TORN APART Axe Restoration

Axe Restoration, where I restore a double-bit axe that is torn apart and has broken edges with lots of dents.

ABOUT THE AXE
This is a double-bit axe from Gränsfors Bruk in Sweden. It is based on a North American working axe but is often used as a throwing axe because it rotates very well in flight. Both edges are identical, and the center of gravity is carefully positioned. It weighs around 2.3 kg.

This one was given to me by the guy at the metal dumpster a few years ago. It was not that rusty back then, but I admit that the axe head has been laying outside on my workbench in the harsh Nordic weather for a few years.

Both edges of the axe head have been mistreated very badly and have big dents. The middle of the head has literally been torn apart or cracked, maybe during the very cold conditions here in Sweden. We have around -30 degrees Celsius sometimes during wintertime. Now is the time to restore this beauty of a tool back to awesome.

ABOUT THE AXE RESTORATION
I started by removing the silly stick I used as a temporary handle for the axe. After that, I gave the double-bit axe head a very nice high-pressure sandblasting at 130 PSI. I used aluminum oxide as my blasting media.

Both edges of the axe head have been mistreated very badly, so there are a lot of big dents. I chose to repair the dents by welding new material on the edges. After I ground the excess material away, the edges looked very good again.

I also welded the big crack that went all the way through the front side of the axe head. I used stick welding for this repair because the metal was much thicker there compared with the edges. After I had done all the repairs, I hardened the edges of the axe and did a quick cleaning job after the heating process.

I gave the edges a nice polish on my flip table bench polisher machine and did some cool laser engravings on the side of the head.

I had a handle that I adjusted to fit for this project, and finally I gave the handle some Nordic teak oil.

I am really satisfied with this awesome restoration. I think that this came out perfect, and the engravings really give it that Nordic Forest touch!