Hytest Axe

[TazzieRob]

Back in 1997 we moved into a house with a wood heater. I'm not sure where this axe came from (my dad probably sourced it somewhere) but I used it to split a fair amount of gum over the next 10 or so years. It has been at my mum's place and used in the garden for chopping roots.



I bought a new handle for it a while back but never fit it. Found it in the shed and asked my mum about the axe. It was looking in a sorry state so I said I would put the new handle on and will give it a sharpen.

The stamp is hard to see. I could make out CRAFTS initially but with a bit closer inspection thought I could see an H and TEST 4. Bit of online search found the Hytest Craftsman. It was originally painted green, and a trace of green can still be seen in the stamped lettering. This is either a 4 or 4.5 lb axe. Handle was either American Hickory or Spotted Gum. They were made in Australia and now Cyclone one the trade name, though doesn't look like they use it on any currently produced axes

[Sparky415]

Nice

Watching 

[TazzieRob]

Here is a great advert from the Canberra Times 1958:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/136300552

The Forester - For the Timber Getter (most expensive)
The Craftsman - For the Farmer (middle)
The Challenger - For the Householder (most affordable)

Hopefully I'll get some evening time in the shed coming up to get the new handle on. Knowing the history now I wish I'd shelled out the extra few dollars for the spotted gum handle, but I remember standing in the store for a good while examining all the handles picking out the one with best grain orientation.  I'll probably use an aluminium wedge, as I'm pretty sure I have a couple.

[David]

Looks like a good axe.       

[TazzieRob]

Cut the old handle off. It must have been only using about 60% of the handle due to the top portion being split. Removed a couple of the wedges. You can see the holes where they were and them sitting to the left of the vice 



There is a proper metal wedge in there somewhere too, but it was too small and has ended up at a 45 degree angle.

Here's where I got to tonight. No wedge in yet as the ones I have are too small.



Close up of the stamp which you may be able to just see



Not sure if I should take the handle off again and file beck those protrusions in the eye or just bang the wedge in as is. What do you guys think?



The aren't very clear in the pic.

[TazzieRob]

I also weighed the head when I had it off. Came in at 2.015kg  or 4 lb 7 oz. So it would have been a 4 1/2 lb model.

Filed the nicks out of the cutting edge a bit too, and a slight sand of the handle. I have some raw linseed oil but have read that boiled linseed is better to use.

[zoidberg]

IMO leave it as is and go with a wooden wedge.

[Sparky415]

Hey Rob your bench looks very much like mine 

I would take the handle out and just file back any sharp edges/burrs on the inside of the eye (top and bottom) (if you haven’t already)

Raw linseed is OK to use but might take a little while to dry

 

[David]

^  ^  ^. Agree with Tony.

[toolguy]

I also weighed the head when I had it off. Came in at 2.015kg  or 4 lb 7 oz. So it would have been a 4 1/2 lb model.

Filed the nicks out of the cutting edge a bit too, and a slight sand of the handle. I have some raw linseed oil but have read that boiled linseed is better to use.

I knew the head looked big but a 4 1/2 pounder is real felling axe.

[TazzieRob]

Hey Rob your bench looks very much like mine 

I would take the handle out and just file back any sharp edges/burrs on the inside of the eye (top and bottom) (if you haven’t already)

Raw linseed is OK to use but might take a little while to dry

 

I'm not very good at keeping things spick and span. My whole shed looks a lot like the bench!

There aren't any sharp edges or burs but some that may cause reduced surface contact if they don't bite into the wood. I'll back the handle out again and give it a bit more clean up. Looks like the eye may be deformed a touch from heavy hitting on the poll. Will give the raw linseed a go.

I also weighed the head when I had it off. Came in at 2.015kg  or 4 lb 7 oz. So it would have been a 4 1/2 lb model.

I knew the head looked big but a 4 1/2 pounder is real felling axe.

This one was designed or priced towards farmers and land owners for everyday duties. Came in 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5 lb heads. I've never felled a tree, but this axe has split its fair share of wood. 

[TazzieRob]

Hey Rob your bench looks very much like mine 

Notice the deodorant can alcohol stove in the bottom left of the bench pic?

[Sparky415]

Hey Rob your bench looks very much like mine 

Notice the deodorant can alcohol stove in the bottom left of the bench pic?

I do now 

And the beer keg below   

 

[TazzieRob]

Just a tiny bit more of bump in the top of the eye and then I'm done.



Will stick a nice thick wedge in there.
Wondering if I should vinegar it first or wire brush inside to clean up some of the rust?

[Syncop8r]

I knew the head looked big but a 4 1/2 pounder is real felling axe.

For real fellers. 

[TazzieRob]

The hardware store doesn't sell timber wedges, so I made my own. Using a flap sanding disk on the 4" angle grinder. Made my shed super dusty! Feeding the handle with linseed oil now, then will burnish with steel wool and finish the sharpen.



It was sharp enough that when it fell over and chopped through my vacuum cleaner cord it tripped the breaker to the shed!



 

[Sparky415]

It was sharp enough that when it fell over and chopped through my vacuum cleaner cord it tripped the breaker to the shed!

That’s brilliant Rob! 

 

[TazzieRob]

Thanks, mate 

I made the wedge chunky enough to fill the extra space due to the handle being a tad small for the length of the eye. As I was pounding the wedge in I had to do it on the floor and dropped the axe. Thankfully it only got the one cord as there were a few laying there!

[SteveC]

Thanks, mate 

I made the wedge chunky enough to fill the extra space due to the handle being a tad small for the leg th of the eye. As I was pounding the wedge in I had to do it on the floor and dropped the axe. Thankfully it only got the one cord as there were a few laying there!

Lucky it didn't get your toes 

[TazzieRob]

Thanks, mate 

I made the wedge chunky enough to fill the extra space due to the handle being a tad small for the leg th of the eye. As I was pounding the wedge in I had to do it on the floor and dropped the axe. Thankfully it only got the one cord as there were a few laying there!

Lucky it didn't get your toes 

Kneeling down and it fell away from me. Even if I was standing the head would have ended up a handle length from my toes in any direction 

[TazzieRob]

Something very strange has just happened.

I logged into Photobucket with the intention of redoing the photos in this post by downloading them and adding them to Google Photos, and now I can see them straight from Photobucket. I'm assuming no-one else can see them?

[TazzieRob]

So here are the updated pics

Before:


Eye after Nail "wedges" removed


Start of fitting process




Stamp


Before Tidying up the Eye


Eye Grinding


Casualty


Finished and oiled

[Poncho65]

Nice before and after pics Looks like a nice axe but be careful

Just noticed this thread is a couple years old   So how is it holding up

[Sparky415]

She's a real beaut Rob 

[TazzieRob]

Nice before and after pics Looks like a nice axe but be careful

Just noticed this thread is a couple years old   So how is it holding up

Well its last actual outing was in May



Could do with another oil on the handle probably

[TazzieRob]

She's a real beaut Rob 

Cheers Tony 

[TazzieRob]

I got another one the same at a local market a while back too. It has a bung handle too so might try and source a spotted gum replacement and try the green head and red stained handle like the original. Or that might just be too much work!

[Poncho65]

Just don't forget pics if you do buy and fix it up

[Sparky415]

More 

[TazzieRob]

More 

Don't get fat eating all that popcorn waiting for me to work on this