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Axes Anyone?


MacAR

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On 7/9/2022 at 4:30 AM, Ian Beale said:

The shock of the day!

I bought a new spotted gum axe handle

$A 41!

Am I missing something in translation? Is this $41.00 American?

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3 hours ago, just Dave said:

Am I missing something in translation? Is this $41.00 American?

Probably $41 Australian, were I to guess. Regardless, rather pricey for one axe handle!

Mac

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5 hours ago, MacAR said:

Probably $41 Australian, were I to guess. Regardless, rather pricey for one axe handle!

Mac

Mac - you're right on price - $A 1 = about $U 0.7

But I see a new axe of ? quality is about $A 100 so maybe not so bad

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322535394_DadsAX.jpg.c54c82b954a0189fd7d208f892f47252.jpg

This was my Dad's ax. Made for Wards by Eclipse.  Same handle all my life and some portion of my Dad's. Good thing because I will never pay that much for a handle. I had a store room at most of my pre retirement jobs. They stocked hammer handles of all sizes up to sledge, not cheep crap, good hickory. Since then I still do plenty of pounding as needed. I broke the handle in my favorite 3# brass hammer a couple years ago. I made a handle out of honey suckle of all things, it was handy. I have done some savage beating with it and never even had bit of looseness. Go figure 

Dave

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So...   I have a $20 dollar off $100 dollars spent coupon for the local rural king for a Stihl product.   I don't have an axe, and they sell (I think) this one for $99.99 https://www.stihlusa.com/products/forestry-tools/axes/proforestryaxe/

There are times when an axe would be handy and I know I don't want a cheap one, but also don't want to spend 300 bucks on one.  

 

Any thoughts on the one above.    $80 bucks for a pretty decent axe?? 

 

 

 

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48 minutes ago, B.B. said:

So...   I have a $20 dollar off $100 dollars spent coupon for the local rural king for a Stihl product.   I don't have an axe, and they sell (I think) this one for $99.99 https://www.stihlusa.com/products/forestry-tools/axes/proforestryaxe/

There are times when an axe would be handy and I know I don't want a cheap one, but also don't want to spend 300 bucks on one.  

 

Any thoughts on the one above.    $80 bucks for a pretty decent axe?? 

 

 

 

I think a person could find a good quality user for $20 or less at a sale or second hand store honestly. A name like Plumb or True Temper that is fairly modern but good quality. Kelly is another decent user. I’m sure there is nothing wrong with that Stihl axe but I think you could probably find similar quality for less money. Just my $.02

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3 hours ago, Sledgehammer said:

I think a person could find a good quality user for $20 or less at a sale or second hand store honestly. A name like Plumb or True Temper that is fairly modern but good quality. Kelly is another decent user. I’m sure there is nothing wrong with that Stihl axe but I think you could probably find similar quality for less money. Just my $.02

You're probably right, but I went and looked at it and bought it.  I may never use it, or probably won't use it much but for 80 bucks I'll be alright.   

 

I looked into the brands you suggested Hulls Bruk? And they look like good axes, but I can't justify that in a tool I will rarely use.   I also can't justify a 20-30 dollar lowes or home depot brand piece of chinese junk, so this seemed middle of the road to me.    Stihl makes 30 dollar axes too, that I'd bet are orange painted Harbor Freight junk lol 

 

 

 

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25 minutes ago, B.B. said:

You're probably right, but I went and looked at it and bought it.  I may never use it, or probably won't use it much but for 80 bucks I'll be alright.   

 

I looked into the brands you suggested Hulls Bruk? And they look like good axes, but I can't justify that in a tool I will rarely use.   I also can't justify a 20-30 dollar lowes or home depot brand piece of chinese junk, so this seemed middle of the road to me.    Stihl makes 30 dollar axes too, that I'd bet are orange painted Harbor Freight junk lol 

 

 

 

Hults Bruk is one and Gransfors Bruk is another. I have a couple of the Gransfors Bruk and they are very well made. Made the old way by real Craftsmen in Europe. One of these days I hope to make my own axe. I’ve made hatchets but never a full size axe. 

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38 minutes ago, B.B. said:

You're probably right, but I went and looked at it and bought it.  I may never use it, or probably won't use it much but for 80 bucks I'll be alright.   

 

I looked into the brands you suggested Hulls Bruk? And they look like good axes, but I can't justify that in a tool I will rarely use.   I also can't justify a 20-30 dollar lowes or home depot brand piece of chinese junk, so this seemed middle of the road to me.    Stihl makes 30 dollar axes too, that I'd bet are orange painted Harbor Freight junk lol 

 

 

 

It will be a good ax as long as you treat it well.  Keep it sharp and rust free.  Keep the handle tight.  If possible get a leather sheath for the cutting edge.  For occasional use and with any amount of care, a decent axe will last generations.  I have some that were NOT treated well at all and they still can cut when needed.  They are all relatively crude tools that can be made to work better with some maintenance and care.  

 

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52 minutes ago, Ian Beale said:

If the wooden handle comes loose do the wedges and then soak it in ethylene glycol anti-freeze.

Expands the wood but doesn't dry out as fast as water

I’ve used boiled linseed oil also. It protects the wood and swells it also. 

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Old hewing axe for squaring white pine timber. 100+ years old and hanging on my wall.  Handle is new and fits offset into head for a "left handed hewer", so I was told.

20210207_111406a.jpg

20220716_172353a.jpg

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On 7/6/2022 at 9:36 PM, hardtail said:

I remember Marshall Wells as a hardware store chain as a kid, also MacLeods, bought my Gray wrenches there as my first set

Same here. Village to the north had a Marshall Wells, town to the south had a MacLeods. Mom usually knew to find me in the tool section when she was done grocery shopping in town 

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Very enjoyable reading here. Thank you all for sharing. I have a few myself, though I’ve taken a liking to small carpenter hatchets over the years. I carry one in each pickup and have them stashed in each shed.  I brought home another Kelly a couple weeks ago from a sale and fitted it with a less than perfect new handle. CA5687FB-DC54-4089-BD5E-E873B9F561B6.jpeg.9ccb6d66b1b9fea0fbe35bb3ff3cb904.jpeg46584FC1-D478-4132-8AF0-40C0F88FBA9C.jpeg.5062f9f7b53ba2ab5f852c310c8407c8.jpegMy most prized ones are put away in my shop, among them, my Poppy’s old Montgomery Ward from the 40’s

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14 minutes ago, DC Snider said:

Very enjoyable reading here. Thank you all for sharing. I have a few myself, though I’ve taken a liking to small carpenter hatchets over the years. I carry one in each pickup and have them stashed in each shed.  I brought home another Kelly a couple weeks ago from a sale and fitted it with a less than perfect new handle. CA5687FB-DC54-4089-BD5E-E873B9F561B6.jpeg.9ccb6d66b1b9fea0fbe35bb3ff3cb904.jpeg46584FC1-D478-4132-8AF0-40C0F88FBA9C.jpeg.5062f9f7b53ba2ab5f852c310c8407c8.jpegMy most prized ones are put away in my shop, among them, my Poppy’s old Montgomery Ward from the 40’s

Those work well for a variety of jobs. I have an old Estwing carpenter hatchet with a leather stacked handle that just works nicely.  

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The old Kelly’s are sorta special since they were originally made here in West Virginia. I’ve been looking for a Winchester to add to my small collection 

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My dad told me that when my great uncle put up his free stall barn, he bought one them Menards pole barn kits. He said the men showed up with hatchet hammers and short barred chain saws. Not one single skill saw was used or chop saw. I've always wanted to pay attention better the next time I was in it, but haven't been in the barn for a while. 

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12 minutes ago, jeeper61 said:

Peavey is an old time logging tool company in Maine they have a line of Axes 

I drive by their plant on RT 9 in  Eddington Maine on my way to my place in Wesley 

 https://peaveymfg.com/pages/axe-line

 

Bangor Edge Tool Co.

peavey-mfg-co_large.jpg?v=1530565380

 

Isn’t there a tool called a “peavy” used in logging?  

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15 minutes ago, jeeper61 said:

Yes also known as a Cant dog used for log drives 

Standard Peavey (30" to 66")

Gotcha, thanks. I have one. We always called them a Cant Hook. Same difference in this case. Around here nothing was moved via water and those were just used to roll heavy spools or pieces. 

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