Here are a few pics of the little axe head I found on Saffron Walden market a few weeks ago.
I've cleaned it up a bit and tried to maintain a nice convex profile on it, although it can do with a little more work to get the edge shaving sharp. The script was indecypherable initially but eventually I worked out it said on one cheek "SOLID CAST STEEL ENGLISH MAKE" The makers name is still unreadable on the other cheek however.
I thought I'd have a go at making a handle for it, so I rough shaped a piece of 25mm oak board with my bandsaw and then did the rest of the profiling on the belt sander.
I know oak is probably not the best handle wood but it has allowed me to learn a bit I suppose. The hardest bit was getting the fit right fot the oval eye.I then cut a long wedge again from oak and then having fitted that I hammered a ground down floor brad ( which is a tapered wedge in section) as the cross wedge.
Unfortunately it has split through a bit as you can see in the pictures, but I drilled and pegged the split to stop it running.
It will be ok until I can find a decent piece of seasoned ash or hickory
Its 12" overall about 14 ounce head with a 2.75" bit.
Its well balanced in the hand and cuts beautifully.
What do you think?
David
I've cleaned it up a bit and tried to maintain a nice convex profile on it, although it can do with a little more work to get the edge shaving sharp. The script was indecypherable initially but eventually I worked out it said on one cheek "SOLID CAST STEEL ENGLISH MAKE" The makers name is still unreadable on the other cheek however.
I thought I'd have a go at making a handle for it, so I rough shaped a piece of 25mm oak board with my bandsaw and then did the rest of the profiling on the belt sander.
I know oak is probably not the best handle wood but it has allowed me to learn a bit I suppose. The hardest bit was getting the fit right fot the oval eye.I then cut a long wedge again from oak and then having fitted that I hammered a ground down floor brad ( which is a tapered wedge in section) as the cross wedge.
Unfortunately it has split through a bit as you can see in the pictures, but I drilled and pegged the split to stop it running.
It will be ok until I can find a decent piece of seasoned ash or hickory
Its 12" overall about 14 ounce head with a 2.75" bit.
Its well balanced in the hand and cuts beautifully.
What do you think?
David