Picking up where I left off on that old broad axe. The handle sat inside for the past 7 weeks. It's good and dry now and hopefully has stabilized its shape.
I spray painted the ends of the handle for the drying process. Sealing the ends helps the wood to dry more evenly along its entire length. This lessens cracking and checking. I got a slight bit of cracking on the ends but not so much that I couldn't trim it away.
The wood twisted slightly as it dried, maybe 2° or 3° from the eye end to the knob end. Garry Oak is known for doing this. Thankfully I had left enough material to straighten the twist out while I finished the shaping of the handle.
I began by working on the eye with a Surform planer.
I held the haft up against the eye of the axe and just freehanded the initial curve of the eye of the haft.
Here the eye is beginning to take shape. There is a deep sense of satisfaction as your axe starts slipping onto your hand made handle.
Soon the eye was formed and I started to work on the rest of the handle. I still have some shaping and sanding to do but it looks like an axe handle now. I'll hold off wedging it until I'm satisfied with the finish of the haft.
I let a little bit of the haft protrude through the eye of the axe. After I wedge it I'll trim it off about 1/4" long, following the shape of the axe.
I kept the bit covered with tape while fitting the handle as a safety precaution. The axe is razor sharp.
There are a few tiny knots in the handle but they're nothing that will effect the usage of the tool.
This small Douglas Fir will likely be it's first test.
The curve of the haft may look extreme.
But once you put your forehand on it you realize that you need to keep your hand that far away from the work or you will 'bark your knuckles' - not a good thing to do when swinging an 8 pound axe.