First Axe Handle - Boys Axe Restoration

J

JPA88

Joined
Nov 16, 2014
Messages
73
Hi All! I made my first axe handle last weekend. It was cut from a piece of 5/4 hickory I picked up at the local woodshop. It's calico, but the grain orientation is pretty good. I kind of like the two tone look. The head is a Enderes boys axe that I posted a while back. It was kind of beat up. I cleaned the edges and poll up and thinned the bit some. The head is 2.25 pound and the axe is 26 inches overall. You can compare it to the husqvarna below. The biggest challenge I ran into is getting the wedge dimensions right so it goes in a good ways, but doesn't bottom out. I think I got it pretty good though after some frustrating attempts. It chops pretty well. better than the husqvarna multi-purpose, due to the extra weight i suppose. The thick-ish cheeks really pop those chips out. That's all I've got. Thanks for stopping in!

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You did a nice job of this. Hand carved handles always attract my respect and admiration.
 
Excellent job! You should get years of use out of it. I like a 26" handle on a boys axe. I just rehung a plumb boys axe with a 26" straight, slim , octagon handle.
Time for you to start on your next axe, you have a real talent at this.
 
Thanks for the kind words, Gentlemen. I have become very familiar with a HF 1x30 belt grinder, and use it for cleaning the axe heads up. I use a 40 grit belt to get any hammer marks and mushrooming out and reshape the bit (slowly and with frequent baths), then go right to a 320 grit to get that nice smooth finish. Using the slack portion of the belt for rounded surfaces. It doesn't take long to get a beat up axe looking nice.
I've already got another handle going. Its a 33 incher on which I plan to hang a 3.5 lb Plumb, a birthday gift for a buddy. I'm using mainly a carpenters axe and a rasp to make my handles.
How do you guys determine the angle and length on a wedge?
 
JPA88 said:
How do you guys determine the angle and length on a wedge?
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The axe looks great.

I just try to cut a wedge at a shallow angle and carve the bottom as wide as the kerf. I keep the sides at 90 degrees. I pound until it stops moving but I don't worry if it doesn't bottom out as long as the wood sides end up wider than the axe eye a little.
 
looks pretty good to me.
i enjoy hanging old axes.
thanks for posting,

buzz
 
Thanks, Guys. I'm ready for summer flea markets to start up. It's been a bit of a challenge finding axes
 
Looks great, and nice swell...that's my next task on my next few rehangs...getting a nicely contoured swell (though the small swells generally offered make this a bit difficult).
 
JPA88 said:
Thanks, Guys. I'm ready for summer flea markets to start up. It's been a bit of a challenge finding axes
Click to expand...

Axes and related logging gear have become somewhat scarcer around here. I really enjoy rehabbing and using tools - I don't think I'll ever pay my mortgage by doing it but I did try Craigslist with one lately and the two responses I got were asking me for materials not axes. Mine usually end up going to friends and family for holidays, gifts, house warmings, and a trade or two (a couple went towards a blacksmith's vise, for example).

I did notice when I widened my search that there are adds for "I (not me) buy axes" in all areas of Oregon - Coast, widened Portland metro area, Willamette Valley, and the Eastern side.

Here is to hoping that all those barns, basements, utility buildings, and estates come to light this spring/summer.

I could be imagining/misinterpreting this as well but stuff seems harder to find in general.

Great looking axe and handle there JPA88.
 
Thanks guys! the swell is nice when viewed from the side, but is only about 1-1/4 inch thick on account of the board I cut it from. Need thicker stock. Good enough, though.

Agent. The area of IL i'm living in is all but void of trees. Flat topography and row crop as far as the eye can see. I'm pretty new to this game, but I think this might account for the lack of axes to be had. In my local at least. Like you, I'm holding out hope for this summer.
 
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