Improving grip on axe

A

Aodh

Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Messages
2
I bought this Norrlandr axe from Arms & Armor a few months back. Great quality, got a hardened edge welded on. I'd like to do some custom work on it, add some leather to improve the grip. I got the leather, just need help figuring out how to attach it. I don't want to head out to the shed and drive a screw into the shaft only to end up cracking or splitting the wood or otherwise damaging the axe. I'm pretty sure it's a hickory wood shaft.

Any suggestions? I prefer traditional methods but I keep an open mind. Super glue isn't my thing but if I gotta then I will
 
I am picturing crickets chirping in this thread. I would almost think you could try to lace it somehow. The first thing that comes to my mind is the way they lace leather steering wheel covers. There are lots of videos and how-tos out there. They use a curved needle for it but I would be willing to bet old timers or early people had a trick way of lacing things like that.
 
Yeah I was expecting a little more than a single reply to be honest.

Anyway I'm using a big leather strip, no wider than a 3 cm or so. I'm tied between twisting it into a handle or doing knot work on 3/4 of the shaft (it's not long enough for all of it). Im not really sure how to attach it though.
 
I have used contact cement to apply a leather wrap to Tomahawk handle. The leather lasted longer than the handle.
 
One traditional glue which could be used for this project is made by mixing wood ashes to pine sap. Add ashes until the pine sap is really super thick. To use it, heat it up until it becomes goopy again and apply. When it cools off it will harden. This is a sort-of natural primitive epoxy.

I wrapped a tomahawk handle with fine hemp cord using Gorilla Glue epoxy and it turned out great.
 
Professional Hockey players since time immemorial have used 'hockey tape' to ensure a decent grip. May not be the answer you wanted but I've posted it nevertheless.
 
the only grip enhancement any of my hickory handles get is pure beeswax rubbed in, heated in the sun or with a blow dryer, and rubbed in and buffed off. makes them stick in your hand very well, and keeps the sweat, dew, rain,coffee, and whatever else from getting into the wood.

i think any sort of wrap whether leather, paracord, or twine, would all end up giving blisters in very short order... beeswax helps prevent blister also.
 
I have had luck improving grip on a few axe handles, rifle stocks, and a baseball bat with tung oil.
several coats allowed to dry for few days at least, and a light brush with steel wool before applying subsequent coats seems to work best.

I like the beeswax suggestion as well, I believe Gransfors Bruks does this to their axes and they feel nice and secure.
It reminds me of an old timers trick I have seen around about a mixture of melted bees wax, BLO, and turpentine or mineral spirits, allowed to cool it makes a paste that you rub into your wooden tool handles. Turpentine allows it to soak deeper into the wood.
Found the video.
[youtube]7MFt3gM06JI[/youtube]
Better explanation;
[youtube]Nxl4M_QEDOY[/youtube]
 
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