Hi folks,

Anyone experienced in making replacement axe handles? I am about to
commence some hewing and need a new handle and I recall reading once
about the ideals in axe handle construction.

Any tips appreciated! (Or just stop by and hew my logs for me)

Bruce,

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This might have enough info for that:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/99232823/page10.htm

> 
> Hi folks,
> 
> Anyone experienced in making replacement axe handles? I am 
> about to commence some hewing and need a new handle and I 
> recall reading once about the ideals in axe handle construction.
> 
> Any tips appreciated! (Or just stop by and hew my logs for me)
> 
> Bruce,
> 
> 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage, 
value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of 
traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools. 

To read the FAQ, unsubscribe, or change email options, use the web 
interface at:     http://www.brendlers.net/oldtools/oldtools.html

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Bruce asked..."
> Anyone experienced in making replacement axe handles? I am about to
> commence some hewing and need a new handle and I recall reading once
> about the ideals in axe handle construction.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   As a full time axe maker for about 10 years I don't know how many 100s of 
axe handles that I have made but have been a few. First you want to use 
Hickory with Ash being a second choice.No other woods to be considered. You 
want straight grain. Most of the handles I made were only about 15 in. long 
or so. I started out splitting them out of logs which wasn't that bad esp. 
since you are using straight grain Hickory [right?] Latter I had trouble 
finding logs I could use and switched over to using old buggy spokes which I 
got from an old Amish wheelwright friend and  also re worked brush axe 
handles which I could buy for .50 each and get two of mine axe handles out 
of.
...I would rough the handle out with a draw knife and large spoke shave. I 
had a nice shaving poney which i never used other then to hold my shop door 
shut, instead I normay just held the handle in my benchs post vice or in a 
wheelwright spoke clamp which sort of looked like a lathe bed that went into 
your vice and held the axe.To fit the head I would trace the eye shape into 
the end of the handle then measure down the handle the width of the head and 
draw a line around the handle. Then using an old hack saw [Yeah I got 
probably over 600 saws...and I used a hacksaw!] and looking straight down 
from the top of the handle I would saw around this line to the correct depth 
as seen from the line on the top end of the handle. Then a simple thing 
using an old chisel to pop off the wast. Any clean up is a easy and short 
work using a rasp. Then saw a kerf angled across the eye using my hacksaw. 
Read somwhere you should use a pine wedge and I did for years but then 
decided to try a piece of hickory. Dang if I could see any difference and 
after that I normaly would use a wedge I whittled out of a piece that I 
split off while fitting the heads eye.I don't believe in using a metal wedge 
in a new head but instead save that for if it loosens up years down the 
road. Befor driving the wedge home I would put a dab of that stuff called 
chair lock in it which will permantly swell the wood. This stuff works great 
and don't think I ever had a head come loose after using it.
  To finish up the handle I would just use a small woooden spoke shave then 
follered by a scraper with a blade I made out of an old saw. With most 
handles a Rasp would be used very little if at all other then the little use 
it saw to fit the head. I normaly would stain the handle with some leather 
dye followed with some black spray paint which I wiped off befor dry to give 
it that aged up look . Wipe on some linseed oil and you are done .....Now 
that was easy, eh?.....Todd 

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OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
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Thomas Conroy wrote:
> Bruce,
> 
> At least one of St. Roy's early books has detailed
> instructions on making axe handles. Probably the first
> one, "The Woodwright's Shop."

I've made a few handles for hatchets.
I simply took an outline of an existing handle
I liked, sawed it out of rather thick wood
(since I was making swollen fawn-footed handles)
rip cut off the cheeks, and then spent many
a happy hour with spokeshaves and rasps.

Although I started with a "model", final
shaping was guided by a "does this feel comfortable"
approach.

    BugBear

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OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
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traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools. 

To read the FAQ, unsubscribe, or change email options, use the web 
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