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Thread: Axe talk

  1. #1
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    Default Axe talk

    Axes were the first real woodworking tool and at one stage were the most common, used for felling, bucking, debarking, splitting and shaping. There was a huge diversity of manufacturers and patterns and there's still a fair output of both garden variety and boutique models. They're bought by traditionalist woodworkers and builders, hunters, survivalists and self-sufficient farmers, and collectors. Almost every household at one stage would've had one and some axes were passed on through several generations. That means there's plenty of sad-and-sorry old heads around but also a lively trade in collectables.

    Here's a post about my work reshaping an Australian-made Kelly: Axe - reshaping the bit That US Forest Service PDF referred to by hiroller is a terrific resource.

    It seems double-bit axes never took off in Aus compared with the US and I'm keen to try one. The virtues seem to be better balance perhaps and more especially the option to have two different bit geometries to hand, one for felling and the other for rough work.

    If anyone's interested in sharing postage I'm looking at ordering a Barco/Kelly from the US. It looks good value. HJE Michigan Double Bit Kelly Axe American Made Hand Tools Unit cost is USD 32.50 and shipping for one will be about USD 60 but less per unit for two or more. The lighter version of this has been well-reviewed by Woodtrekker. Wood Trekker: Barco Kelly Woodslasher Michigan Double Bit Axe Review

    My modern Kelly 'Dandenong' and the Barco/Kelly double bit Michigan pattern:

    Barco Kelly Michigan double bit.jpgKelly.jpg


    Please feel free to post a pic of your axe(s), in whatever shape it is.
    Cheers, Ern

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  3. #2
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    If anyone's interested in a shared buy of the Kelly double-bit, please let me know by Jan 29. I'll get the cost and let you know. Payment will then need to be made up front.

    Of course we can include other axes from them.
    Cheers, Ern

  4. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by rsser View Post
    If anyone's interested in a shared buy of the Kelly double-bit, please let me know by Jan 29. I'll get the cost and let you know. Payment will then need to be made up front.

    Of course we can include other axes from them.

    talk to Hiroller - he likes a good axe
    regards
    Nick
    veni, vidi,
    tornavi
    Without wood it's just ...

  5. #4
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    Yup.

    Here's a vid of hand-forging a laminated axe head, plus hanging it:

    https://vimeo.com/37360333

    One of the wrinkles is how far back from the edge the steel is hardened. ANSI says at least half an inch. Council axes reckons they do over an inch. Some well-worn oldies might be useless.

    The only locally sold double-bit I can find is by Council, from Forestry Tools. Sounds like it will need to be tuned.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Cheers, Ern

  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by rsser View Post
    Please feel free to post a pic of your axe(s), in whatever shape it is.
    I have a small collection of Axe's, adze's, froe's, and Maul's cross cut saws, basically everything to cut trees down by hand, split, and shape into posts, beams and rails.
    The early use of timber for building structures, fencing and more has always interested me, in particular the tools that the settlers used to create their homes and work life.
    One of my favored tools are my broad axes, great for sizing up the side of a post laying down, just keep an eye on your shins on the swing, a small steady controlled action is the go...
    Pictured below are 2 broad axe heads, (unhanded) one is an American Axe & Tool Co, the other is a Collins, both made in the USA.
    If any one has a lead on some decent broad axe offset handles, I would be eternally grateful !



    Melbourne Matty.

  7. #6
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    Nice tools Matty. Thanks for posting.

    Yeah, the broad axe is something else.
    I'm embarrassed to say that I once found a new old-stock blade in an old wares shop but cracked the eye fitting a handle

    Here's one source of RHS handles: Diggers Broad Axe Handle Right Hand
    Cheers, Ern

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    And another handle: under Council Broad Axe, a replacement .... https://www.forestrytools.com.au/index.php?id=838
    Cheers, Ern

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    Well after some prodding, here are a few axe heads on the project list.
    I'm not a collector, just a user but I like to do a bit of homework. My father was a Shipwright by training so has axes and an adze. I remember watching in awe as a young boy, my Dad swinging the adze to shape a new stem of a wooden launch.
    Not something I'm racing out to copy.


    image.jpg image.jpg

    The first 2 are single sided hatchets. I plan to set them up left and right handed.

    1. A Birmingham UK made Brades 1591 No. 1
    Brades were a premier tool works and their gear is still well regarded.
    Their garden tools and hammers command a premium on eBay in the UK.
    This head looks like it has never been used or fitted but has a small chip from being dropped.
    image.jpgimage.jpg
    This Brades catalogue page is from 1941 courtesy of Toolemera.
    http://toolemera.com/catpdf/BradesCat1941.pdf

    2. A USA made True Temper
    This was probably made by what was the Kelly Axe and Tool Works after Kelly was bought by American Fork and Hoe and rebranded True Temper. More info here:
    Kelly Axe Mfg. Co.

    3. The last is an older Hytest 4 1/2 pound felling axe head.
    Hytest started out as Plumb Australia but rebranded when the unrelated Plumb USA entered the market.
    WWII stopped the importation of axes and steel into Australia and local manufacturers led by Keech and Hytest (by then owned by A.C.I). Hytest with assistance from BHP developed a drop forging processes that enabled them to make quality axe heads. Axes were still being made with Ameican patterns having a rounded poll like mine. With the reintroduction of imports after the war, Keech and Hytest were forced to up their game and worked with local bushmen to refine the shapes and steel, moving to a better balanced square poll. Between them the dominated the axe chopping completions and ultimately even exported axes to the USA.
    Hytest at their height developed a 3 model axe lineup of Challenger, Crafsman and top of the line Forester.
    image.jpgimage.jpeg
    Photes circa 1958 from the Canberra Times on Trove.
    Hytest ultimately was merged into the Cyclone Brand and some heads are still made in Australia.

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by rsser View Post
    Nice tools Matty. Thanks for posting.

    Yeah, the broad axe is something else.
    I'm embarrassed to say that I once found a new old-stock blade in an old wares shop but cracked the eye fitting a handle rr

    Here's one source of RHS handles: Diggers Broad Axe Handle Right Hand
    Thanks Ern, the rural fencing site looks like the go.
    I'll be ordering a few, many thanks for the link !!

    Melbourne Matty.
    Thanks E

  11. #10
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    Yer welcome Matty.

    Interesting post hiroller. Thanks. Any idea what hardness the Hytest axes run to?

    In case anyone's in the market for new gear, ebay has some Helko Werks that are worth a look - the seller's in Melbourne. From a German mass maker. Specs look OK & Wood Trekker gave one of the hatchets a good wrap.
    Cheers, Ern

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    Quote Originally Posted by rsser View Post
    Any idea what hardness the Hytest axes run to?
    I thnk the Hytest and any of the early to mid-century era axes are pretty good.
    I went for axe heads that had little or no use, rather than a specific brand.
    Reasoning that they all start off OK, and there is more chance of the temper being lost through bad grinding and poor treatment.

  13. #12
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    Good thinking Batman.

    There's a lot of double bit heads on US eBay but I suspect some of them have been filed back past the hardening depth. Pays to know the measurements.

    As an aside I've been doing some tuning of my wedges. (I think of them as lazy axes.) There's an old and very heavy Dept of Defence, a small Hytest and what I think is a Cyclone. That one has a twisted tip and I'm wondering how to fix it. Any ideas? There'd be a lot of filing to get beyond it. Can these things be hammered cold?
    Cheers, Ern

  14. #13
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    Thanks Hiroller for all that information, I recall having a Brades hatchet put away some where, and two of my Adzes are Brades as well, great gear to use.
    Guys, I am really enjoying this post as I don't recall axes being spoken of here before ?!
    Many thanks to Both Hiroller and Ern for your efforts here.
    Ern, with your twisted wedge, I don't see why some heat could be applied, hammered flat over an anvil of sorts, then quenched in water ?

    I just thought I would share some finds over the weekend at an antique fair in Central Victoria that I attended.
    The first was 3 very large steel wedges made by hytest, very happy to find these as one can never have enough wedges.
    Other finds were a standard axe and broad axe, both very cheep, complete with surface rust and unbranded, or so I thought.
    Once home a quick clean up with the wire brush reviles that they are both made by Plumb in the US.
    Now that makes for a happy day.





    Melbourne Matty.

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    Nice finds Matty.
    Here's ad from 1954 with some more Hytest gear.
    Those wedges are still popular. Looks like they have plenty of life left in them.
    image.jpeg

  16. #15
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    Good scores Matty. The wedges look barely used.
    Yes, you sometimes need just one more, to rescue the others stuck in the wood!
    Thanks for the straightening tip. Don't have that gear I'm afraid.
    Cheers, Ern

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