Smith357
US Veteran
I picked up this old 4 lb Michigan pattern felling axe head the other day for 6 bucks, it had a little minor damage but nothing too critical, the poll had some minor mushrooming but the eye was straight, and the edge was not chipped. there is still a lot of life in this old tool and I though it would make a good project for an axe to take down to the cabin.
I ground off the mushroom from the poll, and cleaned off the old paint and rust then wet sanded the head and then used cold blue rather than paint.
The head after the first rough grind.
After a few hours of wet sanding while watching TV news.
I headed off to the Loews and went through all their hickory handles and finally found one with good grain plopped down my 10 dollars. I had to sand off the thick clear paint they dipped the handle in then melted in a bunch of bee's wax. I threw away the soft poplar wedge that came with the handle and made my own from walnut.
I think it has a few more years of service left in it.
I ground off the mushroom from the poll, and cleaned off the old paint and rust then wet sanded the head and then used cold blue rather than paint.
The head after the first rough grind.
After a few hours of wet sanding while watching TV news.
I headed off to the Loews and went through all their hickory handles and finally found one with good grain plopped down my 10 dollars. I had to sand off the thick clear paint they dipped the handle in then melted in a bunch of bee's wax. I threw away the soft poplar wedge that came with the handle and made my own from walnut.
I think it has a few more years of service left in it.
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