Thank you all for watching. I apologize for the imbalance in the audio in places, especially when I have power tools going. I have since learned that I should double check the audio balance before uploading. Again, thanks for watching and don't miss my other videos.

anyone remember this old book called “Hatchet” where this kid is stranded in the Canadian Forest and is forced to survive. Really good book and the cover Hatchet looks exactly like this one

Thanks for making the process so clear. You’ve inspired me to look at the junk in my garage with new eyes.

How could 1k people give this man a thumbs down??? Nice work dude. Craftsmanship is becoming extinct. I’m glad some want to keep it alive.

“A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are built for.” - John A. Shedd. great video man.

Did you happen to see the date stamped on the handle under the old leather? Thats an old Estwing hatchet. I've been employed there for the 35yrs .. I love seeing our old tools brought back to life ... Great job.!!

Meanwhile, in the other room ,his wife tells her youtube fans " you might hear some grinding in the background,thats my husband. He like to grind".

I just pulled out my old Estwing Hatchet Axe out of storage today and discovered this video. I've had mine since I was a scout in the 1970's. It has given me some ideas on restoring some old tools that were my father's.

I really like to listen for the piano. When I was growing up the woman across the street from me gave piano lessons AND she was an opera singer. There was a TON of kids in our neighborhood and we all LOVED to stop and listen to her sing. Great memories.

I have the same hatchet. I bought it with S&H Green Stamps, (for those that remember those) when I was 12 years old in 1969. Good job on restoring!

I worked in the mountains for 36 years on Trailcrew, thinning crews and working with loggers that was a great job way to go, 👍

I have a leather bound Estwing 20 ounce hammer I have been using for close to 30 years. The some of the white rings have cracked and fallen out. But once or twice a year I wrap the handle in wet rags for a couple hours and the leather swells back up then after it dries I put mineral oil on it or what ever is handy and it has a great patina and quality to it. Good job on your hatchet!

My father-in-law passed away fairly recently and one of the prized possessions we have is a simile hatchet. Is remains in a condition that resembles the starting point of this video. Thank you so much for showing us how this can be done. Not sure we have the skills to replicate the job you’ve done but you did an amazing job!

Beautiful. I love bringing old tools back to life

So cool your wife and kids furthering their musical talents!

Great job! I have an old hatchet I found at my fathers house, we used it camping over fifty years ago, looking forward to giving it life again!

I have an Estwing hatchet that looks just like yours. I left it in the utility room of a rental house that had a small leak in a water heater and over the fall, winter, and spring, left it all kinds of messed up. The room was very air tight. I take encouragement from this video thanks. Oh, to save the top of your work bench, put down a sheet of plywood, cut to form, and do your work on that. When it is dented, dinged, and otherwise worn out, replace. Easier than replacing the work bench, lol. Thanks for posting.

Dude, great job. I like that you didn't go conventional but got creative instead. And I like that you threw in some advice to not be wasteful. Looking forward to more! Stay blessed!

I didn't watch this video for a while since I was really just interested in bike stuff, but I can clearly see why this is the most popular video!

I have this exact same axe. I like the idea of using different types of material to make home made micarta handles. And the colored plastic food tray for the space. Very cool. Thank for the ideas

I also have the same hatchet, I bought it in the '80s and it's still looking good and razor sharp, apart from the damn handle which is damaged. Having seen what a lovely job you have made of yours, it has given me the incentive to do the same or similar. Thumbs up!

We bought a property in Montana on an old Christmas Tree farm. While out walking and exploring I found a hatchet exactly like the one you just restored. Beautiful amazing work! Do you do restorations for other people? If so I would be honoured to have you do my axe!!

Awesome! Love how you use other stuff in ways nobody thought about. We do a little of this in our home. I reminds me about what my parents, grandparents, and uncles would do in the old days. They made things last longer and/or things out of nothing. This practice is nearly a lost art in the Western world.

I’m 40 and seeing your videos got me thinking about what to do when I’m retired ❤️ the biking stuff too, or especially actually! You are an inspiration to me. I also love there’s no idiotic music in your videos.

Great video. i really liked the "reuse and repurpose" philosophy and the thriftiness. I'm hooked.

Absolutely awesome. I have my Dad's eastwing hatchet that he bought when he was a Boy Scout.

Stacked leather is classic, the cashmere blew my mind. Nice Job 👍.

WOW! STUNNING! You're a mad genius!!! Love your creativity!

Love how talented you are . Wish more folks would consider the added value of a shieth to their projects. Very nicely done

Great video, I've still got my Estwing Axe 38 years old, I have looked after it very well. Still got the leather handle.

it's not a lack of resources. it's a lack of being resourceful. nice job getting it done!

If you had not said this was your first time I would have never known. You have the perfect teaching voice. I loved watching and listening to you. The Estwing turned out exquisite. Thank you for taking time-space and courage to share.

Holy cow! The cover on the handle was simply amazing. Then you made the cover for the blade and I was very impressed. What a fantastic job you did.

Hard to kill an Estwing hatchet!!! Nice work and great video. Awesome ingenuity too!!!

Waste not want not,, My Families favorite phrase. Beautiful work..

hatchet looks awesome, and although i'm not a hatchet connoisseur, i know what i like when i see it, and i really like your work. GREAT JOB, BEAUTIFUL! i wish i had your talent.

Really good job! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the process.

Love how you think outside the box. BTW, you’ve done a great job for being new to Youtubing. Your video was not only fascinating and informative, your demeanor and voice are calming.

I wanted to find out how to tune up my bike and luckilyi I ended up here, I really enjoy your work and it has given me some project ideas of my own.

Love to watch anything oldshovel refurbishs really enjoyed 👌 😀 👍

Congrats on your new pastime! Keep it up and you'll never work another day in your life!! I picked up a new 'hatchet' the other day and recognized it on your video. After clicking/watching I have come to the conclusion I am in good company. Hope KZfaq treats you well and Cheers!

Old shovel....one of the most interesting videos I have watched. Gave me an idea, I lost my favorite Estwing hammer with the leather grip. I recently found it. Under the house in the crawl space. The hammer is rusty and the leather ring handle destroyed by moisture from a frozen pipe leak about 10 years ago. I wrapped the remains of the handle with plastic electrical tape. It looks unusual to say the least. But it is back in my tool cabinet. I think I will try my first restoration on my rusty old Estwing. I believe I bought the hammer in about 1963 when I got married. At 83 I cannot play golf due to balance problems but I believe I could stand long enough to take a shot at the Estwing project. Can’t work Habitat houses anymore cause the wife of 56 years won’t let me on a walk board, roof or ladder. I’m restricted to helping a little on handicap ramps with my church buddies. Took a fall last week on a ramp job and have bandaids and stitches on the face and left arm. Wish me luck. You are a great inspiration to an old fart who still loves to play with his tools. Bless you. I’ll be watching for your next project. JoeB

I am such a huge supporter of your entire approach to restoring discarded and unappreciated tools. You are a true talent and I look forward to watching whatever you put your attention and gifts towards.

Only been on for a little over a year and you're nearing 1 million subscribers. Looks like I'm not the only one floored. In this age of buying cheap products, with so much "disposable" filling landfills, it's wonderful to see something being restored to working condition.

This video was interesting and impressive. But the feel and experience of it was the best part. God bless you man. I'll keep watching.

Man, that was a beautiful ride. I really love the final look. Great job. Please keep going.

Leather is my favorite scent. Loved this video. Very cool axe and ideas with the tray and cashmere!

I’m blown away. A real artisan and craftsman. Well done!

Loved this video and what a beautiful hatchet and sheath ✌

Great hatchet restoration, I was impressed with the result. 👍

Excellent video. Never would have thought of making a handle out of a scarf.

You make it look so easy. Using wool is creative.

Excellent job on the hatchet and video. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you work and you speak clearly and concisely. I subbed to your channel for future videos. Thanks again, I never would’ve thought of cashmere for micarta.

Dude you got me with the DIY micarta out of CASHMERE! Amazing! Well done!

You are a gifted man!!!wow!!!!! I’m impressed. Speechless.😶

i hope you never lose it dude , that would really spoil your whole day .

My older brother had one of these when I was a kid. I got in trouble for chopping the back fence with it. Ha ha.

Nicely done. The cashmere was an inspired choice. Who da thunk it...

Excellent video and very interesting way to make a handle. Thanks for the education. Estwing is an EXCELLENT product - I have many and appreciate the high end Made in USA quality. Great job restoring the tool!

That was REALLY freaking enjoyable to watch. Thanks for taking the time to record all of it and put a commentary with it. Just really well done.

That's some damn nice work! I love restoring old things here & there myself. Just a thought, though- I would have initially used a wire cup on the grinder, just to avoid taking any metal off.

You took a different direction than I was expecting when you ditched the leather washers, but what you did is beautiful.

Wow!! I am stoked to try the micarta wool too! I’ve not made it before because I just didn’t feel it. This has an honest and natural look! Beautiful work all around!

Great job. Excellent demonstration of a wide range of skills and knowledge. I will certainly benefit from what I have learned. Thanks !

I miss my estwing. Left my tools at a friends house over night were I was doing a job and his sheep dog thought my axe was a great chewy bone. Great job restoring, need to think of a better job on the end instead of those screws,

👍👍 You’ve got a good Channel in the makings. Try not to second guess yourself. The hatchet turned out nice and unique. I’d love to own one of those... Keep up the good work.

This was so fun to watch. I was mesmerized.

Started watching this and was at easy and familiar with your voice. Wasnt till the video was over that I realised who you were. Ive been watching all of your bike restoration videos for some time now. Keep up the great work!

What a piece of art! Got some good ideas from you.

Nice hatchets. I love the leather handles

Thanks especially for the step by step explanation of your process. This was very excellent.

Hey Oidshovel, A group of us elk hunted in Wyoming for yrs. We all carried Estwing hatchets. Mine looks to be in worse shape than what you started with. I will refurb mine and forward this vid to my coharts. You did a great job with the exception of your leather work! It was stupendous. The color sheen and stitching was top notch!!!! Thanks TL

I have appreciated the old Estwing axes for their sculptural beauty as objects. They really had something there, didn't they? Nice resurrection!

Beautiful work. I enjoyed watching. N look forward to more.

I really like that he purchased so much of his items at the thrift store for just a couple of dollars. You don't need to buy expensive woods, metals, plastics, etc., to make a fine product.

Awesome job. I have that same hatchet that came with a fixed blade knife. My Grandmother got it for me when I was around 10 or 12 years old. I’m 69 now.

Very nice looking shirt. Oh, and the project was awesome.

I also have one of these older style Estwing hatchets...found on a mountain trail in the 70's...now missing a couple of the leather ring pieces,,don't use hatchets much but as an odd tool around camp and home....opens the thought to do something with it....Am considering deer antler scales with some kind of liner,maybe brass......your composition of the cloth was interesting,,I am also a woodworker and have made various things by laminating layers...creating interesting patterns and pieces... your efforts and design have created a very nice tool,,and I understand what you are saying,,,after a while,your wife will make you take it off the dining table and put it to work....lol...

I enjoyed watching you restore that rusty axe/hatchet, you did a great job and it looks beautiful.

Looks great! The leather adds a nice touch. You inspire me to restore a vintage Greenle drawshave that I have stored in the garage.

Awesome restoration. I think I've watched this 3 times lol.

I have restored a few estwings. Find them at garage sales. I buy them and use them. Nice work man...

Thanks for the tutorial! I actually have an Estwing in similar condition that I plan to restore. You did an awesome finish and I love how you work with what materials you have on hand. Good luck with your future work!

This is craftsmanship at it's best. To make a handle out of scarf is amazing.

Awesome job man I usually watch restorations and this one was more of a in depth one on one kind of feeling I subscribed and I can’t wait to watch more awesome job!

Nice work man like your creation of reuse stuff👍🏻

Oldshovel, I've owned several Estwing hammers and a hatchet or two. In my opinion, they're the best on the market. I've always wanted one of the leather-wrapped ones but now I think now I may take one of my oldest hammers - with the blue handle - and see about doing what you've done here. Your creation is really, really slick and very much thinking-out-of-the-box. I love it! Thank you for posting and I look forward to seeing more of your work. Cheers from CO!

Excellent video man 👍 I love seeing great tools brought back to life rather than forgotten or discarded ..

To make it really campy, use a plaid shirt like the one you are wearing and then buff it to brighten the colors> Very cool job you have done.

I don't know what should I say this is absolutely awesome

Wow!!!👍👍👍👍👍🎄 Just discovered your channel. The mention of an Eastwing tool caught my attention. I've been using Eastwing tools for 40+ years & have 2 hatchets that have seen better years. After watching your post, I'm excited to learn what they can once again look like. Great post!!!!

For anyone to give a thumbs down on this, they have to be insane or extremely jealous. One of the best restorations I’ve seen. Especially since this one had someone speaking and going through the process. Great job...

At first I said blasphemy. At the end I want you to refurbish mine

Amazing work! I get that some have comments regarding recording however, I'm in awe of your work. I believe your recording will improve so keep recording these videos! I subscribed!

Raw talent. It was a pleasure to watch you work your craft. Thank you for sharing.

Had one like this back in 1971, I was just 8, and did plenty of chopping for fire wood, this was a great Restoration.

Your an artist. WOW> .

That’s one of the god damn coolest things I’ve ever seen

As a guy with a garage full of old tools needing repairs liuke handles and rust removal your video was GREAT. Really enjoyed your micarta handle build.

If you're not doing this as a part/full time job for other people you should be! Awesome job!!! I have an Estwing hatchet from at least 35 years ago in good condition and still use it to this day!!!! Once again, GREAT JOB!!!