I recently found a Council Tool Railsplitter at a yard sale so I picked it up. I was pretty unimpressed with the fit and finish. I know this is their “lower end” model but still. So I took the head off thinned down the shoulder and then secured it with a walnut wedge! I think it turned out good and it is not going anywhere now. Thanks for lookin!
damn near perfect!This is a 1.5lb Wetterlings head that I got from Miller '72 in a trade. I'm sure there was a Connie head involved in there somewhere... I'd love to be able to make handles like this, but I'm not at that level yet. I bought it for $10 from a local guy that makes them.
IMG_20190530_083823 by Justin Lyttle, on
IMG_20190530_083958 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190530_084015 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190530_084109 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190530_084039 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190530_084044 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190530_083937 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
Ooh, you put some time into those bevels.
I think that looks great. Don't worry about the grain, that's a nice setup. I like straight handles on some axes, and that one looks like a winner.
A friend of a friend gave me an old head on broken handle to rehang for him. He uses axes (splitting) but isn't "into" them like we are. Just a tool. The head turned out to be a 1915 E&S Jersey. I asked him if I could trade or buy it and set him up with another, but he has had it for 30 years and likes it. I let it go. I put it on a good quality 36" Ames True Temper handle from Lowe's with perfect grain. It should serve him. I did take the varnish off and oil it at least, although that probably wouldn't have mattered to him. I could not let a nice E&S go out on a varnished handle with store stickers on it. I also put a decent edge on it for him. I didn't want to let it go, although if I kept it I would have used different handle.
IMG_20190601_160210 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190601_160221 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190601_160254 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190601_160316 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20190601_160301 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
I don't think that he abuses them, just splits a lot. He has a few axes in the rotation, he also bought a Chinese Luddell from me (cheap) just because he wants tools and doesn't care. The E&S finally snapped on him and he just put it aside and used others. Then he met me and saw what I do and brought it to me. Also, at it's age he is certainly not it's first owner/user. I'm hoping that it becomes his new favorite. It's certainly the sharpest and the prettiest.
That turned out sweet, Miller! How much time did you put into filing out that chip and getting the bits back in shape? The whole package really looks great, and I'll bet it cuts like a demon.The handle, a 28" Hickory Beaver Tooth, I purchased back after Thanksgiving.
The head, a 2 1/2lb Plumb crusier, came to me soon after with a good fingernail sized chip.
To heavy with the drawknife at the shoulder...again, but stopped short of total disaster thankfully
I did lose a bit more tongue than I was going for...
The Head (after filing out the chip)
Dark Walnut, courtesy of B Brian Rust , a block that just keeps giving
Slivers of dark walnut I widdled into shape(enough) and tapped in at both corners from the shoulder
25"
3 1/4lbs
12" Flat Bastard Nicholson Mexico
12" Mill 2nd Cut Delta USA
My 2nd cruiser
Thanks man, and it is an excellent chopper in the few I tried out last night.
I've had this wedge pattern for a little while now. Decided to hang it on one of my n.o.s. S&N hafts.
There aren't any identifiers anywhere except the year of manufacture;
A couple of the haft before the final hang. Ended up with almost an inch of contact. Good stuff...
The temper is so good on this axe. Just perfect! I don't know the maker but it was made well!
It had been filed quite thin so I only removed the dings and filed very little. Honed and hung it after work today! Battled the hordes blackflies but I got 'er done! Thanks for checking it out guys!
Edit; Wanted to mention that prior to hanging it truly was perfectly wedge shaped. Pounding in the birch wedge put a slight curve in the eye and so ruined the straight line.
If Maine axes have a Kryptonite, it's the notoriously thin soft eye walls. Not a problem until people start pounding on the poll.I've had this wedge pattern for a little while now. Decided to hang it on one of my n.o.s. S&N hafts.
There aren't any identifiers anywhere except the year of manufacture;
A couple of the haft before the final hang. Ended up with almost an inch of contact. Good stuff...
The temper is so good on this axe. Just perfect! I don't know the maker but it was made well!
It had been filed quite thin so I only removed the dings and filed very little. Honed and hung it after work today! Battled the hordes blackflies but I got 'er done! Thanks for checking it out guys!
Edit; Wanted to mention that prior to hanging it truly was perfectly wedge shaped. Pounding in the birch wedge put a slight curve in the eye and so ruined the straight line.
Thanks for the compliment! I give each one a lot of effort to make 'em as perfect as possible.Do I see a stamp, makers mark, in your wedge, similar to this stamp here in my wedge.
Super tight hang on that beauty haft.
Reminds me of that line..."is a frog's ass water tight?"
. I've noticed sometimes photos reveal things that can't be seen in person easily. And other times they make it appear that things are there that aren't! I'm still trying to figure out which is true in this case. I think that other than the date any other markings are absent. I can tell by the rust scale that was on it that it's lost about a stamps worth depth of steel. . But I've not given up!
