Axe Shaft

[Barney]

Can green wood be used to fit a shaft on a axe? Which is the best wood to use?

I have found an old axe head in the shed and wanted to give it a handle without resorting to the B&Q "Hickory"

 

[launditch1]

The only problem with using greenwood for axe shaft is that it will dry out as it seasons and the head will come loose.
Prehaps best to rough out a shaft and leave it to dry for a while then finish and fit.
You cant go wrong with Ash for handle.Nice to work,tough and springy.

 

[Barney]

How long will it need to dry? How much will it shrink should I get close to finished size before drying

 

[lou1661]

Have a look here it may be of some help to you

Cheers
Louis

 

[launditch1]

Depends how 'green' it is really...About a month or so...
It wont shrink that much but id err on the side of caution and make it about an 1/4in oversize.When its dry shape to size.

 

[launditch1]

...robins tutorial..forgot about that!

 

[Barney]

Thanks for the links.

I haven't any Ash knocking about at the moment, although I know a couple of branches that would be suitable. I would rather not cut them unless absolutely essential.

I have some good straight Birch, Cherry and a bit of Apple. Would any of these do? I am only making a small pack axe handle about 12" long.

 

[littlebiglane]

I recall somewhere that is was as much as:

Most hardwoods - seasoning is about 1yr per inch
Most softwoods - about 6 months per inch

Of course this varies widely due to species, original moisture content and the environment it is seasoned in.

LBL

 

[mr dazzler]

If your wood handle was made from a split section of log, it will dry in a few day's right next to a stove or airing cupboard, its unlikely to crack it being just a small segemnt out of the main log. Alternatively you could weigh it, note it by writing on the end, and weigh it every so often it will obviously reduce day by day, when it stays at the same figure it is dry. Failing a supply of decent ash I would try the birch as long as its fresh and hasnt stood outdoors for any time, it soon gets spalty and soft. Personally I would save the cherry and especially apple wood's to carve into spoons or dishes or kasa cup's etc!!

 

[Nagual]

I recall somewhere that is was as much as:

Most hardwoods - seasoning is about 1yr per inch
Most softwoods - about 6 months per inch

Of course this varies widely due to species, original moisture content and the environment it is seasoned in.

LBL

Blimey! Thats a lot longer than I would have thought! 6 months to a year per inch? So if I had a bit o wood I was going to try and make into a bow, and it was 5 five foot long - that would mean 30 - 60 years to cure? Hmmm. I take it there must be some other factor included in those fingures other wise nothing would be made. Don't suppose you can recall what was being made or what with, for those figures?

 

[Draven]

Blimey! Thats a lot longer than I would have thought! 6 months to a year per inch? So if I had a bit o wood I was going to try and make into a bow, and it was 5 five foot long - that would mean 30 - 60 years to cure? Hmmm. I take it there must be some other factor included in those fingures other wise nothing would be made. Don't suppose you can recall what was being made or what with, for those figures?

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but that figure is for thickness not length If you are being sarcastic... the empty coathook's mine

 

[Nagual]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but that figure is for thickness not length If you are being sarcastic... the empty coathook's mine

Nooo, the ignorance was mine... Thickness makes a little more sense than over all length.. But even still, 6 months is a long long time. perhaps it depends on what you are going to do with the wood at the end. I really wish I had pursued woodwork at school - I really enjoyed it, however my skills were terrible. I remember making a small table, which grew shorter and shorter by the day as I tried to level it. I wonder if it's still in my mums house some place? Hopefully she'll have burnt it as fire wood a long time ago.

 

[Barney]

I selected a log from a couple I had with a bend in it. Quartered it and then roughed one of the pieces out to dry.

The red one is the head I found in the shed. Is it ok to have a curved handle?