Following on from this thread http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86753 where you all gave me some very useful tips, I have finally got around to fitting a new helve/handle to the axe head.
The axe head has been ground down to (roughly) even bevels as I think it used to be a one sided bevel that had been sharpened on both sides at some point in its past. I need to do a little more work to even out the bevels totally, but that can wait for a rainy day.
It started out like this (after I'd cleaned it up a bit).
Axe head 1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
Axe bevels 4 by subZero rider, on Flickr
I then filed the bevels roughtly even and tried to sharpen the blade.
head by subZero rider, on Flickr
I bought a replacement handle/haft for a GFB small forest axe (hoping it would fit). After a bit (a lot) of rasping/sanding down i got a partial fit.
part fitted2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
A bit of Teak oil before the final fit
bare haft by subZero rider, on Flickr
after more sanding I got a good fit
first wedge 5 by subZero rider, on Flickr
axe1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
A bit of filing/sanding to smooth things off and oiled with Teak oil, it's looking better
first wedge 3 by subZero rider, on Flickr
below head by subZero rider, on Flickr
first wedge 1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
then the metal wedge went in
wedges installed 2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
wedges installed 3 by subZero rider, on Flickr
ended up looking like this
finished axe2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
finished axe1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
alignment1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
hung axe 2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
wedges installed 2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
I've been out this evening to have an initial play with the axe. It was taking some nice chunks out of dead logs, but was not sharp enough to cut springy branches. There are some commercial logging works going on near me so I can go and hack at stuff without damaging live trees. I feel a test coming on
Thanks for the help
The axe head has been ground down to (roughly) even bevels as I think it used to be a one sided bevel that had been sharpened on both sides at some point in its past. I need to do a little more work to even out the bevels totally, but that can wait for a rainy day.
It started out like this (after I'd cleaned it up a bit).
Axe head 1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
Axe bevels 4 by subZero rider, on Flickr
I then filed the bevels roughtly even and tried to sharpen the blade.
head by subZero rider, on Flickr
I bought a replacement handle/haft for a GFB small forest axe (hoping it would fit). After a bit (a lot) of rasping/sanding down i got a partial fit.
part fitted2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
A bit of Teak oil before the final fit
bare haft by subZero rider, on Flickr
after more sanding I got a good fit
first wedge 5 by subZero rider, on Flickr
axe1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
A bit of filing/sanding to smooth things off and oiled with Teak oil, it's looking better
first wedge 3 by subZero rider, on Flickr
below head by subZero rider, on Flickr
first wedge 1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
then the metal wedge went in
wedges installed 2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
wedges installed 3 by subZero rider, on Flickr
ended up looking like this
finished axe2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
finished axe1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
alignment1 by subZero rider, on Flickr
hung axe 2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
wedges installed 2 by subZero rider, on Flickr
I've been out this evening to have an initial play with the axe. It was taking some nice chunks out of dead logs, but was not sharp enough to cut springy branches. There are some commercial logging works going on near me so I can go and hack at stuff without damaging live trees. I feel a test coming on
Thanks for the help
