Vintage Axes and Garden Equipment

[organic guy]

lovely weighted billhook I apprehended from my new neighbour.

Wired brush on grinder and then fine flap disc. Don't want to do anymore until he gives it to me!

Had to stop him using it as it was in an awful state. 

Does anyone recognise make?

Edited February 17 by organic guy
Misses pic

[Will C]

On 16/02/2024 at 20:30, roys said:

Spent a bit of time on the bill hook clean up today, 5 hours electrolysis, then reground the two cutting edges, then burnished it, not sure if I am happy with the pattenation finish or to go for a smoother finish, which might ruin the “Made in England” and “10 in” stamping.

Any chance of any more info of the electrolytes is set up and processes? I understand the basic principles but looks usefull to know more about. 

[Will C]

9 hours ago, organic guy said:

lovely weighted billhook I apprehended from my new neighbour.

Wired brush on grinder and then fine flap disc. Don't want to do anymore until he gives it to me!

Had to stop him using it as it was in an awful state. 

Does anyone recognise make?

Looks like it could be a traditional Isle of Wight pattern, other areas are similar but ours are longer than most.
Poss because the locals couldn’t hit owt with a small one, it’s getting better now us overnors from England have watered the genne puddle down a bit 🤪

[roys]

23 hours ago, Will C said:

Any chance of any more info of the electrolytes is set up and processes? I understand the basic principles but looks usefull to know more about. 

Certainly. You will need:

soda crystals, I get mine in Tescos in the washing aisle, wee green bag, cheap as chips

DC power pack, I use an old CB radio one, 240VAC in 12VDC out, an old fashioned basic battery charger will do as well, fancy clever chargers won’t work, the power pack needs to be able to put out roughly 12V DC and at least about 5A. I have measured it and it draws about 2.5A.

Lump of mild steel, not painted, galvanised or chromed just some plain old bits of mild steel, I use some bits of flat bar I was practicing welding on so it measures about 150mm by 100mm, drill a hole in a corner and fit a nut and bolt size not important maybe 4 or 5 or 6mm

Bucket filled with water high enough to cover item needing cleaned.

couple of bits of wire anything from 1mm to 6mm sq will be perfect.

Put about 1/2 cup of crystals into the water and give it a stir.

Using the nut and Bolt in the corner or the mild steel connect one end of a bit of wire to it, connect the other end to Positve on power pack.

with the other bit of wire somehow connect it to the the piece needing cleaned, the other end to Negative on power pack.

put item needing cleaned and lump of mild steel in bucket, make sure they don’t touch.

switch on and you should see tiny bubbles forming very quickly then within 30mins you will see nowt due to brown scum forming on top of water. Leave it to do it’s stuff for 5 to 8 hours, take out wash of in clean water, dry then rub with something like a Scotchbrite pad, a light oil and jobs a good un.

Precautions, well ventilated area as I believe hydrogen gas is given off, certainly goes with a bang and showers shitey water everywhere when you arse about with a lit cocktail stick, ask me how I know.

Addition: sometimes I connect up a 2nd piece of sacrificial mild steel to the positive if the bit need cleaned is big or has a few faces, did a vice recently put it in the middle of bucket then one bit of MS at 12 o’clock position in bucket and one piece at 6.

The stuff left over in bucket is fairly harmless as it is just water, washing crystals and some rust scum. I just pour it down drain.

Crystals act as an electrolyte to conduct the electric .

Edited February 18 by roys
Typos

[openspaceman]

2 hours ago, roys said:

fancy clever chargers won’t work

Yes but you can fool them by putting an old car battery in parallel

[Steven P]

2 hours ago, roys said:

Precautions, well ventilated area as I believe hydrogen gas is given off, certainly goes with a bang and showers shitey water everywhere when you arse about with a light cocktail stick, ask me how I know.

Crystals act as an electrolyte to conduct the electric .

I reckon the same the same ay I would find out?

[daveatdave]

the only chopper/axe i have nothing interesting 

[daveatdave]

i would like to know what this hammer head is for (I use it as a door stop)

[Will C]

My guess would be Stone quarrying? 

[spudulike]

21 hours ago, daveatdave said:

the only chopper/axe i have nothing interesting 

Hate to mention this but the small hatchet in the second pic....it looks like someone has put the the head on upside down. 

On the bright side, you may find a makers mark on the head if you look closely. Brades or Eagle edge etc may be nice.