Axes, what do you know about them ?

[rodp]

He may not have the facilities to do it, I don't know ??

[stacka]

Do you ?

[sunndog]

Who is Adam?

Who is Adam !! He is HWMBO, Admin almighty, Super mod, The Great God of Derbyshire .









Really it's just Sunndog

'Kin ell rodders, i got more names than apollo creed!


Sorry stacka, snowed under atm mate

[hairyyoda]

Rodney
Do you want any more vintage axe or related "sharp edged" hand tools if they cross my path on my travels/walkabouts. Found a "Gilpin Chip Chop axe" today, it would have to date from the early 60's, I will put a rotary wire brush over it to read the stamping more clearly, think that it is stamped with the pattern "Number 2" ID. It's definitely a Gilpin though
Phil

[sunndog]

it came virtually blunt and the cutting edge is just quickly ground to some shape resembling an axe 20 minutes with a file and oilstone soon had it nice, sharp and even all round (ish). What did trouble me slightly is the fact a file, admittedly a good one and new, soon removed metal That's not always a good sign.

Blunt with rough grind out of the box is normal with these axes mate, one of the better corners to cut to keep the price down imo
The three i'v sharpend had rubbish grinds when they came to me, but the steel was fine
You should be able to cut it with a decent file so i shouldn't worry overmuch just yet. It would benefit from a good stropping once its sharp

[hairyyoda]

Just to give some ideas of the prices that some people value their vintage axes ?

http://www.timelesstools.co.uk/axes.htm

Phil

[sunndog]

Some of the prices on that site are insane imo. Ok rarity drives prices up but most of thier stock is still ten a penny in 'un-restored' state

[hairyyoda]

Adam.
I prefer finding old/vintage items in a unrestored condition, it is good to have a few projects under the workbench when I need me time to get away from people, £4.00 or £5.00 in a carboot sale usually secures a worthwhile refurbishment on the to do list. I am fortunate enough to have a to do list that will take several lifetimes to achieve
Thanks Phil

[rodp]

Sorry for late reply men, but been out shooting. There's now one less fox walking this earth You think I can find him though, watched him drop and roll over on his side, then watched his legs droop so know he's a goner but he's in heather / scrub and it's all showing hot still (been warm here today). It's also on a bank, over a barbed wire fence and through brambles so walking it isn't an option, not without coming back out without multiple injuries

Phil, if you see anything knocking around that's interesting and preferably from around here then yes mate, pick it up for me The Gilpin would be good, fairly local (cannock) and some history. I have your address from the parcel so expect an envelope shortly

Adam, you're right about the grind, it is one of the better ways to save money as it can be rectified easily, steel seemed softer than the Elwell but as I said before there's no work hardening happened yet.

Talking of sharp things, lent my shooting buddy a machete tonight to clear some nettles etc and talk about a whirling dervish it looks like a helicopter's landed upside down now where the nettles were

[rodp]

Phil, changing the subject completely, can you remember where the Duport foundry was in Llanelli? Your address jogged my memory and brought back visions of going there 40 years ago in an 8 wheeler. I remember we used to turn right into a residential road (may have been at a roundabout), few hundred yards then a left I think, another few hundred yards and the gates were in front of us on the other side of a "T" junction ? If you can remember I'll look it up on google earth.

I know in the days of log books I could get a Llanelli and a Cardiff in on a good day. 4am start and in Llanelli to tip at 8, back up here for 12 ish and load, down to Cardiff, tip and run back On a bad day it would be Llanelli, tip and then in to the coke ovens for a return load, when you eventually got loaded