Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: ionicmuffin on May 05, 2013, 02:42:36 am
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So i found this rusty ax head in the dirt when i was biking on some trails. Being the guy i am i thought that i could use an ax. Heres the head. Any tips on restoring it???
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I just got done bringing a hatchet & Hawk head back to life. Both were rusted and scaled, but not as bad as Your find. I used a new product called Evapo-rust (picked it up a Harbor Freight). Pretty cool stuff - Non toxic, biodegradable, PH neutral and water soluble. You soak the part for 1 - 12 hours, then rinse with water. I then went over the heads with a wire wheel in a drill after hosing them down with WD40. They both turned out pretty darn good, the stuff (Evapo-rust) works as advertised (even smells good). Good luck - Bob.
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thanks!
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K so i thought i would mention that because I'm cheap i used vinegar to soak the ax head. Its working right now, the rust is coming off, i read last night that vinegar will remove rust in about 8 days, and although i don't have much its enough to make we want to get rid of it.
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I have used bar chain oil on badly rusted tools and had good luck with it. Stihl brand seems better than others.
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I use a little gun oil and 0000 steel wool takes it down to patina
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an update on how its going, the vinegar is working well and has been removing substantial amounts of rust from it. hopefully i can get it finished and ready for a handle in a few days.
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Cool find, I can't wait to see it sharpened up and with a handle.
Kevin
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Here's my progress. not sure if the metallic color coming off and staying on my hands is silver paint or is the metal that has been corroded off the head. What do you guys think so far?
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Looks good, sharpener er up!
Kevin
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Wow! That's quite an improvement. All you did was soak it in vinegar?
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Yes all i did was remove the rust as best i could with a wire brush and then i used vinegar for a few days. I will need to use the steel wool and oil for the next step.
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That's a new trick to me. Good to know, thanks!
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Yep, keep an eye on it though, after it gets through the rust it will start on the metal!
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neutralize the acid from the vinegar with some ammonia
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Coca Cola will strip the rust straight off it. Don't leave it too long or it will start eating the metal too.
This is why I drink my rum, bourbon, etc. straight ;)
IW
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That looks like a fairly old ax pattern - probably a real antique. Your story reminded me of a story from Ben Franklin's autobiography. Here it is - The Speckled Ax story - a look into perfection vs good enough. I suspect that you will prefer the speckled ax in the end...
"...like the man who, in buying an ax of a smith, my neighbour, desired to have the whole of its surface as bright as the edge. The smith consented to grind it bright for him if he would turn the wheel; he turn'd, while the smith press'd the broad face of the ax hard and heavily on the stone, which made the turning of it very fatiguing. The man came every now and then from the wheel to see how the work went on, and at length would take his ax as it was, without farther grinding. "No," said the smith, "turn on, turn on; we shall have it bright by-and-by; as yet, it is only speckled." "Yes," said the man, "but I think I like a speckled ax best."
PS - looks like a candidate for the wire wheel to me.
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Here are the pics of the finished restoration unless someone else can think of why its not done, aside from needing a handle of course...
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That looks great. Do you see that dark band that forms the edge? Maybe an inch in or more.....That confirms this is an OLD ax. Typically, when an old tool like this was forged, the body would be made from iron - easy to get. The edge however is steel - a much harder material to make and acquire because carbon had to be added to make it hard, "carbon steel." Typically the steel was fused to the iron body through forging - welding with heat on the forge. It is an old axe. Put a handle on it! That is a beauty. Could be 100-200 years old from the look of the pattern and the iron/steel component method.
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Sweet! cant wait to get a handle for it and mount it!