All right, well it's time for me to share my first project. This is an axe I've been working on for a couple of weeks, and that I did most of the work on before I found this thread. If I were starting it right now, with everything I've learned from you folks, I'd do a few things differently. Nonetheless I'm pretty proud of this piece. This is my first time hanging any sort of tool, let alone an axe.
It's a single bit Plumb, weighing in at about 3.5 lb. for just the head, and at about 4.5 lb. for everything assembled. It was listed as a Rockaway pattern, but I've picked up from some of things I've read from you all that Plumb's rounded lugs could make this a Jersey instead. If anyone can provide a proper identification I'd appreciate it. The head, when I got it, had a pretty ugly grind that looked like it was done with a power tool, and some fairly bad mushrooming on the poll. The latter I filed more or less flat, while the former I sort of remedied with files and stones. It's not the prettiest grind, but it is sharp and I'm looking forward to testing it out. There's an interesting triangular stamp in the head, opposite the Plumb logo, that I'd be interested in knowing the meaning or origin of if anyone knows. The head is mounted on a 36 inch, curved haft from Tennessee Hickory, which is coated in about seven layers of boiled linseed oil, and everything has been treated with a beeswax, carnauba wax, and citrus oil mix. The leather strike guard is something I made from scratch and wanted to include for a couple reasons. For one, I just like the way they look. Second, this is going to be a trail work tool, meaning it may be overstruck either because of inexperienced hands or dicey footing. Third, the strike guard makes for a more comfortable hand-hold when carrying it miles along a trail. Finally, the cover is something I got from Big Bear Tools in Canada. I have one on a Hultafors boys axe and so I got one for this axe. Now, having done the strike guard, I think I want to make a matching mask, so that will be a "soon" project.
So how about some photos?
I'll also mention that my workshop is pretty much just my coffee table in my living room and a folding table on my 8' x 8' patio. I'm thoroughly jealous of all the workshops I see in the backgrounds of photos, but I make do