A rusted-over piece of metal in an old wooden apple box. That was what my dad showed me and asked if I was interested in taking. I am guessing the contents had been untouched since before he was born. But since I had announced my interest in refurbishing metal hand tools, all of my dad’s collection was mine for the taking.
Following some digging on the internet and scrolling through images what started as “an old ax head” was now named, a “Delaware” profile axe head. It weighed roughly 1lb, 4oz and I paired it with a 16inch hickory wooden handle. Given the weight, I chose the handle to make it a “Camp axe” (not small enough to be a proper hatchet but also certainly not a felling ax). This was an all-purpose tool.
Removing the rust was part experiment, part art form, and part wild-brained-guesswork. I started with a an overnight in white vinegar, then steel wool, and sandpaper. I started at 60 grit then 220, 600, 1000, 1500, and then 2000 grit. As I removed the rust, I began to notice the damage the old axe had taken. Dents in the back where it was hammered on the soft steel, groves and divots on the sides where it had hit rocks and such when dropped in the dirt. I had to decide what damage to repair and what parts told the story I wanted to preserve. It is of course more simple and easier to buy a new ax than to find and old one. But you find the old metal tools still around are the ones of highest quality in materials and craftsmanship. In an ax for example The edge must be sharp but that makes the metal more brittle. Softer metal is used toward the back to add flexibility.
Specifically I saw how PLUMB brand (which this is not) had between ½ and ¼ inch more hardened metal at the blade of than axe head compared to widely used modern design.
While working on this axe I found that following the white vinegar soak the change in metal types could be clearly seen as a color change. The difference in metal properties was quickly noticed because the damage to the cutting edge was chips taken out and the damage to the back was in deep dents where some previous user had used a hammer to drive it thorough.
All told I hope this axe lives up to its original quality. It certainly could outlast me as long as it is cared for and not abused.