Here's an old Zenith that I had in my pile. I spotted some figure in the handle and decided she's do a refinish. Won't be doing much to the head..or plan on refurbing to return it to service..just a little clean up. Mainly just spicing up the handle to see what we get. Handle had a significant crack in it and was repaired using 3 small screws. I removed those and have the handle glued and clamped at the moment. I'll replace the screws with some small dowels and may had a few. 

 

 

That axe has seen its share of work!

2 minutes ago, lew said:

That axe has seen its share of work!

 

No tellin how much or the stories it could tell. I love these dang things and couldn't tell ya why. I have learned a lot about sanding and staining by piddlin with them though....not saying I know anything...just more than I did  

new handles are not that expensive.  i wouldn't swing that for much more than splitting some kindling, holding near the head.

34 minutes ago, DAB said:

new handles are not that expensive.  i wouldn't swing that for much more than splitting some kindling, holding near the head.

 

.....I think you've kinda missed my point ...as per the OP I had no plans to put it back in use. 

Looks like it has spent some time doing double duty as a splitting wedge too. Not that I've ever done that or anything.

I rehabbed one a few years back....handle had more cracks than a city sidewalk....and, yes I intend to put mine to use...so it got a new handle.

 

Need to clean the head up again....rust is coming back...

swinging this is a work-out...akin to a sledge hammer...needs a good sharpening...again..

1 minute ago, steven newman said:

I rehabbed one a few years back....handle had more cracks than a city sidewalk....and, yes I intend to put mine to use...so it got a new handle.

 

Need to clean the head up again....rust is coming back...

swinging this is a work-out...akin to a sledge hammer...needs a good sharpening...again..

 

 

 

That's a beauty..Yeah they are great exercise. I can't believe you didn't dovetail all them cracks back together.....I'm your biggest fan of those threads by the way.

I've got a double bit to rehab. It was in a bunch of other junk I bought in an auction a couple years ago. Handle MIA. I did try wire wheeling the rust off to find a name or logo but did not.  I bought a replacement handle late fall 2020. Was on my to do list last year until the back surgery took me down. 

18 hours ago, aaronc said:

I can't believe you didn't dovetail all them cracks back together.

A real challenge would be to remove the head, steam 1mm maple veneer to fit, glue it up layer by layer, carve to fit the axe head socket. 

 

But the only question would be whether to make the reinforcement flush with the bottom of the axe head or extend downward along the shaft 2" 

I have the Plumb I got in BSA . Last year it just snapped, dry rot. Bought a new handle but alas no plum color. MMMMM may have to try that now that I think of why it was that color.

So if you're wondering how those handles are made... I recently finished converting the 3rd of 4 Bacci copy lathes that make all sorts of longer handles from relay logic to PLC controls. Only one would run in manual only and the guy had to use a hammer to make the dog release. The guy that runs them is a happy guy now.

 

 

JT

 

 

This is what I had to start with... what a mess.

 

JT

10 hours ago, jthornton said:

So if you're wondering how those handles are made... I recently finished converting the 3rd of 4 Bacci copy lathes that make all sorts of longer handles from relay logic to PLC controls. Only one would run in manual only and the guy had to use a hammer to make the dog release. The guy that runs them is a happy guy now.

 

 

 

JT

 

 

 

That's some cool stuff. 

Cleaned out my screw holes... and made a few more. Got the ones going in from the top glued up with some small dowels. 

 

 

Nice save Aaron!

8 hours ago, aaronc said:

and made a few more.

Nice!  You'll always be glad you made the effort. 

 

Touched up existing holes to give you fresh wood? And/or to fit your dowels? I've never used dowels but it's never too late? Boxwood (tapered) bushings in 2017-2018 or so, then recently the tapered ebony pegs.  

 

The boxwood, I wanted to seal and age. A drop of strong black tea, repeated a few times, into the end grain. Then very fine dirt suspended / dissolved in alcohol, like a spirit stain. On "finished" work, a hearty rubdown with a handful of dry potting soil has done wonders. 

 

When you use a dowel to increase the strength of a joint or to restore stability to an area, is the hole drilled to the same size as the dowel, and the dowel hammered in with prejudicial force? No tapering of the dowel?

My dad had an axe that was his favorite for splitting oak for firewood. It had 3 new handles and two new heads.  Said he'd never part with it. Best axe he'd ever used. 

2 hours ago, Dovetail said:

Nice!  You'll always be glad you made the effort. 

 

Touched up existing holes to give you fresh wood? And/or to fit your dowels? I've never used dowels but it's never too late? Boxwood (tapered) bushings in 2017-2018 or so, then recently the tapered ebony pegs.  

 

The boxwood, I wanted to seal and age. A drop of strong black tea, repeated a few times, into the end grain. Then very fine dirt suspended / dissolved in alcohol, like a spirit stain. On "finished" work, a hearty rubdown with a handful of dry potting soil has done wonders. 

 

When you use a dowel to increase the strength of a joint or to restore stability to an area, is the hole drilled to the same size as the dowel, and the dowel hammered in with prejudicial force? No tapering of the dowel?

 

Appreciate the aging finishing tips On the dowels I use enough taper to get it started...and it's tight enough to need some good taps from a little tack hammer to get seated, but that's just me. I fitted the existing holes from the screws to fit the dowels and drilled a couple of extra. I picked this up from my powder horn buddy..it's how we secure base plugs to horns. The guy has been doing it for over 3 decades and many of those horns have been in heavy use...I like the way it looks but it's quality build also imo. I prefer the look over metal nails/screws. I'll see if I have some pics...

 

The handle on this axe does not and never did fit the eye of the axe head. It probably did some one handed splitting in it's life but as previously stated in this thread it very likely spent much of it's life as a wedge. This thing is going straight back to the shelf when the handle is refinished...I just do this stuff to keep the voices in my head quiet   

 

 

 

 

Note the 3 small dowels going in on each side. THey are catching the 1/4 inch of wood going down in the horn. When everything is sanded and finished your only left with perfect little circles. On round horns it's the same....just use as many as you need. Usually about 6.

 

 

 

 

Here ya go...I even found a pic of Bill staining them..they get stained 1 by 1 to "pop" off of the horn. I won't be staining these on the axe...other than the overall stain for the handle.