Restoring an old axe?

[HeavyHauler]

So, I have an axe that was my Grandpa's; it came with the house.

The bit is rusted, but not overly so and the handle isn't cracked or anything.

So I want to clean the rust off of the bit, sharpen the edge and do a nice patina on the bit. Like with the darker lines or whatever. Never done it before, been googling all morning for ideas.

I'd like to sand the handle, stain it an avocado green, waterproof the handle with something? I also want to drill a hole at the bottom, so I can put a length of paracord for something to hang the axe by.

The only markings on the axe is; "M 2 1/4". Not sure what the M means, but the 2 1/4 is probably the weight of the head.

The axe from eye to end, is just a cunt hair short of 24". So it's a fairly small axe, perfect for my stature and for our bush. We don't have huge trees up here and the bush is very dense.

Since my internet still isn't up, and I'm posting from my phone; the photos will have to wait. Unless I can email them to someone?

So I have a bastard file, stain, sandpaper, some rags and a sharpening stone puck. I also have vinegar. What else will I need and any good suggestions or tips?

[dudeman]

Buy a new axe.

[Unclefred]

No more wood handles for me.

[Steve28]

any good suggestions or tips?

No, but I would like to see before and after pics. Good on you for restoring something that has history attached to it.

[Mayaca]

D code if you want it to look cool and old or ready to use. Seems like you are dancing in circles to scrub off the real marks of age (the rust) and then add back a fake patina. Could you not seal over the real rust and stuff?

[dudeman]

Like I said. Hang that axe on the wall and buy new one.

[RedHawk454]

Like I said. Hang that axe on the wall and buy new one.

Years ago I tried to sharpen a full size axe with an angle grinder with a flap disk and totally FUBAR'd the axe. I had it on an anvil too and still couldn't get the edge right.

[Unclefred]

Years ago I tried to sharpen a full size axe with an angle grinder with a flap disk and totally FUBAR'd the axe. I had it on an anvil too and still couldn't get the edge right.

I just use my bench grinder.

[HeavyHauler]

Buy a new axe.

I have 3 newer ones. A shitty cheap tomahawk, a Husqvarna Carpenter's Axe (my favorite, and most used), and a Fiskar's Hatchet.

This is a project, for fun and learning.

[HeavyHauler]

No more wood handles for me.

I prefer wood handles, I don't want to have to tie my fiskar's head to a stick; unless I have to.

I like the light weight of my Fiskar's, but I love the feeling of a smooth handled axe. Plus, I like tailoring my gear to exactly how I want things.

Also, this axe has family history attached to it. I'd like to restore it, make it my own and add my history to it, before handing it down to one of my kid's, so they can do the same.

[HeavyHauler]

No, but I would like to see before and after pics. Good on you for restoring something that has history attached to it.

I'll make sure that you get to see them. I took some before photos of it today. Haven't gotten the chance to do any work to it just yet. Been working on organizing the basement and my "office".

That's one of the reasons why I'm restoring it, so I can leave my mark on the axe and my own history, before handing it down.

[HeavyHauler]

D code if you want it to look cool and old or ready to use. Seems like you are dancing in circles to scrub off the real marks of age (the rust) and then add back a fake patina. Could you not seal over the real rust and stuff?

I suppose I could. But I want it different. I'll show you what I mean. Maybe patina isn't the word I'm looking for, well it is and isn't. You'll see.

Besides, that's only one thing I want to do with the axe; not everything.

[HeavyHauler]

Years ago I tried to sharpen a full size axe with an angle grinder with a flap disk and totally FUBAR'd the axe. I had it on an anvil too and still couldn't get the edge right.

I like yah Red, but you sure can be silly at times! Hahahahahaha, should've done it by hand!

At least you tried and failed, and learned from that mistake.

I'm just picturing you doing this, and laughing my face off!

[dudeman]

I have a Fiskars hatchet. I retired my machete because of it.

[HeavyHauler]

I have a Fiskars hatchet. I retired my machete because of it.

I like mine a lot too, but I don't trust the handle not to smash apart in -50c, should I miss or drop it somehow.

Plastic/PVC and the like, don't do well in extreme cold.

I once saw a PVC tube smash into pieces, it was dropped on some hard pack snow; no rocks.

You probably never heard of the time I jumped into an emptied shit tank to retrieve some PVC pipes, just so we didn't have to drive a few hours south just to get some more PVC for the shit house, because my coworker dropped the pipe. I didn't even know if they were the same diameter or anything.

I just did what I thought was right, for my job.