Last Post 21 Feb 2015 07:25 AM by  FRANK NOVAK
AX HEAD
 11 Replies
Sort:
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Author Messages
FRANK NOVAK
New Member
New Member
Posts:87



--
03 Jul 2014 12:44 PM

    I was searching this 200 year old back yard and got this signal. I found the target 10" down. It appearance was a blob of rust.

    Almost filled it back over. What saved it was that the broken edge stood out. Well the 10" down in that area translated to a 200 year burial.

    In other words that was the ax that clearwd the land for the 200 year old house that sat on that lot.

     

    Now the conservation work. I soaked it in a bucket of water for a week, wire brushing every day. I then dried it and baked it in the oven

    below 212 degrees for several hours. I then coated it with Rustoleum rust eating primer. It then got several coats of Rustoleum flat black paint.

    The last step was mounting it in a block of black walnut.    Frank...-

                                   

     

    Tim Leibel
    Buzzard
    Buzzard
    Posts:608



    --
    03 Jul 2014 05:28 PM
    Now that is cool. To find something used to build our country 200 years ago. Nice find Frank.
    William Hall
    Buzzard
    Buzzard
    Posts:648



    --
    03 Jul 2014 05:46 PM
    Nice Find.

    I'd bet you reduced it value substantially by 'conservation work', but if you don't mind it don't matter.


    Bill
    FRANK NOVAK
    New Member
    New Member
    Posts:87



    --
    04 Jul 2014 02:37 PM

    Thanks for the mention.

    There are many methods of conserving iron. I don't care for the chemical staining or wax methods. Since it was in the ground,

    I didn't have to deal with the salt problem.  You never get all of the moisture out of the iron so the rust converting primer is the

    best way in my view. It is on display in a gallery right now along with several other items.   I guess everyone has there own view of preservation.

      Good luck on that river, Frank...-  

     

    SHELDON SWEAT
    New Member
    New Member
    Posts:28



    --
    04 Jul 2014 11:45 PM
    nice
    SCOTT DURHAM
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:4



    --
    18 Aug 2014 06:10 PM
    very nice find
    JOHN WILLIAMS
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:



    --
    09 Nov 2014 10:15 AM
    Frank, I liked your discovery story and I really like the way you mounted the ax head. I was thinking if I found two old ax heads, and with a little modification, I could make book ends with the heads mounted like yours. I think they would be a great accent, sitting on a shelf or table top, to my books on early life in these United States. A simple tool but so important to early homesteaders.
    CHIP TRIPLETT
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:



    --
    25 Nov 2014 05:09 PM
    I Just found an Axe head, and was considering my conservation and mounting options, when I came across this thread. Thanks for the pictures and the information.
    FRANK NOVAK
    New Member
    New Member
    Posts:87



    --
    15 Dec 2014 02:46 PM
    You know, I never thought of book ends. That sounds like a fantastic idea. They have the weight to do the job. Now you have caused a problem for me. Finding another ax head. lol    Frank
    FRANK NOVAK
    New Member
    New Member
    Posts:87



    --
    15 Dec 2014 02:55 PM

    You have to consider weight distribution when mounting. The back end of the ax head should not extend beyond the base.

    By the way, I cheated a little I used one of those steel,brass coated,painted deck screws in the side of the base plate to make sure the ax stayed put. Hay, no one's perfect! lol  Frank

    RANDALL BONDS
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:7



    --
    01 Jan 2015 02:52 PM
    Could it have been dropped by a settler? Is it worth anything even though it is so rusty? Very cool find! Did you find anything else around it?
    FRANK NOVAK
    New Member
    New Member
    Posts:87



    --
    21 Feb 2015 07:25 AM

    It was found in the town of Bel Air Md.  I surmise it was left by the ones that cleared the lot for the house that house that now sets there. Other things found, lol, How about the $3K ruby & gold ring?   I seem to be lucky fining high value rings.

    Frank

     

    You are not authorized to post a reply.