Restore an Axe

This would qualify for Straw Badge - Remove rust, clean and oil a hand tool but I’ve already done that and I didn’t want to risk posting as an Odd Ball.

I picked up this axe along with a bunch of other tools from a local salvage guy



It’s a full size axe, 90 cm long and weighing 2.64 kg (35” / 5.8lbs)

The only identification I can find is on the handle which looks like Genuine Draper Hickory



I checked it over and looked sound. The head is firmly attached, the handle, wedge and staple all looked good. There were a few very small splinters near the head which I sanded down. The head was covered in dried resin and white, black and red paint.



The edge wasn’t bad, a few nicks but reasonably sharp for something that didn’t look like it had seen much love. The toe and heel were pretty mashed.



I set to with a file, keeping a flat edge. I removed the dinks and cleaned up the heal but the toe was much worse and I did as much as I could without removing lots of metal. I then finished with a sharpening stone. It’s a lot sharper but not as sharp as a hand axe - doesn’t need to be.





I cleaned the paint and resin with sandpaper. I think the head was originally covered in red paint. There’s still a little left. I’d done enough.



I finished of oiling the head with tallow and applying a coat of tung oil to the handle, reapplying daily.





Job done!

awesome diy with pics = it is a poster child for bringing love to an old axe!

we have  thing her in cap breton called "heavy pickup" once a year you are allowed a LOT of trash - i cruise the piles - currently i have  a LOT of axe heads - among other things... multiply that pile you have by 5 ,, add rust - i can't help myself - LOL!! i have an are behind trees i call "the boneyard" - ya never know, yes?

this winter i will start resorting them.. i am hoping to use my old draw knife and spoke shave to make axe handles out of tamarack  - i experimented cleaning and maintaining wood tool handles this summer and had great luck with coconut oil..

one thing that helps with the rust is a vinegar bath - you can soak a pile of different rusted stuff in a plastic tub, bucket, whatever.. 24-48 hours - take 'em out and scrub hard with hot soapy water - careful - it will be a black mess... wire brush, rinse then apply oil and final rub... wipe and you are good..

7% pickling vinegar works best !

great post buddy! real clear instructions - pictures clearly demonstrate intent!

Good job! A lot of those older axes have much better quality steel than the hardware store stuff we find now.

douglas is 150% correct - older steel is WAY better quality.. i got a 60 year old pair of garden shears at value village today for 10 bucks... makes the "premium friskars" i have look like junk

i am making a point of trying to replace my hand tolls with older versions as i can for this reason alone.

Haha, hats off to "skills" over "dollars." If you know what you're looking at, and know how to restore cutting tools, thrift shops are a fine hunting ground. And the community metal recycling bin becomes a gold mine. Free quality stuff!

Though I have to say that in my experience, Fiskars loppers, pruners and scissors rate as "outstanding." Their lifetime warranty service has also earned them a pretty stellar reputation. My 2c, worth what you paid or possibly less.

don't get me wrong - the friskars i have are the best i could get..

somone donated a whole pile of old tools @ vv (i should have bought the steel shovel too).. there were 8 pairs of 2 handed shears... i was temped to buy them ALL but i am trying to overcome my worse prepping (borderline hoarding) instincts so i bought one

i kid you not - i just kept holding and staring at them for 10 mins in the store.. the machining done and the quality of the steel is awe-inspiring..

it was a comparative dis @ frikars

3b brrr- you in regina or there abouts?

edward..

i totally missed the link at the beginning of the axe post - you are all over the vinegar bath - my bad for not catching it and explaining to you something you already knew...

sorry dude!

Cheers!

What I meant to say is regarding badge bit, is I’ve met the requirement for that section, having sharpened another hatchet - thank you staff!

sharpen one of the following
 - another hatchet
 - an ax
 - a maul
 - a spud
 - a pick, mattock or other tough earthworking tool

Thanks for the tip on vinegar, and yes I knew this but others visiting might not. I was going to have to sand to get rid of the paint, so decided not to bother with using vinegar to remove rust. I’ll certainly go down that road with some of the other tools.

I could spend a lot of time and money in the salvage shop I found. You’re right about old steel and old tools built to last.

My next project is to pick up an old window frame and build a solar drier. Not the best time of year, but a good project none the less.

I didn’t know about the fiskars lifetime warranty - my loppers cutting blade broke on the second outing. I’ll have to see if i can find the receipt. Thanks.