Help me choose an axe handle for 2.5 lb single bit

rjdankert

rjdankert

Joined
Mar 10, 2011
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2,647
Hi, I have a Hults Bruk head I want to refurbish and put a handle on. Hope this doesn't sound snobbish, but I don't want a hardware or big box store handle for this head. Here is the head and a couple of patterns I made (28 in long)



I imagine I'd use it for limbing, kindling, and maybe bucking small diameter logs.

First question is deciding on the shape. As you can see I have made one pattern curved and the other pretty much straight.

Next is handle material. I have some 4/4 rough sawn Hickory boards from my area (southwest MI). They are one inch thick so obviously a handle would be thinner. I have some White Ash that I could rive a blank out of. And I have some 5/4 red oak and 4/4 white oak which I think is a little over an inch.

Appreciate any thoughts and thanks for looking.
 
I would do the hickory with the curved, but any of those would work. Looking forward to the finished product.
 
Stick with the hickory. Ash or white oak would be the next choices.

Here are a couple of my axes in that size/weight category. The top one (vintage Craftsman) has what I think is nearly a perfect handle. Feels amazing in the hands. The Collins below that has a new handle that is too thin in the swell - hence the friction tape to improve the grip.

Boys%20axes.JPG
 
Haft ergonomics is a very personal thing. And often depends on what you are used to. Seeking advice from others in this regard is sort of like asking what beer to drink. As to overall length 28 inch is pretty much average for a 2.5 lb head, but then again someone will say 26 is great and someone else will claim that 30 is perfect and someone else will tell you they built an entire house, split all of the stove/heating wood and killed a grizzly bear with a 24 inch version.
 
Yes, handle shape is subjective and personal. But he asked for opinions so we should post up what we all like and see if a pattern develops.
 
The craftsman square peg posted is awesome. I'd want that swell combined with the shape of the lower cardboard shape in your original post.
 
Axe Master '94 said:
Double Ott- that bottom handle is an absolute beauty!
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Thank you! It is a slim 28" fawns foot. I don't remember where I bought these.

Here is the same handle on a Hults Bruk Agdor Montreal pattern axe. I sanded off the varnish and stained it with a dark walnut color on this one.

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Tom
 
Thanks to all of you for the replies. I especially appreciate the pictures - gives me many handle shape options to consider and make patterns from:D.
 
I'm thinking you'd want an inch and a half for the swell - maybe a little more, you could get away with a little less, but an inch isn't gonna give you much.
 
cityofthesouth said:
I'm thinking you'd want an inch and a half for the swell - maybe a little more, you could get away with a little less, but an inch isn't gonna give you much.
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Right, at best I could get 7/8 or so. That's why I gave the dimensions of what I have on hand. Just measured the only 28 in handle I have (from a BB store). The width swell is 1 3/8 in. The White Ash I have would let me rive a blank to get that dimension. Of course It would be nice to use what I already have. A nearby lumber mill has 6/4 ($4.25 per bd ft) and 8/4 ($5.00 per bd ft) slabs of Hickory. I've bought there before and was very happy with the wood and the people.

Thanks
 
rjdankert said:
Right, at best I could get 7/8 or so. That's why I gave the dimensions of what I have on hand. Just measured the only 28 in handle I have (from a BB store). The width swell is 1 3/8 in. The White Ash I have would let me rive a blank to get that dimension. Of course It would be nice to use what I already have. A nearby lumber mill has 6/4 ($4.25 per bd ft) and 8/4 ($5.00 per bd ft) slabs of Hickory. I've bought there before and was very happy with the wood and the people.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Sounds like the way to go to me, especially if you want to make something nice. One of my favorite handles has a swell that's almost 1-3/4. I'd be tempted to go 8/4 but I have a tendency to redecorate my shop with dust and shavings pretty often.
 
Double Ott said:
Most of these boys axes are around a 2.5 Lb. head. Take your pick of a handle style.

[URL=http://s810.photobucket.com/user/doubleott/media/Boys%20Axes/BoysAxesGroupshot005.jpg.html][/URL]

Tom
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They all look nice, but my favorite it the straight handled one. I have a modern cheap axe with similar straight and slightly thick/chunky handle and it is very versatile plus easy on my hands. I feel like an outlaw because everyone loves very slender handles, but between the size of my hands and various problems with them, a little more wood is better. I really like straight handles, esp nowadays when wood selection I'd poor to start with and sawn to add insult to injury. Finding a straight handle without runout is much easier.
 
BG_Farmer said:
They all look nice, but my favorite it the straight handled one. I have a modern cheap axe with similar straight and slightly thick/chunky handle and it is very versatile plus easy on my hands. I feel like an outlaw because everyone loves very slender handles, but between the size of my hands and various problems with them, a little more wood is better. I really like straight handles, esp nowadays when wood selection I'd poor to start with and sawn to add insult to injury. Finding a straight handle without runout is much easier.
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The straight helved boys axe is a Norlund Cabin axe. I don't know if it is the original handle...But I think it is...

Tom
 
Double Ott said:
The straight helved boys axe is a Norlund Cabin axe. I don't know if it is the original handle...But I think it is...

Tom
Click to expand...

Quick aside/hijack: How do you like the Norlund Cabin Axe Doube Ott? I have one and love it the more I use it. My non-original handle is slim and curved, but only fills about 4/5ths of the eye (which makes me nervous). Does the helve on yours feel like a short full-size handle? I'm trying to decide what to order for it, and not many of these seem to be floating around.
 
cityofthesouth said:
Sounds like the way to go to me, especially if you want to make something nice. One of my favorite handles has a swell that's almost 1-3/4. I'd be tempted to go 8/4 but I have a tendency to redecorate my shop with dust and shavings pretty often.
Click to expand...

This followed me home yesterday:


Short version. 10 bf of 8/4 Hickory for $53 (including sales tax).

Long version. I stopped in the office and told them what I wanted. I needed to go to the lumber barn and see Jason. Jason was in his truck and heading out to lunch. I told them I could come back. They said no and one of the guys there went out and flagged him down. Jason turned around and I followed him in my car back to the lumber barn. The 8/4 hickory was buried at the bottom of a large stack behind another large stack and a large piece of equipment. There was also a forklift in the way (which apparently couldn't be used for the job). I started to feel bad about keeping him from lunch for a relatively small stick of wood. I suggested that I could come back, but he said no. So the forklift got moved and he came in with a large bobcat and dug out the 8/4. I picked a board that was 8 in wide and 9 ft long. They sell the boards as 8 ft but cut them longer. If my math is right, I actually got 12 bf. I didn't come there expecting to bring a 9 ft board home in my car, so I asked about cutting it and offered to pay. I asked to have it cut in three pieces. I figured one length for full size, one for boys, and one for hatchets. Of course no charge.
 
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