Sunday Afternoon Axe Project

[mrmel]

I found a rusty old axe at the car boot sale for a pound.

So I bought it, took it and restored it.

All I had to do was get the rust off and sharpen it.
But I decided to sand the handle too, then I noticed the head had moved slightly and in the process of straightening it out....
I broke it!
So now I have to A) make a new handle or B) make the old one new again!

I made the old one new again.
What do you think? Alright for a pound I reckon, especially because the guy selling it seemed to chuckle as he took my money.

 

[pwb]

Good job Mel.

Alright for a pound I reckon, especially because the guy selling it seemed to chuckle as he took my money.

Looks like you had the last laugh there .

Pete.

 

[launditch1]

Hear,hear!Looks good..

Any makers marks?It looks hand forged.

 

[Greg]

Great job Fella, It always good getting a bargain!

 

[Peter_t]

this is why i love car boot sales i really don't know why more people don't do this
people are just too snobby with the gransfors but there are plenty of other quality makes out there such as elwell, brades and spearwell

pete

 

[Logit]

lovely job, makes me want to get out into the shed and clean up the axe head i found whilst digging.... infact, why not!

 

[mrmel]

Why not indeed?
Thanks for all the lovely remarks. Its good to hear feed back.

 

[helixpteron]

...... people are just too snobby with the gransfors but there are plenty of other quality makes out there such as elwell, brades and spearwell

pete

Why taint a really nice thread, about a really nice restoration of a really nice axe with your boorish comments about GB's and their owners?

 

[Peter_t]

Why taint a really nice thread, about a really nice restoration of a really nice axe with your boorish comments about GB's and their owners?

i just think it a shame that more people don't consider other makes

pete

 

[mrmel]

Hear,hear!Looks good..

Any makers marks?It looks hand forged.

I didn't see any, there was a lot of rust to get through. I may have sanded it off when I got annoyed and turned to the drill for help.

 

[Logit]

lol... excellent. if i get the chance i will post piccies of my axe cleaning attempt!

 

[HillBill]

I like the look of that axe. Well done.

 

[Big Mark]

I found a rusty old axe at the car boot sale for a pound.

So I bought it, took it and restored it.

All I had to do was get the rust off and sharpen it.
But I decided to sand the handle too, then I noticed the head had moved slightly and in the process of straightening it out....
I broke it!
So now I have to A) make a new handle or B) make the old one new again!

I made the old one new again.
What do you think? Alright for a pound I reckon, especially because the guy selling it seemed to chuckle as he took my money.

Cracking job...brilliant bargain!

 

[mrmel]

lol... excellent. if i get the chance i will post piccies of my axe cleaning attempt!

I would very much like to see that. Getting the rust off was the most frustrating bit me thinks.

 

[HillBill]

Here is one i restored not too long ago. It is satisfying using a tool you have brought back to life.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40073&highlight=axe+reborn

 

[drewdunnrespect]

lovely piece of work

 

[mrmel]

Here is one i restored not too long ago. It is satisfying using a tool you have brought back to life.

That is great. I didn't know of a sutible wood to use for a handle so I re-used the one I broke, hence why its so short.

 

[Taffy63]

That looks great mrmel, the short handle might make it easier to use for carving. The best wood to use for a handle is good old Ash which you can use green cleft from a log at least 4" in diameter. I picked up an absolutely lovely Elwell No5 felling axe at a car boot on Saturday. The head was very rusty and the handle was a little loose but after a little tlc and elbow grease it really is a beauty, shaving sharp quality steel. And all for a mere £4, I love a bargain!

 

[mrmel]

Carving will be its main job, maybe splitting fire wood.
Sounds like a good deal.

 

[covertcraft]

Nice job, I love restoring old tools. As previously mentioned cleft ash is a really good handle material but probably best to season it for a bit before fitting or it could work loose as it dries out. Good thing about making your own handle is you can tailor it to both your hand and it's intended use.