Haft selection and axe hanging questions

[Davidfs]

If this is covered somewhere and i missed it then I apologize, but...

I've been lurking here for a few months now and am wanting to try my hand at a restore, but I want to make sure I know what to look for and what common mistakes to avoid when picking out a new handle. I'm in need of a new axe for camping/hunting trips (driving most of the way and only hiking a short ways before setting up camp in my case), and I was thinking a boys axe would suit quite well. I have seen a number of people state that they like to be able to check the grain on a potential handle before they purchase it, but I haven't seen what exactly they are looking for. I have also seen references to "people who didn't know what they were doing" hanging an axe, not sure what that would be referring to iether, other than simply not aligning the haft and head properly?

S+o basically, I'm a little surprised that there isn't a sticky with some of these essentials, but maybe I'm just missing something obvious? Thanks!

 

[jpeeler]

I'll field a couple of these questions:

Proper grain alignment: This refers to when the grain of the handle runs parallel to the bit of axe and thusly in alignment with the motion of the tool as it is swung. Most of us agree that grain between 60 degrees and 90 degrees (the ideal) would be fine in most striking tools. Also, the heavier the tool and more stress put on the wood, the more important grain becomes.

Grain Run-out: This is when the grain of the handle, instead of running all the way from end to end of the handle, 'runs out' at a diagonal angle at some point in the handles length. In my opinion, this is the most dangerous problem and is more likely to cause handle failure than alignment. You can check for this by tracing a 'string' of grain from the end of the handle to the other. A little run out is ok, just not a lot.

Hanging/hafting problems: Sometimes when a handle is carved, the tongue (bit that goes in the eye of the axe head) is accidentally shaped so that the handle leaves the eye and goes off at an angle in relation to the bit. Check for this by holding the tool up to your eye, axe head nearest to your head, and sighting down the handle length. If the axes bit and the handle don't line up, this is a sign of a less than perfect hang. In my opinion, this is the least troubling of problems, but can bug you, and should be avoided in production axes.

Hope this stuff helps. I too would like to see a sticky done for this type of thing.

There many little things we all look at when rehafting a tool. Check out some of the rehafting threads on the forum and see what kind of pointers people have been getting. Use their experiences to speed up your own.

 

[Davidfs]

That all makes a lot of sense thank you! and I have been reading up on the various restoration theads they are definately very helpfull!

 

[300Six]

Well stated jpeeler You can get away with murder when it comes to rehafting, but a lousy job does come back to bite you, sooner rather than later, and usually when you
are well away from home and are really counting on that tool to come through for you.