I recently put a new handle on one of my axes, Its a straight 36 inch handle on a 3 1/2 pound head. I seated it down to my prefrence, wedged it and took it out for a test. After about a half an hour of chopping I noticed around a 36th of an inch movement of the head off the handle. I chopped for another half hour and it dident move any more. Shound I be worried about the head comming off? It seems to be tight now.
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New axe handle
- Thread starter zakkmann
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- Nov 23, 2010
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If it's not moving anymore I would not worry about it coming off. Sometimes they have to get "aligned' from some use. I replace a lot of handles on axe's and mauls (an axe with a sledge hammer on the back). The maul weighs like 7 pounds and even if there is a little wiggle to it I have never had one fly off. Usually after ton's of use the first thing to break is the handle it's self.
-kng
-kng
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Sounds like you should be fine - the head is bound to move around just a wee bit the first time it has a couple hard impacts. After that it tends to settle in and tighten.
A not so horrendous idea is to hang the handle using only the wooden wedge first, coat the thing in linseed so the wood expands, get some use on it so that it fully seats and settles in and only then drive the metal one in if you so choose (or leave it out until you see that it begins to loosen somewhat a year or two down the line).
A not so horrendous idea is to hang the handle using only the wooden wedge first, coat the thing in linseed so the wood expands, get some use on it so that it fully seats and settles in and only then drive the metal one in if you so choose (or leave it out until you see that it begins to loosen somewhat a year or two down the line).
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yep! linseed oil...
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Or you can use various glues on the handle before you hang it. Some guys like this, some don't. I have only "glued" a couple heads, and when I say this I mean glue all over the handle and then also in the space for the wood wedge. Not to the point where you get the Permabond look like on some of the new Plumbs, but just enough for a little extra sticky sticky.
I would agree with the fact of hanging it, using it, then looking at it. I am not a big fan of the metal wedge scene myself, but if you have to use one, I would hang the head, use it like you did, then put in the metal wedge. If you are going to be using the axe on a somewhat regular basis I would use only the wood wedge and then soak the whole head in order to make sure everything is tight.
Bottom line if you hang it right, you shouldn't ever have the "fly off the handle" issue. Hopefully anyway.
I would agree with the fact of hanging it, using it, then looking at it. I am not a big fan of the metal wedge scene myself, but if you have to use one, I would hang the head, use it like you did, then put in the metal wedge. If you are going to be using the axe on a somewhat regular basis I would use only the wood wedge and then soak the whole head in order to make sure everything is tight.
Bottom line if you hang it right, you shouldn't ever have the "fly off the handle" issue. Hopefully anyway.