UPDATE! AX HEAD RESTORED - DIV XXI Find - Another Ax Head!

Valley Ranger · Mar 30, 2012

Ok, for comparison, here are the before and after photos. "After" about 5 days soaking in apple cider vinegar with several wire brush workouts during that time. Then about an hour with a Dremel and aggressive brushing using a wire brush on a drill. Finally, heated at 225 degrees for 45 minutes and a coat of Briwax added to finish and seal. I think it turned out ok. Again, this ax head matches one shown in Howard Crouch's excellent reference book on CW artifacts and, according to Crouch, was a Union issued camp hatchet. I found it at DIV XXI near a known Pennsylvania camp in a path/roadway scores of other relic hunters walked right over. It was only about 2" down and overloaded my T2SE. Now if I can just find an appropriate handle for it.

JmCraz8 · Mar 30, 2012

Great job on the restoration that's a cool ax head!!!

vadigger89 · Mar 30, 2012

very nice! I dug one just like tvery similair to the one you have how did you clean it like that?

Valley Ranger · Mar 30, 2012

vadigger89 said:
very nice! I dug one just like the one you have how did you clean it like that?

Thanks . . . ""After" about 5 days soaking in apple cider vinegar with several wire brush workouts during that time. Then about an hour with a Dremel and aggressive brushing using a wire brush on a drill. Finally, heated at 225 degrees for 45 minutes and a coat of Briwax added to finish and seal."