off there but, to be honest, I wanted to keep that handle in original condition – it keeps taking BLO like a sponge even after 6-7 applications. The hang left it making contact just "south" of the center point of the bit. I didn’t sharpen it. I have a growing collection of Lakeside axes and this one seems to have most of the bit intact. I have more than one axe that is sharp.

We all like old tools and pictures are the best descriptions.

 

[marbat]

Nice! Like the wedge jobs and love that handle on the Lakeside.