And I thought I'd define "we". I'm always refering to "we", even though I'm the primary person running the blog. bmatt, Bernard Ten Bears and the the Wandering Thinker have sent so many great guest posts, that I consider it their blog as well as all who read every day. If you have a topic you'd like to see on the blog, write an article, or drop me a line. Perhaps me or one of our guest writers could cover it. house.of.howes@hotmail.com
Link of the Day: www.bladeforums.com . I've received a ton of traffic from blade forums lately, so I want to send some back to them. I appreciate all of you stopping by! If you haven't visited blade forums yet, give 'em a try. They have an axe section, knife section - pretty much anything you'd want.
I gave L.J. a hatchet last year. Nothing special. Picked it up at a yard sale for five bones. Got home and it was duller than a fart and had more cheek than a squirrel with a yap full of nuts.
But I gave it to him anyway. Figured it would be good until he figured out that you can, in fact, lop off a thumb with an axe. Over the past year, I've watched him use it and struggle. He gets aggravated when he sees me de-limbing a tree with speed and ease and he has to hack and hack just to get a branch. One thing he hasn't figured out is that it has more to to with just your axe. He's 11 and 90 lbs. soaking wet with rocks in his pockets. I've got more lead in my backside, therefore making it easier for me to chop. He's at prepubescent age where he is growing taller, but the muscle just isn't there yet. I have let him use my sharp axes a few times and made him promise not to bounce them off of rocks, as I had seen him do before. L.J. is a rule follower and did well. I think it is time he have a real, efficient tool. No matter how much I try, that tool will probably not be this hatchet.
But I still decided to take his old hatchet and try to make it better. Here's what I'm working with:
I hit it with the bastard file and started at it. I thought it would be easier than it was.....
In between, I'd hit it with the stone. What I remembered was that it didn't like to take and edge.
This has improved a little, but it is still duller than the proverbial fart. I'm still working at it with the file. I'll post the results. BTW, haven't done this much before, so if anyone has good tips for ridding an axe of cheek, I'm all ears.
On a side note, does anyone recognize this mark?
Looks like an "M IV". Strange thing was that I was examining Uncle Bern's collection last summer and found a head with a very similar, if not the same mark. Not like it is a good head, but interesting just the same.
That's all for now.
Pax Domini Sit Semper Vobiscum,
Mike, Oscar, Hotel.....out!
Hmmm, I think it's going to take a heck of a long time if you only use files. I'm speaking from experience here. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I'd have to go with power tools, but just remember to not overheat the metal.
bmatt
Your marks are likely 1 1/4 for the head weight. I have a Bahco axe with 0,8/13/4 meaning .8 Kilograms or 1 3/4 pounds, it makes it slightly difficult to read with no spacing between the 1 and the 3.
ReplyDeleteThe M or yours is likely the makers marking as the Bahco has MW under the pole and the Gransfors Bruks are famous for having two initials of the smith that makes each ax. you won't often fine such marks on today's cheapy axe but it seems still common in Sweden.
I would probably use a belt sander with a 60 grit ceramic belt, but I already own that kind of gear.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing details. Heat Pax Warmers – we carry huge variety of heat pax warmers that effective defense against the winter cold. Buy industrial heat pax warmers at your range.
ReplyDelete