It turns out, that it has a lot to do with making process. The head is shaped like this when they put it under forging press to make a nail puller. It happens when the press chisel (don't know the exact word) becomes blunt. Dad said that this was a big problem, as they made loads of heads in one day and they had to sharpen those things all the time. But at the same time it is normal, that the head is facing a bit forward like we see on Dave's and Robin's example. Pic's coming later.
Good old axe.
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robin wood
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
What process did you do to clean the axe up ? Because it looks like just out the box
Judging by this pic I would guess he used an angle grinder with a wire brush attachment.
What process did you do to clean the axe up ? Because it looks like just out the box
Just like Robin said
I was cleaning up wood workshop to get it going again, and I found this example witch is the same kind of style but on a larger scale. This does look like your's referred "carpenters axe". So everything comes to it's place.
robin wood
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Just out of interest lets stick these two images together.
For hewing a sloping back profile is not a problem, in fact it can be helpful.
For hewing a sloping back profile is not a problem, in fact it can be helpful.
It looks abit like my grand farthers that he used to take out partition walls with. You go through the wall with blade take nails out with the notch (hand forged nails taper so you don't bend them), then knock them back in with the poll.
A very frugall man my grandad. (Thats the polite version of what my Farther used to call him)
A very frugall man my grandad. (Thats the polite version of what my Farther used to call him)
I think you may want to keep the handles "chunky" if you are going to use the nail puller.
Pulling the handle sideways will develop a LOT of stress on a stubborn nail.
I would think that this sideways stress is why the handle is more of a square
profile than rectangular that we usually think of as "handle shaped"
However, if the handle is so uncomfortable you never use it, then a slimmer handle
is likely a better choice. How often are you going to pull nails with it?
A claw hammer or prybar is likely a better choice if you are going to pull lots of nails.
Just make sure to post pics if you do make another handle
Pulling the handle sideways will develop a LOT of stress on a stubborn nail.
I would think that this sideways stress is why the handle is more of a square
profile than rectangular that we usually think of as "handle shaped"
However, if the handle is so uncomfortable you never use it, then a slimmer handle
is likely a better choice. How often are you going to pull nails with it?
A claw hammer or prybar is likely a better choice if you are going to pull lots of nails.
Just make sure to post pics if you do make another handle
Well, never!
I have worked with my grandfather on some timber building projects and never ever used an axe to pull nails with. There are so many better tools to do the job. What I think I would use it for is: 1. Carving. I'm finishing a small workshop on weekends that i tend to use for bushcraft and woodworking projects. 2. As a forest axe to take out to the woods whenever the smaller axe I rehandled will not be enough.
I have worked with my grandfather on some timber building projects and never ever used an axe to pull nails with. There are so many better tools to do the job. What I think I would use it for is: 1. Carving. I'm finishing a small workshop on weekends that i tend to use for bushcraft and woodworking projects. 2. As a forest axe to take out to the woods whenever the smaller axe I rehandled will not be enough.
Biker
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I remember having an old carpenters axe that had a nail puller and a hammerhead as a poll... It might have been an "estwing or eastwing??)
Small pic but the head was identical to this
Interesting thread this . I scooped up an axe head a couple of weeks ago identical the one above see pic below. Bought the handle about 3 stalls down at the bootfair here in France
It's a carpenter's axe eh? Well that's nice since that's my trade anyway.
Good point taken about using it to wrench nails out, I wouldn't, at least not with anything big for reasons already stated. I have a 12oz drywall Estwing hammer which has an axe head at the back and a nail-puller notch set in it. Since dry walling only use 30mm nails so it's not that great a stress for the handle to cope with.Anyway nice work making cleaning and making that handle for your finds
