Comments on: Jimmy DiResta refurbishes an old hatchet http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 03:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: shoalcreek5 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608759 shoalcreek5 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 21:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608759 Only way it could have been nicer is to have brass handle rivets through the tang and flush with the wood. Only way it could have been nicer is to have brass handle rivets through the tang and flush with the wood.

]]> By: jackrabbitslim http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608644 jackrabbitslim Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608644 Personally, I always remove any finish on my hatchets (and axes, hammers, rakes, shovels, etc.) but that's because I use mine hard. A smooth, slick finish like this one is hard to grip when sweaty and tends to raise blisters.  And, yes, I realize that's not the point. Personally, I always remove any finish on my hatchets (and axes, hammers, rakes, shovels, etc.) but that’s because I use mine hard. A smooth, slick finish like this one is hard to grip when sweaty and tends to raise blisters. 

And, yes, I realize that’s not the point.

]]> By: Boris Bartlog http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608533 Boris Bartlog Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608533 I don't agree... it is probably true that the one-piece design limits what they were able to achieve as far as the metallurgy of the edge, but the ergonomics of the hatchet are really, really nice. I expect that if you either A) needed to shave with your hatchet or B) used it for hundreds of hours per year, you would want something with with a hardened carbon steel edge. But as a general purpose hatchet these are still very good - light and balanced with a good taper to the head. I have one that once belonged to my father-in-law and it's my favorite of the various axes and hatchets I own. I'd rate it at least 8 out of 10. (edit): On further research it looks like the whole thing (possibly not this one, but the ones they make now, at least) is made of drop forged 1055 carbon steel. There may be specialty steels that would give you a slightly better edge but I don't think this qualifies as 'crappy'. You can read other opinions at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/563096-How-is-the-steel-on-Estwing-Hatchets-and-Axes but I don't think you'll find much support for your POV. I don’t agree… it is probably true that the one-piece design limits what they were able to achieve as far as the metallurgy of the edge, but the ergonomics of the hatchet are really, really nice. I expect that if you either A) needed to shave with your hatchet or B) used it for hundreds of hours per year, you would want something with with a hardened carbon steel edge. But as a general purpose hatchet these are still very good – light and balanced with a good taper to the head. I have one that once belonged to my father-in-law and it’s my favorite of the various axes and hatchets I own. I’d rate it at least 8 out of 10.
(edit): On further research it looks like the whole thing (possibly not this one, but the ones they make now, at least) is made of drop forged 1055 carbon steel. There may be specialty steels that would give you a slightly better edge but I don’t think this qualifies as ‘crappy’. You can read other opinions at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/563096-How-is-the-steel-on-Estwing-Hatchets-and-Axes but I don’t think you’ll find much support for your POV.

]]> By: Florian Bösch http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608497 Florian Bösch Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608497 To complete the whole lifecycle, here's how these are made http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmTY6-uL58Y To complete the whole lifecycle, here’s how these are made http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmTY6-uL58Y

]]> By: Christopher Marlowe http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608462 Christopher Marlowe Sat, 15 Dec 2012 08:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608462 I have an image of Hank Hill watching these videos while sipping a beer. I have an image of Hank Hill watching these videos while sipping a beer.

]]> By: stoe stoe http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608435 stoe stoe Sat, 15 Dec 2012 07:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608435 if you like axes, check out Best Made. Some of the nicest (and most expensive) things i've ever seen if you like axes, check out Best Made.
Some of the nicest (and most expensive) things i’ve ever seen

]]> By: Charles Harper http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608308 Charles Harper Sat, 15 Dec 2012 02:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608308 That was a very cool video, but a lot of effort put into what is, at best, a crappy hatchet. Those Estwings look cool with the KABAR style leather handle, but by being all metal they fail. This is because the properties required of a handle and a blade are totally different. So they never take a good edge and lose it quickly. But it was nice to see some nice craftsmanship by Jimmy. That was a very cool video, but a lot of effort put into what is, at best, a crappy hatchet. Those Estwings look cool with the KABAR style leather handle, but by being all metal they fail. This is because the properties required of a handle and a blade are totally different. So they never take a good edge and lose it quickly. But it was nice to see some nice craftsmanship by Jimmy.

]]> By: sockdoll http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608244 sockdoll Sat, 15 Dec 2012 01:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608244 "On today's episode of This Old Hatchet..." Fun video, thanks. “On today’s episode of This Old Hatchet…”

Fun video, thanks.

]]> By: dr http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608158 dr Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608158 Jonbly Herbert, this was my thought, and not only at that point.  Holding a hatchet in my left hand and running a grinder on it with my right: in my workshop the *least* I could expect would be a hatchet flung into my skull. His hatchet (and the video) is a thing of beauty, and I envy his skills, but I think I paid around $10 for my last hatchet.  If it got rusty or the handle was damaged I'd probably chuck it into my dead tools archival box and spend another $10. Jonbly Herbert, this was my thought, and not only at that point.  Holding a hatchet in my left hand and running a grinder on it with my right: in my workshop the *least* I could expect would be a hatchet flung into my skull.
His hatchet (and the video) is a thing of beauty, and I envy his skills, but I think I paid around $10 for my last hatchet.  If it got rusty or the handle was damaged I’d probably chuck it into my dead tools archival box and spend another $10.

]]> By: eldritch http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608111 eldritch Fri, 14 Dec 2012 23:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608111 Very nice, quite skilled. Just out of personal aesthetic choice I DESPISE the new handle he gave it, but that's utterly aside. Very nice, quite skilled. Just out of personal aesthetic choice I DESPISE the new handle he gave it, but that’s utterly aside.

]]> By: Nagurski http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1608071 Nagurski Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1608071 I really like that anything someone might be curious about is in there, but the editing keeps the thing moving along at a quick enough pace  so that it doesn't drag or dwell on mundane intermediate steps. This is as much a great tutorial on making a how-to video as it is on the project itself. I really like that anything someone might be curious about is in there, but the editing keeps the thing moving along at a quick enough pace  so that it doesn’t drag or dwell on mundane intermediate steps. This is as much a great tutorial on making a how-to video as it is on the project itself.

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1607978 Preston Sturges Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1607978 I used to put a lot of effort into sharpening the cheapest knives so my sharpening  learning curve would not include screwing up a good blade. I used to put a lot of effort into sharpening the cheapest knives so my sharpening  learning curve would not include screwing up a good blade.

]]> By: Chauncey Scott http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1607927 Chauncey Scott Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1607927 That will be $500 hipster dollars please. JK, Nice work, amazing transformation, I'll troll elsewhere. That will be $500 hipster dollars please.

JK, Nice work, amazing transformation, I’ll troll elsewhere.

]]> By: Jonbly Herbert http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1607795 Jonbly Herbert Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1607795 Nice. Around 3:25, I'm thinking that in one slick movement I could remove a number of fingers and still manage to wreck the sawblade on the tang... Nice. Around 3:25, I’m thinking that in one slick movement I could remove a number of fingers and still manage to wreck the sawblade on the tang…

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1607651 Preston Sturges Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1607651 Pretty sure that's an Estwing hatchet. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00903184000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kispla=00903184000P&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=30-97233353-2 Pretty sure that’s an Estwing hatchet.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00903184000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kispla=00903184000P&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=30-97233353-2

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1607644 Preston Sturges Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1607644 As the saying goes  "This here ax is over 100 years old ! It's had the head replaced twice and the handle five times." As the saying goes  “This here ax is over 100 years old ! It’s had the head replaced twice and the handle five times.”

]]> By: Funk Daddy http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1607613 Funk Daddy Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1607613 Fabulous.  Fabulous. 

]]> By: esquire http://boingboing.net/2012/12/14/jimmy-diresta-refurbishes-an-o.html#comment-1607529 esquire Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200574#comment-1607529 made my day.  Thanks! made my day.  Thanks!

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