Handle fitted issue

[MBAIGENT]

Hi everyone. Am new to this forum, my knowledge with knives, aces etc is pretty much minimal but I do have a keen fondness of refurbishing old axes head and giving them a new lease of life. I have fitted a few larger handle to felling axes but this was my first small hatchet. I purchased and old skinner and Johnson axe head, (1lb ish) for my girlfriend for when I'm chopping up kindling she can help out a little. Unfortunately the wedge had been delivered had cracked but it was a bit larger than the eye so I tidied up where it had cracked and used the 2 parts of the wedge as one. All fitted ok but when hitting the metal wedge in the handle cracked where it mushrooms over the eye of axe. I'm sorry if all my terminology is incorrect, not too savvy with it all! Just trying to get a picture so I can show you all.

Thanks for reading and for any help

 

[Tymowens]

As long as the crack doesn't go all the way through the eye you should be perfectly fine. Very common with metal wedges.

 

[MBAIGENT]

It doesn't seem to it just has quite a bit of mushrooming on top and the wood around the wedge is rather thin.

 

[MBAIGENT]

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[Lieblad]

As far as using it to chop wood & whatnot, thats no problem.

If you are OCD axe perfectionist,(what seem near epidemic numbers affected)
It will keep you up nights with cold sweat.

Btw, that is a very cool style handle. Did you customise a factory job ?

 

[MBAIGENT]

That's good, it's only small and she will be using it so can't imagine there will be much force put upon it... Unless I grab hold of it! Yes, it's a faithful tools handle which I don't think are the best quality but easiest I can get hold of and yes, used a rasp and a spokeshave and shaped it to her hand slightly!

 

[rjdankert]

. . .but when hitting the metal wedge in the handle cracked where it mushrooms over the eye of axe. . .

The wooden wedge forced the handle left and right. The metal wedge put force in all directions. This put additional force left and right, and "that was the straw that broke the camel's back."

my two cents

Bob

 

[MBAIGENT]

Are the metal wedges necessary or are they used if there is still room left to secure the head?

 

[300Six]

Are the metal wedges necessary or are they used if there is still room left to secure the head?

Conical metal wedges are a convenient way to avoid having to exhibit foresight. The reason wood wedges don't crack or split things is they expand a pre-made groove (kerf) that was specifically provided for them. Metal wedges on the other hand can be pounded in whenever and wherever. The radial forces of expansion by the cone wedge on yours split the unrestrained wood. Chances are these splits don't extend inside the eye since the wood is tightly contained (hopefully) in there already.
Enjoy your axe and don't worry at all about the head flying off; cone wedges are effective. But next time around stay away from wedge designs or materials that don't require a pre-made hole or a slot).