guess who is at it agian?

**smittysurvival** · 02-03-2010, 07:57 PM

so we were going through the garage looking for a draw knife to work my bow. guess what i found. its called an axe head without a handle. so how do i fix it? i need to know how to shape the handle, what wood to make it out of, and how to keep the head from coming off

**SARKY** · 02-04-2010, 12:18 AM

If it's a comercial axe head, just go down to the hardware store and get one that fits.

**edr730** · 02-04-2010, 05:10 AM

Handles are made of ash or hickory. Ironwood is the toughest. You can buy ash or hickory handles at the store if you want to do so, but they aren't cheap there. You can use a sapling, piece of split wood, old ball bat or whatever and cut the top of the handle to the size and shape you need using a hacksaw and chisel. Use a pencil, spray paint or tap the head onto the handle to get the correct shape. After the head is on (without beating it up with a hammer), you take the chisel and split the wood inside the head. Cut a wedge from a piece of hardwood and drive it into this split. If the wood is green or less than bone dry, you will be needing another wedge after the wood drys out. You may or may not end up with a pretty handle depending on your skill level, time or desire, but it will work.
When the handle is good and dry you can always use a plane or grinder with 36 grit paper to smooth it out.

**your_comforting_company** · 02-04-2010, 08:05 AM

I like to buy the handles with the head split a little longer than necessary, so that when you drive the wedge in, the wood that sticks out of the head is ever so slightly wider than the opening in the head. I generally soak the head end of the handle, when mounted, in a bucket of water to make the wood swell before using it. If you are making your own make the head split end a little longer.

**smittysurvival** · 02-07-2010, 02:23 AM

the handle is hackberry. right now its just standing in until i can find some ash or another good peice of hardwood. it sitll needs refined

**Nativedude** · 02-07-2010, 07:21 AM

I have 2 double bit axes. 1 was my grandfathers and 1 was given to me uncle (it was given to him by his uncle), so it's old!

The handle on the one from my uncle was severely dried out and rotting, it was so old. I made a handle from a piece of hawthorne. Makes a great handle.

Not a species of wood you'll find at your local lumber mill, but it you're up to making your own handle you can find it in the wilds, hawthorne makes a good one!

**crashdive123** · 02-07-2010, 08:46 AM

Well done Smitty.

**Rick** · 02-07-2010, 10:19 AM

Even if it isn't the final handle you want, you were able to get some great practice in. Good job!!

**gryffynklm** · 02-07-2010, 11:09 AM

Nice job. If you haven't found a drawknife yet, you can take your machete if it has a good edge. Wrap some duct tape on the end of the blade so you don,t cut your hand. Keep in mind that when you remove the tape, it may leave some tape residue and will have to be cleaned with mineral spirits or other solvent.

The cutting edge of most drawknives are sharpened on one side only the other is flat, this allows a cutting angle almost flat against the wood so it acts like a hand plane.

The machete is sharpened on both sides off the edge. This will make it tricky to get a good angle for a good cut.

Work slow, practice on another hunk of wood so you can get used to getting the proper angle for a good cut. If you go at too steep of an angle it will cut too deep and tear out the wood instead of cutting.

The machete can work its just not quite the best for this kind of work.

Here is a link for axe handle replacement.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26um%3D1

**hunter63** · 02-07-2010, 04:14 PM

Nice work, keep it up, your already ahead of a lot of people, that are a lot older.

**smittysurvival** · 02-07-2010, 06:58 PM

i put the wedge in wrong so I guess im stuck making another one. i like how i kept the bark on the wood so it gives it a very nice look. i have some old dry seasoned wood (that i actually cut down with this axe) that im going to try to make it out of

**smittysurvival** · 03-09-2010, 07:36 PM

i have a nice peice of cherry im going to try to use. the hackberry one broke on me. i finally learned how to wedge them though. this handle is gonna be tough without a good draw knife. tried the machate but it didnt work too well