Axe was cracked, and major mushrooming on the backside. Lots of grinding and a small weld by my friend and this is the result. Did a light diluted stain.
Thank you! I feel happy with the result. Funny you say it's addicting, we have a huge indoor flea market a few towns over with many antique tool vendors. Skipped over them when we were renting, I'd really like to get back there now owning a home and burning firewood.
I've passed by so many handled antique tools at yard sales, you can bet I'm going to be taking a closer look in the future too, now that I've been getting a taste of the addiction.
I figure worst case scenario they'd look good hung on the wall if I collect too many. Of course what is too many?
Good Job! I did my first restore last year. Got lucky and was given a '20s Plumb double bit. I picked up a nice rusty single bit at a flea market this summer. It'll be like Christmas finding the trademark as I start cleaning it up. Trick at a flea market is to buy stuff that you can't ID. The axes that have readable markings are sold for higher prices. The single bit I picked up cost me $5, but could likely be a $40 piece.
Thanks for the buying tips! Wish this one I tinkered with had markings. I guess it can be whatever I want it to be
The marks aren't really that important I suppose. I cherish an old, well made axe though. Holding something that was made the very best it could be with what they had to work with. I feel like back in the day there was more pride in products produced. Nowadays everything is about volume and cutting costs. It's neat to hold an old tool...any tool that has been well used and try to imagine where it's been and what it's done. In the case of and old axe, it may have been someone's only source of income. That'd make it pretty darned important to the fella who owned it. Perhaps they built their home with it? Kept warm with the trees they felled with it? It's fun to think about.
I'm 100% with you! I enjoy letting my mind wander like that, imagining the history of said piece. Today is sadly a throw away society and for the most part manufacturers are all about money and quality that is just good enough. Consumers for the most part care more about price than quality. I'm very lucky my fiancé agrees with buying quality over saving money, because in the long run quality will save you money.
