PDA

View Full Version : Welding an axe head



under thumb
14th Nov 2007, 01:57 PM
When looking for an axe head in a secondhand shop the other day, I saw one that was split along the top of the head, in line with and through to the handle, probably from being used upside down as a hammer or such.

I did not purchase it but brought another one in very good condition, but it got me wondering had anyone any experience with repairing such a problem. I must stress I am not going to do this, as I would be wary of such an approach, but after seeing it was curious about the safety side of it, could the metallurgy/tempering of an axe head be welded properly, and whether or not it should have been thrown away and not offered for sale from a legal perspective. Like many things it could be done, but would it be safe?

Zed
14th Nov 2007, 02:02 PM
I wouldnt worry too much, the temper of the striking (edged) surface would be unaffected by welding the bum of the head so to speak, all the metal in the head itself would disapate the heat long before it got hot at the striking end . besides;
1) welding is often stronger than the original surrounding metal.
2) Only Goliath or Hercules could swing an axe so hard so as to make the bastard shatter if they only whacking it into timber (IE designed purpose)

from a legal perspective i have N.F.I. I doubt its ever been an issue.. most people got to bunnies to buy a new axe off the rack...

under thumb
14th Nov 2007, 02:14 PM
Thanks for the reply Zed. The only reason I could think of that someone may buy it as opposed to bunnings was from memory it was quite a good brand and a nice shape. The bloke over the road from me is in the timber game and is often restoring and using old axes, and fossicks around everywhere for them.

Zed
14th Nov 2007, 03:55 PM
I found an old "Kelly" axe head, restored rather nicely...

bsrlee
14th Nov 2007, 07:56 PM
Sounds like it was a forge welded axe with an inserted hard face, and the weld was unsound, so it split. Bit of a pain to fix, in days gone by it would have been used as scrap and fusion/forge welded up with a bunch of other broken bits, old nails etc to make a bigger bar & turned into something else.

BobL
15th Nov 2007, 08:40 PM
When looking for an axe head in a secondhand shop the other day, I saw one that was split along the top of the head, in line with and through to the handle, probably from being used upside down as a hammer or such.

It could have hairline from when it was first forged, and the first time it was used as a hammer or it got water logged and then frozen? BANG!,

I agree a good welder could fix this but it's probably not worth it.

Cheers
BobL

specialist
2nd Dec 2007, 07:22 PM
From my experience, the only reason for an axhead to break across the top is from using it a a hammer. In the absence of an iron post driver, some people use the back of an ax to drive the posts, I suppose because when fencing, the ax is right there to hand.