u/AlpineStopSign

This should be an easy one. I noticed I had two pictures from nearly the same spot - one in July and the other in January.

Man, these older Black Hole bags are awesome. I recently picked up a 90L Black Hole Duffle for schlepping gear for winter mountaineering and oh baby does it look fantastic riding in the Paris Expedition Pulk! I got it on eBay for a great price and it's from 2013 but looks brand new with zero wear and absolutely no delamination. It is missing the shoulder straps, but I'm never going to put that thing on my back while filled with gear, so I didn't mind at all. Its replacing some fair weather Gregory 90L gear hauling duffles that are not water resistant. Could not be more stoked about the colors too.

I also just got back from a flight where I used the Mini Messenger as a personal bag which I recently got from REI's used section for a song. It was fantastic and was just the right size to slide under the seat in front and conveniently slid on the handle of my wheeled carryon luggage. It's from 2016 and also in brand new shape.

I'm a recent convert to Patagonia items and I couldn't be happier with the quality and value. Some of the clothing cuts don't work for my body shape without alterations, but it's worth it when the quality is there. I have a few fleeces, some casual and alpine pants, and some snow pants. The collection shows no signs of slowing down. See you out there!

What an unmitigated disaster the Archive Resale Company is. Fjallraven's attempt at a used gear marketplace is so rife with errors and mistakes made by the company itself, that I wouldn't trust any listing to be accurate. Women's items listed as men's, naming conventions all messed up. Women's and mens items on the same page. Combine this with a no returns policy and it's a nightmare.

Check out this listing: Keb 72 Backpack. Notice anything? The back one is (probably, maybe?) a men's Keb 72. Thats what they call the Men's version. Keb72W is the name of the women's version and oh, lookie there... the other listing is Lava/Dark lava... a color only sold as a women's version. So here we have a men's pack and a women's pack sold on the same page with zero indication of the gender. Do note how multiple colors of the same item are found on the same (incorrect) listing page. Unfortunately, we have no consistency there either...

Here we have "Keb Backpack"... I guess we're not listing the proper name of Keb52 huh? Okay, well its a Keb 52... or is it the Keb52W? Both are sold in the Storm/Dark Navy colorway.

Here is another "Keb Backpack"... but wait, since its listed (incorrectly) the same way as the blue one above, why is it not on the same page with it like the multiple colors on the 72 listing. Oh wait again, its the Lava/Dark Lava colorway again only sold in the women's version, so in reality this one is a Keb52W. So then is the other one also a Keb52W, or is it on a separate page because it really is the Men's version?

Why would we want consistency and accuracy across the platform? Thank goodness the backpacks don't have to contend with the Improved Fit/Old Fit nightmare. Can you imagine these bozos attempting to list those differences accurately?

Lastly, because I don't care to find each and every inaccuracy on the 1097 individual items the PreLoved account itself is selling (these are fjallraven stores selling their old local items), we have the very informative bulletpoint I noticed for the condition listed on both red Keb backpacks... "Dust on the other". What does that even mean?

What the actual fuck, man. Get your shit together u/fjallravenofficial, or u/archiveresaleco or whoever is ultimately responsible for this nightmare of a used marketplace. I would encourage you to look at Patagonia's Worn Wear program as a model of how to do this right. Managed by Patagonia themselves instead of some 3rd party company, integrated directly into their webpage. If you're looking at new pants, they have the used ones right on the page.

Hello Good Axepeople,

Today I went back to the antique store where I found the AmericanAx a few weeks ago, to see if they had any new axes worth picking up. I didn't see anything I liked, but I spotted something I missed on the first trip. I didn't use a draw knife for hafting my first go, and instead used a small belt sander. Knowing the draw knife is the classic route I had it in my mind to see about getting one. A new one is ~$35, but thats not very cool.

What I found was this 10" well patina'd draw knife. Covered in rust all over, with nearly black gunked-up handles, it was twice the price of a new one, but like 27 times cooler. Bought it.

Got it home and cleaned her up with some WD40, 320 grit sandpaper, and 0000 steel wool. Holy smokes she came out a dandy. It is stamped "J. Kimball & Sons". This is what I can gather:

>
C.J.Kimball & Sons was a 19th-century American maker of antique hand tools and cutlery located in Bennington, New Hampshire, famous for producing cast-steel woodworking drawknives, hoes, and draw shaves.

Caleb Jewett Kimball (1817–1896) originally began making tools under his own name (C.J. Kimball) starting around 1841 through 1872. Later transitioned into the C.J. Kimball & Son Cutlery and Tool Company, operating out of Bennington, NH, where they appeared on the 1887 town maps alongside competitors like the Goodell Cutlery Company.

I can't seem to find anything about just "J.Kimball&Sons" but maybe it's just a version of their stamping. I found 2 other examples of draw knives that look exactly the same as this, but with the C.J. name. Who knows? Example 1, Example 2. Perhaps this one I got is also from the 19th century.

Bonus pics of an ancient enormous Oak mallet I also bought for $20. You can see how big it is next to my standard size rubber mallets. Since this thing is dry as a bone I'm considering soaking it in linseed oil, like submerged bath style. Does anyone have thoughts or reservations about doing that?

Thought you all might appreciate this. Have a great weekend!

Hello Good Axepeople,

I am back to show you all my very first attempt at restoring a vintage axe. I feel like I did reasonably well, but not perfect. Room for improvement! I learned a few things along the way, but I don't think I screwed up enough for a full do-over. I am still applying boiled linseed oil, so it's not absolutely complete, but I did take a few whacks with it and it feels great.

I am used to a Hults Bruk Akka which is nice but very much a chopper. This AmericanAx is going to be even better for my use. +0.75lbs heavier head on the same 24" of handle. I can feel the additional potential in power. I don't split tons of lumber to heat a house, this will be mostly a camp axe, delimber and bundled firewood splitter.

A custom sheath for it might be next.

I think it came out great and I'm totally sold on doing more of these for fun. Eyes peeled in perpetuity for other diamonds in the rough to bring back to life. I think my favorite part of this restoration is the bulbous end knob, I think it looks dead sexy.

Hope you all enjoy.

Are these the lowest rated item that Patagonia sells? 23 user ratings with 43% of them at 1 star. See for yourself, read a few of the reviews.

I bought a pair and they didn't even come on a trip, it was immediately apparent how poor they were. One guy struggled with them on Denali and they let him down bigtime in his full Patagonia layering system. Yet these still are for sale, and according to Customer Support there are no plans to replace them! I've called and askeed. So strange for such a good company to put out such a swing and miss, but stand by them.

I don't understand how these made it to past testing to market, and haven't been retired or redesigned after several years of such poor reviews. It's not like Patagonia to do this. They even renamed them from Mountain Suspenders to Mountain Ski Pant Suspenders for some odd reason.

Long story short, these $65 suspenders are absolute garbage. They fall off all the time, regardless of what Patagonia pants you put them on and the sharp metal clips will even penetrate the straps, damaging them. Hard pass on these, don't waste your time.

Hi.

I like to volunteer at places. Let's talk about the places we volunteer at, and what it's like. Maybe I can find some new places to support.

Recently, I've been volunteering at the Three Sisters Garden Project in Ipswich. The opportunity there at present is pulling weeds on Wednesday mornings from 8:30- 10:30. It's very chill. Pull up and say hello and join the group of volunteers and employees and yank weeds out of the vegetable beds.

I've also volunteered with the Trustees of the Reservation at Appleton Farms. There is lots of stuff going on there if you like to get your hands dirty, from vegetable stuff to animal stuff and more. The Trustees have tons of locations as well, so getting involved with them provides ample opportunities.

Where is everyone else volunteering and how do you like it?

Hit the antique shops near me and found this little honey today. Labeled at $58, guy charged me $50+tax. It's an AmericanAx from between 1889-1921, but I can't quite sort out the pattern. Any guesses? It's very convex as seen in pic4 which is what I have been after for awhile. Was on an ancient 20" handle with a sweet palm swell that I was able to pop off with a rubber mallet (it was loose). I'm going to hang it on a 24" HB Akka Hoffman 24" hickory handle, with a purpleheart wedge. The head itself is between 2 and 2.25lbs. which is right up my alley for how I'm using axes. I do not do full cordage splitting to heat a house or anything. I wanted an antique convex boys axe to take camping in the winter. Delimbing a dead tree, and splitting if needed. Maybe splitting budled campsite wood on occasion. I'm going to have to put a new edge on it too which I'm excited for. I'm stoked because I've never done any of this before and now I have a real honey to work on. I'm going to be way happier than if I just bought something like this refurbished by someone else on eBay. Anyway, thought I would show you guys this one. Cheers.

I don't know whether to open with a trauma dump of my story to put it in perspective like I have to do with my friends that have normal families. However, I think the following photo speaks for itself in this community, and you all can imagine how having this in the cupboard when you're an only child and there is the violence, chaos, broken home, divorce, liver disease, death, and all the rest involved. Ha ha, my fault, right?

https://i.imgur.com/VxLIKvg.jpeg Here is one for sale on Etsy.

I took this mug from my father's cupboard a few years ago, he's too booze-mush-brain to notice. He just ended a 3.5 year stint of sobriety after a month in rehab by getting drunk and ending up in the hospital (again). I haven't decide the proper way to dispose of it in a way that feels empowering. I'm incredulous to the fact that a parent would buy this for themselves, or worse yet receive it as a joke gift from someone that knows they have an alcohol problem.

Its really hard navigating all this by yourself as an only child. My family is incredibly small, and none of my friends have experiences even close to this. This is why finding you all has been very helpful. I've tried Alanon, and didn't care for it. I stumble with this groups Tradition #2. I also understand that severe self reliance is a symptom, and I would readily admit that - story of my life. lol I do however find solace being amongst people who've lived the same crazy hellride I have and get it. I'm trying hard to pull myself out of it at 47. Thanks for listening.

In 2023, my local vet was bought by Montacito Medical, My Vet has been enshitified, a worrying trend seen nationwide. Some more reading on the topic. Naturally, the service and care have suffered, so I am asking you all... What vets do you bring your pet to, and have they also been bought out by a national profit-hungry enshitifyer?

In doing research this morning, I have found this: https://privateequityvet.org/vet-list/ https://i.imgur.com/XlAfg98.png

Went to REI today to buy the little Terravia Hip Pack for exercise walking. While there I checked out some of the Patagonia Fleeces that I've heard a lot about, and dug the R1Techface fleece. Right up my alley for the mountains, gridfleece inside and semi softshellish approach on the outside. Dig it! Tried it on and ran into the issue I run into with most of Patagonia's tops. My chest is an L and the rest of me is an M. Three pictures in a R1Techface size M to demonstrate (happened to be wearing black Quandry pants as a complete coincidence, I do not usually rock a Vader look). They did not have a size L in the store to compare, but if I want the chest to fit, I need to go up to L, which leave a giant swinging belly area of way too much fabric. I have a 43" chest and a 34" waist. In the pictures above, I feel like the shoulders fit correctly until I pull them back. I wasnt able to see it the L would naturally be too loose in the shoulders when not pulled back?

If you are a tailor or seamsperson or even owner of this fleece, could you tell me if this would be worth bringing to a tailor to get adjusted? Is it a piece that shouldn't be altered or maybe there are ways to bring in the bottom without significant alteration to the structure?

I have a Better Sweater that had this same issue, and I bought an L and had the bottom brought in to fit like an M, but this R1Techface is a different kind of garment and I wonder about it's tailorability - because I don't really know anything about it personally. It cost $40 at the local tailor to do, and I'd hate to spend that much to sort of ruin the garment.

P.S. Bonus pic of the Hip Pack and a cool stripey Trail Harbor Hoody I got on a whim. This I got in M because its loose and stretchy.