Forre's single bit

40 hours in the vinegar bath and gave it some scrubbing then back into the bath.

the temper is evident now.

back to the bath. this bath was about 33% reused vinegar.

i am sure that this is slowing down the process.

being a jack of all, there are many irons in the fire. 

i can kill time by occupying myself with other projects.

that plus the demand of work.

axe wise, the double bit is ready for the polishing stage.

Forre's axe part 2

It has been about a 24 hour vinegar bath and i had to check the results.

before i pull out from the rusty vinegar i review in my mind what i was expecting. 

i also always have in the back of my head that even if the tool is not completely utilitarian it will still act as a vehicle to exploring the different facets of tool restoration.

double bit sagger = perfect temper and sound structure

unmarked single bit = temper is still being revealed but the metal has become compromised from the rust and the nature of the thin eye wall.

still, after the evaluation there was not an ounce of disappointment, but a pound of determinations to focus on the single bits other restorations facets. 

i am especially curious to test the metal for sharpening and may experiment with the bit's finishing treatment.

the double bit sagger confirmed my prediction. 

this will become a fine tool once again. 

everything about this double bit is great. i cant wait to give it a go.

the single bit had some severe rusting on the thin walls that of the eye and then after the bath reveal there were chunks of the wall missing. 

2/3rds up the bit you can start to see the temper line.

because of this i will continue on with this restoration. 

this tool may not be able to see any more utilitarian work but could still be a strong visual reminder (for the original owner or his children) of the hard work and life that he has put into his land. 

there is great honor and pride in that.

50 & 100

Needed to sight in the .243 savage for next week's start to rifle season.

everything was in order.

the excitement is mounting. 

all 6 of my nipples are tingling!

william setting the 50 yard target

william setting the 100 yard target

Forre's axes

Was finally able to get out of town and visit family.

family i haven's seen for awhile. 

many, many, many and many young ones running around.

the crazy fact, is how fast all of them have grown.

my uncle gave me these two axe heads from his farm.

i am pretty excited about this sagger chemical double bit.

a little mushrooming around the poll but no issues with the eye, this will be a fun one to work on. 

one thing i was surprised of was how thin the eye wall is toward the cheeks. 

i don't believe this is really an issue otherwise one would think that when the poll was mushroomed the eye would have been deformed too. 

time to play the waiting game, both are soaking in their vinegar bath.

THANK YOU Dan!!

Beading saw

Another favorite saw.

perfect for use with thin stock, small stock, and detail cuts where a narrow cut is needed.

the blade is 0.012"

the kerf come to 0.018"

the "woodpecker" end is a nice feature. 

they advertise it as a way to start in the middle of a panel, 

but 

i use it more when i start a cut and when i need to clean something up while cutting.

"woodpecker" tip

blades are replaceable.

Bend your bill

Simple pleasures

simply pleasured

pleasured simply

the old hat is not visually in bad shape, 

but even after multiple washings has a slime feel that just isn't right.

the nice thing about camo hats is that unless it is grease they do not show age and soil as solid color hats.

the first task before putting on any hat is to make sure the bill gets bent.

right down the middle. 

this improves side protection and yet the arch opens up visibility when looking forward. 

also makes it easy to put in back pocket.

after the middle bend flare out the very end of the sides (about an inch from the skull).

this will keep the hat bill from hugging too closely to your eyes.

now your proper.

the old hat just had some sweat stains and that rip underneath. sweat made the material weaken and then the bill plastic snapped. after that it was only a matter of time before friction made the rip.

Raking leaves burying the dog

The family joined forces to rake leaves. 

monster piles were made through out the yard.

and when i thought productivity was high,

 i turn around and the boys are burying one of the dogs. 

and 

better yet the 80# bucket head enjoyed it.