Freakingstang. How's the weight on yours? I had the same idea and my axe head still has a bit more weight to it. But it does stick this dry ash easy and releases easy as well.
Started my own thread then some pointed me here. I just cut this out of an old axe I bought at a garage sale. Used it on a few pieces. Seems to work fine so far. I have to finish up grinding and put a new handle on it yet.
Everyone's handiwork looks great. I've made a few from axes that didn't measure up for whatever reason. But, after picking up a Ox head "hand sappie"- I found my favorite. It's a little heavy but sticks and releases in all types of wood great. Just made a kydex mask to make it travel safe. I have the short and long handle (30") models , the heads are the same on them. Here are some picture of homemade pickaroons and the ox head with mask.
Sweet Kydex sheath! Very classy and functional touch. I just got the Collins Axe hookaroon and it's way better than my Log Rite, FWIW.
The geometry of the Ox head hand sappie/ pickaroon seems to work best for me. I made a couple shorter versions for moving splits and rounds by welding heads I made to a couple China Freight hammer handles. Working good so far, these things are addictive lol.
The heads were cut from 3/8" plate of an unknown pedigree. Some type of tool steel-three foot diameter disk that looks like a saw blade. It isn't, but I cant tell you what it was. I will post a picture- maybe somebody knows what it came off. I got it for $20 at a surplus place. I cut the heads, forged the point taper and did a rough heat treat and temper. Welded them on and slow cooled in a bucket of vermiculite. Lent one out for field testing. I would like to say I could forge the hammers down but don't think the plastic and rubber handles would survive the process.
Thanks just wondering, you did a heck of a nice job on them. This is what I use for small pieces splits and such, extra-long hey hook $10 from Tractor Supply, bent to the proper shape and tempered the end to keep it from bending, end up using it a lot. The tongs s work good too and work great for dragging small logs out of the woods or whatever.
I got some use for the Pickaroons yesterday. Cant say enough about the design of the Euro style "Sappie" . Penetrates deep enough to hold without requiring a battle to release. I compared my bought Oxhead to one I made from a junk axe, Oxhead worked much better. The welded up short ones worked great. I will have to make a couple more because my son had it every time I wanted to use it. Wood cut/ moved was beech blown over in hurricane sandy. Here are pics of some of the tools used and some with their shoes on ready for the ride home. I got bit a few times before I had the kydex sheaths made hahaha. Also including a pic of a magnet holder for attaching to a splitter to keep it handy, safe and out of the way.
Nice handy work. I made one from an ax a while back. Gave it to my 80 something neighbor and promptly made another.
The pipe made it little heavier than I like might take a little off .I liked the feel of wood handle better probly add a grip of some sort.
