Rehandling an Axe

[Richard Hepworth]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a few tips from yous. I'm a total newby to bushcraft and I've been given an old axe from a friend which I'm in the process of rehandling, before I do it have yous any tips or advice for me?

Thanks Rich.

 

[sunndog]

Lots of vids on YouTube

My best tips off the top of my head
take your time and test fit often
Try and get a hardwood wedge
Lube the wedge with linseed oil
Round steel wedges seem better than traditional flat steel ones

 

[snappingturtle]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a few tips from yous. I'm a total newby to bushcraft and I've been given an old axe from a friend which I'm in the process of rehandling, before I do it have yous any tips or advice for me?

Thanks Rich.

I'm doing a custom haft at the moment, make the haft as close and tight a fit as pos in the eye, bit of resin then a good hardwood wedge.

 

[Janne]

You can also buy a replacement handle and fit.
Some precision fitting and a wedge should be fine!

Not sure which is best, a metal wedge, a wooden wedge or a circular ‘wedge’.
Different manufacturers seem to sucessfully use all.

 

[Mr Wolf]

You can also buy a replacement handle and fit.
Some precision fitting and a wedge should be fine!

Not sure which is best, a metal wedge, a wooden wedge or a circular ‘wedge’.
Different manufacturers seem to sucessfully use all.

Hardwood for a wedge...metal for the other wedge wedge(term escapes me) although not needed if hafted properly

 

[Janne]

Makes sense!

I guess the handle should have a very good fit, if loose fit the wedge would split it?

On my axes there were very annoying slivers of the handle under the head.

 

[sunndog]

Traditional way is wooden wedge only

The round steel wedges contain more steel than an equivalent size flat wedge so stands to reason they wedge harder

 

[Mr Wolf]

Traditional way is wooden wedge only

The round steel wedges contain more steel than an equivalent size flat wedge so stands to reason they wedge harder

Is it council tool that use aluminum wedges on the standard axe range

 

[Robson Valley]

I think wood wedges look nicer than for no other reason than they did hnot have durable metal wedges in the old days.

See if you can get a good look at the butt-ends of many axe handles.
Pay attention to the orientation of the growth rings in the wood.
The directional mechanical properties allow the handle to function much as a compound steel leaf spring.

 

[sunndog]

Is it council tool that use aluminum wedges on the standard axe range

No idea mate. I have seen aluminium wedges before though. Always seem to be very thick as far as I've noticed

 

[Zingmo]

These should help:
http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/wood-craft-blog/2010/12/14/how-to-make-a-new-axe-handle/
http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/wood-craft-blog/2010/12/18/how-to-fit-a-new-axe-handle/

Z