Sorry for the slow updates. I've been flat out trying to build some garden beds as well as trying to locate a new hedge trimmer as my little one wasn't cutting it and I got screwed over by a local guy who I paid upfront (should have known better). Anyway I picked up a Stihl HS81R in fantastic condition for a miserable $150. Closest I could find second hand was $550, so I'll consider that a bargain!

Where I currently stand with the 45 is at the bed knife. I had an absolute nightmare trying to get the old bed knife off. I had it soaking for 2 weeks in a penetrant solution to no avail. I tried heating the screws, and even giving them a good ol knock. Still no avail!
I picked up a new bottom half of the handle from a knowledgeable bloke who I believe may be a member here for $30 (thank you kindly). He had a method of using a hole punch and a hammer on the edge of the screw whilst having the bedknife in a vice to give it a jolt to free up the screw of which he has done time and time again without failure. Unfortunately this method didn't quite work for me (may have done it wrong). What I did in the end was take a grinder to take the screws to the same level as the bed knife and then took a hole punch to every edge of each screw with the hole punch on an anti-clockwise angle with the theory that eventually the continual hitting in that direction on every side of the screw would free it up. Thankfully it worked!

Next step is to finish cleaning up all the parts and ascertaining my method of painting and colours.

[Linked Image from s19.postimg.org]
[Linked Image from s19.postimg.org]