Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
To grind or not
Jim in Burlington Ontario
>I just bought a beautiful broad hatchett off of e-bay and some nit wit has used it as a sledge hammer and mushroomed the end. The blade though is mint the handle is offset and will make a good template but the 10 nails in the end have to go. So do I grind the mushroom or leave it? I have a bunch of soft maple 12/4 make the handle out of it or buy some hickory if possible.
Re: To grind or not
Todd O. Cronkhite Native of Maine
>Well Jim, without actually seeing the hatchet head, I'd say that since you intend to use this hatchet I'd file off the mushrooming by hand especially if there is any sharp metal overhanging the edge as they are dangerous. If the back is beat to a shallow hollow I'd be inclined to file it flat again as well. If it is deep I'd just clean off the rough edges and leave it alone as there is no since in removing alot of metal, thus alot of weight just to have a flat backside.
When finding a tool in this condition I trey to give the benefit of the doubt that an experianced craftsman didn't do the damage, but perhaps his son did. To illiustrate, one of my childhhoods friends Dad told a story where he decided to chop some wood for his Granddad, and when he was done he showed his Granddad what he had done, and his Granddad was pleased, until he saw the condition of his ax which was no all chipped up. He asked where he had split the wood, to which his grandson replied "Over there on that flat rock".
I take grat pain in seeing socket chisels that have sockets that have been beat on and thusly damaged, and I try to convince myself that some kid did it and not an adult. I'm probably wrong, but it helps me get over it.
If nothing else send it to Ernie, he might like it for one of his Abused Tool Drawer Pulls.
Todd O.
Re: To grind or not
Jim in Burlington Ontario
>Oh no it's a loved hatchet now that it's here. I have never seen that much mushrooming with no mess on the blade end. Usually someone has sharpened both sides. If the mushroom ever caught your hand it would make a big mess of it of a piece of it could come flying off and with one good eye ........ ya it will have to come off
Re: To grind or not
Todd Hughes
>I would grind it and then rust it up, then spray a little black paint on it then clean it up and if done well would be hard to tell you ever did anything to it....Sure wouldn't make no handle out of Maple but would use Hickory,[or Ash]. I used to buy old axes for $1 just to use thier hickory handles.If you have to have a bent handle, something not needed for most work today, you can steam it so it can be bent.I've done it befor but a bit of a hassel.....Todd
Re: To grind or not
Jim in Burlington Ontario
>That's a great tip with making it look old. I had a feeling the handle will be no small job and thought it might be alot easier with a straight handle. Thanks Jim
Re: To grind or not
Tom MacGregor, Vermont
>Even with two good eyes there is no way I work on anything by hand or machine without a pair of polycarbonate safety glasses including side shields. Sometimes a full face shield. Although everyone "knows" this already, it's very easy to either not hunt them up, not walk "all the way over there" for them, or think it's too hot & sweaty to wear them. Take it from a professional industrial maintenance guy - even if you do everything right, given enough time an unexpected variable will cause an accident. At that point your condition may well be determined by wether or not you were wearing your personal protective gear. I've been the one with the firstaid kit, the one who dialed 911, and the guy who drove the injured to the emergency room. It's not worth the risk.
Something to consider
Bob Hackett
>The reason for all the nails in the handle end may be that the mushrooming is due to someone beating on the poll(flat)end with a hammer,basicly treating the hatchet like it was a splitting wedge.The nails would have taken up the slack caused by the eye mushrooming too.After removing the handle it may be wise to just eyeball the eye to make sure it`s not been deformed,if it has now is the time to try to reform it.As Todd H said,maple is not the best handle material.Hickory,ash or hornbeam are the standards where I live.
Mainely,Bob
Re: To grind or not
Jack Guzman from Maine
>I got a 5 inch hewing hatchet without a handle. I took a piece of red oak 5/4 and shaped a nice curve with a drawknife.I copied the curve of another old hatchet I had. It made a very nice handle. I make alot of handles and things with red oak. It is extremely abundant around here. I get most of it free.---Jack
Re: To grind or not
Jim in Burlington Ontario
>Tom I agree. After 20 years in a Power Plant I say take your time and think it thru to make sure you go home at the end of the day.
Re: Something to consider
Jim in Burlington Ontario
>Bob The edge of the axe is mint that's why I wonder what they were bashing with it. I have never seen hornbeam before but I'm sure ash could be found.