Busted axe handle, but the day went great!!

bsmith_shoot · Jan 13, 2013

Got up this morning, and decided id split some wood. I've got a ton or so already split, but it never hurts to have plenty, and its less ill need to do for next winter. I had a pickup load of wood that was as dry as powder, and would basically fall apart if I hit it with a hammer, so I decided to use my grandpas old double bit on it.
I had that old axe rehandled about 10 years ago, and I've used it every year for a bunch of differant tasks, from splitting kindling to falling trees. It was just a matter of time before it happened.....

So I took advantage of the situation, to snap some pics, and take a break and whittle some lol.

And the before....

And after bout 15 minutes.....

So the day wasnt a total waste, now to rehandle a few axe heads I got layin around.

Paden87 · Jan 13, 2013

Sounds like a really great day. I need a axe

bsmith_shoot · Jan 13, 2013

Everybody does. My fiskars gets abused really regular. Might be a good start for you?

mrn8 · Jan 13, 2013

Nice old axe head. Gotta love those. I've got a Kelly double I need to get hung, but the hafts I've gotten all seem to be a little too wide to fit through the eye.

Is that cedar you whittled on?

Paden87 · Jan 13, 2013

I was thinking of getting a used head from a second hand store and making it new again

DJG097 · Jan 13, 2013

mrn8 said:
Nice old axe head. Gotta love those. I've got a Kelly double I need to get hung, but the hafts I've gotten all seem to be a little too wide to fit through the eye.

Is that cedar you whittled on?

Most handles you buy are. On one hatchet I rehandled I had to take 1/4" off the length and about 3/16 off the width. That's all together though not off one side.

lobo9er · Jan 13, 2013

making old new with a ax or hatchet is great. I still us my grandfathers axe. And I re- handled my dads maul last summer.

bsmith_shoot · Jan 13, 2013

mrn8 said:
Nice old axe head. Gotta love those. I've got a Kelly double I need to get hung, but the hafts I've gotten all seem to be a little too wide to fit through the eye.

Is that cedar you whittled on?

Yep, its cedar.
I think I'm gonna pay this old man I know to make some for all the heads I got, and prob new handles in my cross-cuts, maul, madock, and I got a couple shovels that need em to lol.

tfields · Jan 14, 2013

looks like a great way too waste a day brother! nice dbl. bit too!

stalbot · Jan 14, 2013

To get a good fit, most all hafts will require some material removal to fit the head. For those that were mentioning needing/wanting an axe, flea markets and estate sales rock! You can get good old American steel for real cheap. For example, yesterday I picked up an old True Temper double bit for $6 at the flea market here. It's in great shape!

bsmith - if you decide to do it on your own, House Handle has a great selection of quality hickory. Easy to find online.

BenchmadeBoy · Jan 14, 2013

If you are re-handling an axe, you might find this link very useful.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/99232823/index.cfm

The US Forest Service Manual "An Axe to Grind: A Practical Axe Manual" in entirety.

Tdhurl1103 · Jan 14, 2013

I need an axe as well.....for the big jobs of destroying shit.....and the zombie apocalypse

bsmith_shoot · Jan 14, 2013

BenchmadeBoy said:
If you are re-handling an axe, you might find this link very useful.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/99232823/index.cfm

The US Forest Service Manual "An Axe to Grind: A Practical Axe Manual" in entirety.

Impressive. Ty good sir.

bsmith_shoot · Jan 16, 2013

Picked up a couple handles today. One for the double, and one for am old splitting maul head I've wanted a handle on. I'm gonna work on em over the weekend, so ill take pics and post em appropriately. Gonna use my 14 and sand paper to do any fitting.