Best way to straighten a axe handle

M

moosecreektrails

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Apr 8, 2012
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I have not had much luck straightening handles, what is the best way? Nice handle great grain just curved.
 
Throw it out.

I will let others comment on steam process, bend, etc. You can bend it back, but it is work. Lets see some pics if you decide to.
 
Moose I have heat bent a little wood,but not handles. There are a lot of ways to do it. With that handle I would put a couple of blocks on a work bench and lay the handle on top of the blocks, bow in the handle up, blocks spread apart about 16" or so. Put a clamp on top of the handle(where the bow is) and snug it tight to the work bench. Heat the handle (I use a heat gun) and you can feel the wood give when it gets warm enough with the clamp pressure. Go a little farther than you need and let it cool completely before you remove the clamp.
Or no worse than that bow is you can just heat it over a fire or gas stove and bend it over your knee. Again go farther than you need.
The trick is to be patient and get the inside of the wood hot without burning it.
 
Just last weekend, I found an old axe in my inlaws shed. I'm working on the head currently. The handle was quite old but had a fierce bend in it. (Sorry, no pics). I soaked it down with a hose, then put it in an old wooden bench vise in their barn, with cedar shingle "shims" where appropriate and pushed the bend back a little past straight. Left it for two days and it is surprisingly straight now. I'm happy.
 
G-pig said:
I think heat is the answer. soaking and weighing can work over a long period of time, but heating them makes the process much quicker.
Click to expand...

And it will stay much better.When it is hot enough it is surprising how easy it bends.
 
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