CAauhuntr
New member
I got the smallest (Digging) pick that Apex has, the Badger. It was very heavy and bulky to use on a belt, definitely needed fixing for my needs (Approximate 3.5 pounds)
I cut the handle off the head piece and shortened the collar in half. Instead of the fastening bolt going from side to side, I placed it front to back. Cut the pointed end of the pick from 10 inches to 8.5 inches then cut angles on it. Cleaned up the welds and all the slag that was left on the pick head then after refinishing I used cold gun bluing to etch the metal (Wears better than paint and keeps it from rusting)
The handle was a tree stump, so I first used a planer to narrow it down then a sander, then finished it up with sandpaper by hand. To seal the wood, I used tung oil
Total weight now 1.6 pounds, doesn't seem like much but it makes a big difference
I cut the handle off the head piece and shortened the collar in half. Instead of the fastening bolt going from side to side, I placed it front to back. Cut the pointed end of the pick from 10 inches to 8.5 inches then cut angles on it. Cleaned up the welds and all the slag that was left on the pick head then after refinishing I used cold gun bluing to etch the metal (Wears better than paint and keeps it from rusting)
The handle was a tree stump, so I first used a planer to narrow it down then a sander, then finished it up with sandpaper by hand. To seal the wood, I used tung oil
Total weight now 1.6 pounds, doesn't seem like much but it makes a big difference
