Can you guys point me in the right direction on a handle for this humongous axe?

[vanwag44]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/18/873d99c88c8fd7084bc3edfa9ec21dc0.jpg
[IMG]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/18/de4c7cf5009da540ffe256f7ca413123.jpg

 

[vanwag44]

 

[Ferahgo]

It might help if you post a pic of the inside. Sweet looking axe, though.

 

[garry3]

House Handle carries them, probably others. Search under broad axe.

 

[Square_peg]

Tennessee Hickory Products make broad axe handles. They have a retail outlet that has broad axe hafts most of the time.

http://beaver-tooth.com/collections/broad-axe-handles

All the commercially available broad axe handles I've seen are too long - 36". Should be 30" or less.

That broad axe is pretty heavily worn. If you want a user you might hold out for a better example.

 

[Agent_H]

Tennessee Hickory Products make broad axe handles. They have a retail outlet that has broad axe hafts most of the time.

http://beaver-tooth.com/collections/broad-axe-handles

All the commercially available broad axe handles I've seen are too long - 36". Should be 30" or less.

That broad axe is pretty heavily worn. If you want a user you might hold out for a better example.

Besides paying shipping on a larger package, can a guy cut a 36" handle down to 30"? Is the swell as important on a hewing axe as other patterns?

I have two hewing patterns, one needs a handle is why I am asking.

The one with a handle isn't offset. I've never steamed a handle but is that how you would create the offset if not carving your own?

 

[Square_peg]

The one with a handle isn't offset. I've never steamed a handle but is that how you would create the offset if not carving your own?

Steaming or carving from a bent branch are the only ways I know of.

Here's a thread about a haft I made a couple years ago.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/935049-Making-a-broad-axe-haft

After the original starting pics the work and photos continue on page 3. At the end of the thread is a link to a hewing project with the finished axe.

 

[vanwag44]

Steaming or carving from a bent branch are the only ways I know of.

Here's a thread about a haft I made a couple years ago.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/935049-Making-a-broad-axe-haft

After the original starting pics the work and photos continue on page 3. At the end of the thread is a link to a hewing project with the finished axe.

Square is it normal for a broad axe to be completely flat on one side? Nice work!

 

[Agent_H]

Steaming or carving from a bent branch are the only ways I know of.

Here's a thread about a haft I made a couple years ago.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/935049-Making-a-broad-axe-haft

After the original starting pics the work and photos continue on page 3. At the end of the thread is a link to a hewing project with the finished axe.

Right on, thank you. I've read your thread on restoring the hewing axe several times. That one and the alternative wedge system. I did miss the making of the handle - great stuff.

 

[Double Ott]

Your broad axe is well used...But still in fine working condition. The pattern of your broad axe is called a "Whale Tail".
Hang it and have fun.

Tom

 

[vanwag44]

Your broad axe is well used...But still in fine working condition. The pattern of your broad axe is called a "Whale Tail".
Hang it and have fun.

Tom

Thanks and thanks for info on the name! I'm definitely going to hang it if nothing else to hone the skills, with you guys help I hope to do it properly!

 

[Double Ott]

Thanks and thanks for info on the name! I'm definitely going to hang it if nothing else to hone the skills, with you guys help I hope to do it properly!

Here's a picture of a full Whale Tail broad axe. You can easily see why it got its name.

Tom

 

[vanwag44]

Here's a picture of a full Whale Tail broad axe. You can easily see why it got its name.

Tom

Thanks man that is a cool pic im so pumped on this thing, I just ordered the handle from beaver tooth as you guys suggested. I know this is a dumb question but how much clearance should there be between the wood and the metal at the point you drive in the wood wedge into the kerf? Should it be able to move around?

 

[Square_peg]

Your broad axe is well used...But still in fine working condition. The pattern of your broad axe is called a "Whale Tail".
Hang it and have fun.

Sometimes it's also called a Canadian pattern broad axe.

Square is it normal for a broad axe to be completely flat on one side? Nice work!

Yes. Completely flat on the back side - the side closest to the wood when you're hewing. I had to spend some serious time lapping the back of my Canadian pattern with a file.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/930575-New-(old)-broad-axe

 

[vanwag44]

Its coming along....steel wool is my friend, I was thinking of trying to rainbow blue it, once finished.

 

[cityofthesouth]

Rainbow blue? With heat? Or is that something else.

 

[Remzy]

the steel looks great the way it is, why add chemical to this axe head? unnecessary.

 

[vanwag44]

Rainbow blue? With heat? Or is that something else.

It's basically using gun bluing on a heated metal surface, you just put it in the oven to heat it up before applying the bluing, gives that rainbow look to it. But as Remzy says it does look pretty good, I am struggling with leaving it this way, but I've always wanted to blue an axe head.

 

[SC T100]

What temperature? Too high and you'll lose the hardened bit.

 

[markv]

Its coming along....steel wool is my friend, I was thinking of trying to rainbow blue it, once finished.

man that looks great. i've only made one off-set broad axe handle. didn't have a camera at the time so no pictures. i had some Hickory with a bend in the right place.

buzz