Axe handle

[stekker]

I was looking to buy myself an axe.
But why not looking for a rusty second hand one?
I polished the axe, made an oak handle for it and sharpened the thing.
Finaly I made the sheath,and the hole thing cost me 4 euro's.

Greetings Theo

 

[Everything Mac]

you have done a nice job there mate.

I like the sheath especially.

Oak isn't a traditional handle material but it looks good.

Andy

 

[Retired Member southey]

That's a good looking piece chap! Do you think oak would work for longer helves?

 

[Hugo]

I have made some 36 and 38 inch ones and had no problems or complaints from the new owners.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Brilliant! In that case then, no trees shall he harmed in the handling of my double bit, woohoo!

 

[Pepperana]

A Very nice one Stekker!!

 

[milius2]

Awesome job Stekker! A nice shape you got there! Superb sheath too!

 

[Radix lecti]

Nice work there Theo, i like the Oak handle too. Thanks for sharing.
Darren

 

[stekker]

Thank you for all your replys,oak will do the job very well,if you look for a nice and straight grain.

Greetings Theo

 

[Peter_t]

oak is plenty strong enough but the wood has very little give in it like ash or hickory do so tends so shock you hands after a while.
good job

pete

 

[flexo]

very well! that's how any bushcrafter should do,making haft is a pleasure,and a double one when, you can bring to life a hold rusty axe! and go to the woods with it
nice job!

 

[Tengu]

The Japanese axes seem to all be hafted in oak

 

[Retired Member southey]

What other woods could be used for axe handles? Other than Maple, Ash, Oak or Hickory?

 

[Everything Mac]

Fruit woods are pretty good, cherry, apple and plum.

My kent pattern axe has a straight plum handle - lovely grain to it.

Andy

 

[Retired Member southey]

Is it any hardwood as long as it has a straight grain and isn't brittle?

I bet the apple axe looks stunning Andy.

 

[robin wood]

For a one handed hatchet like this most hardwoods would make a reasonable handle because most of the time you are holding half way up or near the head and the handle isn't put under great stress. A 36" felling axe needs flexibility and springiness and so wood choice is much more important. Top choice is always fast grown ash (or hickory in the US) as a second best I would use fast grown elm or oak, both good fibrous woods with high tensile strength. I would be happy using woods like maple or fruitwoods for a hatchet but not for a full length axe handle.

 

[demographic]

There's a secondhand tools place a few miles out of town for me with masses of axe and hammer heads, can't see me going crazy getting loads as I already have a Husqvarna hatchet a good maul and a couple of chainsaws but I might see what's there next time I'm over.

 

[flexo]

hornbeam is also a good choice for hatchet haft