- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
- Messages
- 416
Hello axemen! About month ago while reading AN AX TO GRIND: A Practical Ax Manual-USDA Forest Service and the subsequent video during the fitting of a haft to the eye of the axe it mentioned a product called Swel-Lock and they were using it in the kerf before the wooden wedge is installed. In theory Swel-Lock would be absorbed into the fibers of the wood and cause them to swell making an even tighter haft to eye fit. I set out to acquire some of this product and did indeed get some delivered via the USPS in a couple of days.
I have two of the half hatchet type of carpenter's hatchet both made by Plumb one old and rusty with a rotted haft and the other old and in pretty good condition except the haft to eye fit wiggles, maybe 3/16 inch up and down measured at the toe. Just enough to be very annoying! Remembering the Swel-Lock and following the directions on the label I dribbled some on the top of the haft and waited an hour longer than the recommended 2 hours (frankly, I forgot about it). I can now report that the fit is very tight and no wobbling can be detected by me. I will do some chopping with it tomorrow just to see if it will loosen up any, although I do not expect that to happen. I suspect the same effect could be had with automobile anti-freeze made with ethylene glycol. As I recall the anti-freeze will not evaporate and the ph should be fairly neutral to avoid any corrosive effects on automobile cooling systems. The advertisement on Amazon mentions Swel-Lock's intended use is to swell the dowels used in chairs to keep them from coming apart as the wood dries out over time. The two ounce bottle of Swel-Lock I have will likely last longer than I will and the next loose haft will get some anti-freeze just to see how it will work. I am glad to have tried this product.
I have two of the half hatchet type of carpenter's hatchet both made by Plumb one old and rusty with a rotted haft and the other old and in pretty good condition except the haft to eye fit wiggles, maybe 3/16 inch up and down measured at the toe. Just enough to be very annoying! Remembering the Swel-Lock and following the directions on the label I dribbled some on the top of the haft and waited an hour longer than the recommended 2 hours (frankly, I forgot about it). I can now report that the fit is very tight and no wobbling can be detected by me. I will do some chopping with it tomorrow just to see if it will loosen up any, although I do not expect that to happen. I suspect the same effect could be had with automobile anti-freeze made with ethylene glycol. As I recall the anti-freeze will not evaporate and the ph should be fairly neutral to avoid any corrosive effects on automobile cooling systems. The advertisement on Amazon mentions Swel-Lock's intended use is to swell the dowels used in chairs to keep them from coming apart as the wood dries out over time. The two ounce bottle of Swel-Lock I have will likely last longer than I will and the next loose haft will get some anti-freeze just to see how it will work. I am glad to have tried this product.
