COTS Project Thread

[jblyttle]

So do baseball bat blanks make axe handles? What do you guys say?

Yes, although it depends on the craftsman. Great job.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Glad to see you back, you're doing more excellent envious work as always.

It's a shame about all of your pictures, this thread was a great resource for examples of how an axe handle should look.

 

[cityofthesouth]

Glad to see you back, you're doing more excellent envious work as always.

It's a shame about all of your pictures, this thread was a great resource for examples of how an axe handle should look.

Thanks! I think it was photobucket who screwed things up the worst. Looks like my Flickr stuff may have survived even though they made lots of threats about what would be lost and whatever else.

It's funny looking back through this thread, the journey, and how uniquely satisfying it is to make a handle and hang an axe. Got a second blank sitting in my living room taunting me but I actually like it when my hobbies occupy my mind. Reduces the stress from work.

 

[Yankee Josh]

So yes, baseball bat blanks do make axe handles. Nice tight straight grain, and ash works for me. You've seen this axe before but now I've finally gotten around to making the octagonal knob end the way I have always wanted to. It's based off a couple vintage handles I have but sort of in my style with a little extra swell and a little more curve overall.

Added a couple inches which you might have been able to tell from the previous pics. It's about 30 overall and 27-1/2 at the swell.

Gorgeous haft brother! Holy smokes that is nice. What a looker!

 

[Miller '72]

Knocked it out of the park @COTS
The grain pops off the page and your swell nob...working art man!
If babe ruth were to collect axes he would want one with a bat handle like this!

 

[cityofthesouth]

Thanks to everyone!!!

Do you guys think there is some value to certain weights of wood (Ash in this case)? I know that the weight was commonly considered when choosing Hickory for axe handle grades. The bat billets are also sold by weight and I am wondering if there is a desirable aspect to the weight in relation to making axe handles.

 

[cityofthesouth]

 

[cityofthesouth]

For my second billet I did the unspeakable .....

Not sure I like the thin red stripe, prolly gonna make it match the thicker red stripe. I used RIT dye for the blue to avoid having paint where the hand spends the most time. I think with enough BLO it won't come off my on my hands. Seems to be pretty well embedded already but it's when the hands get nice and sweaty that stains and dyes start to show their weakness.

Kinda went for something a little more unique with this one, a little more flare you know. I love these 3lb axes but they are light duty for me. Mostly brush clearing. I have beaters for splitting and so I figured a little fun couldn't hurt.

I assumed the dye would not make crisp lines in the wood so that is why I went with the paint as a sort of border for the dyed section. But the experimenter in me is thinking dye all the way if it ends up working. That way, no paint, maybe just a thin line of black or something between each color. I dunno. We'll see. I have a new production Council HB sitting around looking for a handle.

 

[cityofthesouth]

Quick touch up and yeah I like this better. It was messing with my symmetrical brain I think.

 

[Miller '72]

Quick touch up and yeah I like this better. It was messing with my symmetrical brain I think.

The swell on that! The grain! That axe! The blue is poppin'

Thank you for making the change, the first thin line made me anxious, out of balance kinda thingy.

I wish i knew more about wood species to help or offer a response for the weight of the species.

 

[cityofthesouth]

The swell on that! The grain! That axe! The blue is poppin'

Thank you for making the change, the first thin line made me anxious, out of balance kinda thingy.

I wish i knew more about wood species to help or offer a response for the weight of the species.

Wish I had made up my mind about it BEFORE taking all the pics. I'll get some more new pics in order to return balance to nature.

 

[cityofthesouth]

Couple pics with the stripe update. While I was feeling inspired I also corrected the hang on my little CT Hudson. It was a little closed before, now it's more to my liking and set down on the shoulder a little better than before as well.

A little family photo

 

[Miller '72]

They all look so great!
The staining really is stunning on that handle, a perfect matchup for the length and head.
The picture of three...the swells!!! The poles!!!
That middle and far left swell and hafts

 

[cityofthesouth]

They all look so great!
The staining really is stunning on that handle, a perfect matchup for the length and head.
The picture of three...the swells!!! The poles!!!
That middle and far left swell and hafts

Thank you!

 

[stevewest]

Wow!!!!! Your handles are so much fun to look at. I always check this thread - something innovative and new with each one of your handles.

 

[cityofthesouth]

Wow!!!!! Your handles are so much fun to look at. I always check this thread - something innovative and new with each one of your handles.

Thanks! I feel like I'm still working on the perfect "feeling" handle. I was all happy about the newest one and then I picked up that little HB to work on and realized I like the little bit of extra hook better so that will get incorporated into the next one for sure. Gonna order a few Yellow Birch dowels this time .... for science of course.

For anyone looking this over thinking the RIT dye works because it's been tried, the jury is still out. I have used alcohol leather dye in the past with good results but the RIT dye seems to be more inclined to come off on your hands. Just having the axe out in very humid weather was enough for the handle to start taking in some moisture. Now, it only had a few coats of BLO and it has a couple more now. But I also waxed it with bees wax to see if that doesn't lock in the color and lock out the moisture. I'll try to remember to update at some point.

 

[flexo]

i'm not an usual fan of blue , but this axe is a killa'

 

[cityofthesouth]

Another one for fun. I ended up using a file on the head to take out the lumps and kinda liked the marks so I left some of them behind. Cold blue, just splotched on for a sort of case hardened appearance and just to have something on it. Had to follow the grain on this blank to get somewhat straight grain. Was the worst of the 4 I ordered but I only needed 25 inches or so. This is the first of the Yellow Birch.

 

[Miller '72]

Another one for fun. I ended up using a file on the head to take out the lumps and kinda liked the marks so I left some of them behind. Cold blue, just splotched on for a sort of case hardened appearance and just to have something on it. Had to follow the grain on this blank to get somewhat straight grain. Was the worst of the 4 I ordered but I only needed 25 inches or so. This is the first of the Yellow Birch.

Dear Goodness!
The hudson looks great, the handle and the color scheme i really like and i am not a big painted handle guy but you are starting to turn me a little
The handle with that swell and knob. Holy smokes man...there is a reason i think you carve the best handles i have seen carved!
Sweet rig!

 

[cityofthesouth]

Dear Goodness!
The hudson looks great, the handle and the color scheme i really like and i am not a big painted handle guy but you are starting to turn me a little
The handle with that swell and knob. Holy smokes man...there is a reason i think you carve the best handles i have seen carved!
Sweet rig!

Thank you! I like the colors but then again, I'm not sure I'm going to do many more. Since this is a new axe and it was just for a fun project, it makes sense.