Hi guys,
I recently picked up an old Kent pattern head from a member here as a base for a bit of a project.
I have always fancied a nice lightweight bearded carving axe but funds haven't been forthcoming for a custom job or commission so I figured I would try to make my own.
I meant to do a photo dairy of the process but only ended up taking a few for YouTube titles instead but here is the process as far as I managed to photograph it.
The axe im modding is the smaller of the two here
Removed handle and found suitable billet (cleft not sawn)
Marked out rough shape and cut out with hacksaw
Finished shaping with files and gave it a preliminary regrind and sharpen
Marked out handle and roughed out with axe and draw knife
Tidied and shaped with knife and push knife
Sanded down
Final shaping to hang the head
Now all that's left is to saw in a kerf, apply the wooden wedge and then a smaller metal one.
All in all in really pleased with it though I know some will cringe at the butchering of a perfectly good axe to begin with.
My question is would I be better off applying a boiled linseed finish to the haft before or after securing the head?
Cheers, Hamster
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I recently picked up an old Kent pattern head from a member here as a base for a bit of a project.
I have always fancied a nice lightweight bearded carving axe but funds haven't been forthcoming for a custom job or commission so I figured I would try to make my own.
I meant to do a photo dairy of the process but only ended up taking a few for YouTube titles instead but here is the process as far as I managed to photograph it.
The axe im modding is the smaller of the two here

Removed handle and found suitable billet (cleft not sawn)

Marked out rough shape and cut out with hacksaw

Finished shaping with files and gave it a preliminary regrind and sharpen

Marked out handle and roughed out with axe and draw knife

Tidied and shaped with knife and push knife

Sanded down

Final shaping to hang the head

Now all that's left is to saw in a kerf, apply the wooden wedge and then a smaller metal one.
All in all in really pleased with it though I know some will cringe at the butchering of a perfectly good axe to begin with.
My question is would I be better off applying a boiled linseed finish to the haft before or after securing the head?
Cheers, Hamster
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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