Just moved into a place and found two axes and a hatchet worthy of sharpening up... Problem is the heads are super loose on the wood.
Is there a way to firm up the heads or should I buy / craft new handles?
>>979104
you could try, if you could get the heads off
how are they attached on top?
I'd shave/smooth down the shaft slightly till it sits solid, then glue and shim it in
if they're in really bad shape, it would be worth it to me to replace them
>>979104
While we're on the subject, how do I swell the wood back up on this knife the gf made?
The handle was epoxied to the tang but pulled away when the humidity dropped after winter
>>979111
>get the heads off
The classic trick is just to cut off most of the handle and burn the wood out of the eye in a small fire.
Yeah super loose. My main wondering was if I could/shoukd re-swell the wood but it sounds like the best bet is to work the axe off, lop the top couple inches of wood off and re-seat the axe.
>>979159
yes
I'd use the opportunity to clean them up
Got the heads off, gonna soak em in vinegar and scrub later. Don't care about super shiny so I'm not going to go to too much effort on getting all the rust off
One of the handles is ok so I'll just sand off the grime, give it some tung oil and a new wedge.
The hatchet handle is fairly rotten so I'll cut it down and reattach it for practice, but probably going to need a new one
Celanese up pretty nicely actually, with a bit of elbow grease. Though they'll probably have rusted over by the time I wake up, idk.
Sanded the axe handle and threw on a bit of tung oil. Tis looking good. Enjoying myself too
The Resource On This Subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22tBYD-HMtA
>>979136
Never ever do this. The fire will ruin the temper of the axe and make it too soft to hold an edge. It is bad. Bad. Bad? Bad! Very bad. Don't do it.
Bad.
>>979615
Ok thanks for that. No need to get the core out anyway as it was loose as a goose
The axe didn't have a wedge at all previously - is it possible to seat the head safely without one?
Or should I just go out and buy a wedge?
Do I drive it in as is, or cut the handle flush where it sticks out the top?
>>979946
wedge is probably best
I believe you would drive it in as is, then trim it afterword
>>979984
Ah great stuff. Thanks I'll try it tomorrow
Axe heads are not great flying around out of control.
>>979946
Jesus fucking Christ that axe head is probably worth over $100 if you put it on eBay or sold it properly and you don't even know how to wedge it please don't fucking sharpen it on a bench grinder or some shit sell it to someone who will take proper care of it.
>>980137
Look how short the blades are. That axe is pretty well past its useful lifespan.
>>979946
I rehandle tools pretty frequently at work. I've found the following to be the most reliable at keeping your tools hung for the long term.
Get a new handle. They can often be found at Lowes/Home Depot or sometimes at places like Ace or other hardware stores. If not, buy one online from House Handles or a similar store. The axe you have there is a Double Bit Axe.
With the new handle fit it to the head by slipping the head over the end of the handle and tapping the far end of the wood handle with a large rubber mallet. The head goes on like magic. If it doesn't slip down all the way to the shoulder then simply tap it back off and rasp down the excess and repeat.
Once you have the head fitted then coat the inside of the head and handle with two part epoxy. Seat the head and pound in the wedge. I do NOT trim the excess handle off the top. I like to leave at least 1/2 inch of handle sticking out the top and let the wedge mushroom out the wood. This secures the head very strongly.
Clean up the mess of wood and epoxy that is everywhere now and give it a good heavy coat of linseed oil.
dude, it's called rehafting an axe.. learn it. live it. love it. BLO FTW.
I just found in my attic a hatchet and an ax.
The hatchet is marked US 1944 american fork & hoe co
Doing some research my brother and I believe it was issued in WW2
This company has a really long history and changing many names. It's now known as True Temper.
We're not sure what to do with it.
I will get pics tomorrow.
As for the ax we can't find any maker's marks(can't remember if that's correct terminology) on it.
Would like your input.
>>980141
I'm assuming anon is referring to collectors.
>>980137
For fuck sake, what's a hundred dollars? What use have I for that over having a project to entertain me?
I'd drink a hundred dollars in a night ffs
>>979615
>The fire will ruin the temper of the axe
just about to post this.
>>979828
Even if it was tight, just put the bit in a vice upside down and knock it out with a punch, after cutting the rest of the handle off first. The hole is tapered, so it has to be upside down to punch it out.
>>979104
Soak the heads in a bucket of water for a few days.
>>981030
Before or after wedging them?
>>981044
Either, or
I'm thinking I'll do a similar project on these axes. Dad said my great grandfather gave them to him. They're pretty fucked now. Both extreamly rusty. One head is really loose and the other slides right off the handle.
>>980824
Pic 1/2
>>980824
2/2
>>979615
that's why you bury it except for the eye
>>981163
replace the left's handle, is probably sobered under the tape and the head is at a weird angle
>>981163
Those handles look comfy
>>981364
heat travels through the metal dumbass
>>981770
Just nice shape to the handles. I'd copy them.
OP here, didn't get any further than sanding the wood, and giving them a few coats of tung oil. I'm off travelling so won't be able to do anything till I'm back in a week.
That said, I'm going to stick to the wedge, and not bother with the epoxy - while I see the advantage, it just seems overkill to me (surely back in the days before epoxy, there weren't axe heads flying of left right and centre?)
Glad i came across this thread. I have pic related and the head is getting loose. Think I'll try soaking it first; very low humidity where i live.
>>982323
I can copy the hatchet, my brother got rid of the axe... At least he knew enough to keep the hatchet.
>>982329
Dry and loose huh?
I couldn't resist :^)
>>979615
Aw man, from the front image I thought i was Roy Underhill but it wasn't. Still looks like a very informative video though.
>>982329
Yeah get it swollen up then liberally apply some tung or boiled linseed oil to seal it up
>>982329
Don´t let it swell. It will just loosen agian when dried. Source: Roy Underhill.
>>981072
They should clean up pretty well, nice thing about axes is there's a large mass of metal. Bit of pitting and patina adds character too, I always liked the look of used tools.
>>982490
So once it's dried it won't really go back permanently?
>>982529
Not really as I understood it. Look on yt for further tips as I´m not a pro. But loose axe heads are no joke.
>>982538
Yeah seems like a stopgap measure from my research. Once it's seasoned, that's it
Carpenter here. When guys have loose head on their wooden handled hammers the usual procedure is to knock the head down further down the handle until it's tight again, put in another wedge, and let it soak in a bucket of water for a week. Get the wedges from stiletto hammers if you can. They're circles instead of a flat wedge so they give more equal pressure all around the head, instead of just side to side.
Also pro tip: hit a hammer at the bottom of the handle instead of pounding the top of the head. The kinetic energy will force the head down further then if you just flipped the hammer on its head and started mashing it down.
>>983898
Thanks man, can you explain the last point about hitting the bottom of the handle - do you mean to get the wedge in or to force the head along the shaft?
Replace the handles entirely. Wedging them or soaking them in water/linseed oil is just going to be a stopgap measure and they'll get loose again.
