Re-Hafting a double bit axe.

valcas1

valcas1

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
934
There has been a lot of axe talk here lately and it has inspired me to start a project that has been on my bench for some time. I have been searching for a Marbles #15 double bit camp axe for about 2 years. I think it is the perfect axe for me. I was finally able to get my hands on just the axe head.

Comparison shot with Wetterling Large Hunter
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I think a 24" handle will give me nice balance. I have no experience making a axe handle so this is my best guess. This is going to be a prototype of sorts using some mahogany that I had in my shop. It didn't want to ruin a good piece of maple while learning.

I laid out what I thought would be a good pattern.
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Then started cutting off anything that didn't look like an axe handle.
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After marking the haft for the center line and scribing rough dimensions of the eye i can begin to remove wood. I then carefully started to work down the wood with rasps an sanders. It was a slow process because I was in uncharted waters for me.
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You can see in the next photo where the high spots are that need to be taken down.
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Moving along
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This is as far as I made it yesterday before running out of shop time.
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I will continue to show my progress if people want to see it. I would also like input from anyone who has any tips or tricks about fitting axe heads. Thanks for watching.

Things I did notice as they pertain to WSS. I can see how this could be done in the wilderness. The only power tools used to date on this project were the bandsaw. I know I could have done this by hand time permitting. I am sure the rest of the rough fitting could be achieved with just a knife.

Thanks again for watching as this unfolds.

Paul.
 
I would love to see your progress. Shoot me an email, I can send you Mason's 1920 book on axes. It has some great info about fitting heads.

I for one, would love to learn how to do this correctly.
 
Shoot me an email, I can send you Mason's 1920 book on axes. It has some great info about fitting heads.
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Joe, I will definitely shoot you an email. Thanks for such a generous offer.

Paul.
 
Cool project! Please keep us informed as to the progress. Don't forget once you've got it good and fitted to soak the head/haft in linseed oil for a good tight fit.

Joezilla said:
I would love to see your progress. Shoot me an email, I can send you Mason's 1920 book on axes. It has some great info about fitting heads.

I for one, would love to learn how to do this correctly.
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Is this an actual book, or a pdf file? The guys over in the Axe, Tomahawk, and Hatchet forum might be interested in it if it's the latter.
 
PDF. I've sent it out mass before I thought.
 
definatly a cool tutorial. looking forward to seeing the finished pruduct. i saw one of those marbles double bits at a gun and knife show a while ago, definatly a good looking axe.
 
Paul

I think that looks great. What is the weight of the head? I have a little Norlund double bit I have been thinking of putting a 19 or 20 inch haft on. I think you are smart for fitting it before carving out the rest of the haft. I would look into a product called "swell lock". You put it on the wedge and kerf just before you hammer the wedge home and it seems to lock it up good and tight.

I have copies of "The Ax Book" by D. Cook and "An Axe to Grind" by Bernie Weisgerber. They are both very good and borrow from Mason's "Woodsmanship" extensively. "An Axe to Grind" can be found as a pdf as well but a hard copy is free for the asking. I also requested the DVD set that is mentioned in the book but never did receive it.
 
Nice job. Let us know how the mahogany holds up. I usually just bought a hickory handle with good straight grain; I also pinned the head by boring a 3/16" hole through the head and handle and tapping in a nail. Are you going to have to thin the blade: hard to tell from the pix but it looks as if that ax was well used.
 
Nice progress so far.

I was also recently bitten by the axe bug so I re-hung a small belt axe. I found that 40 grit sandpaper worked wonderfully to remove the high spots on the haft where it bound in the head.

Keep it up I would love to see your progress. Cheers, Shane
 
i will be at a gun show this weekend, so i think ill keep a lookout for a smaller double bit head. seems like it would be fun to work with.
 
Alberta Ed said:
Nice job. Let us know how the mahogany holds up. I usually just bought a hickory handle with good straight grain; I also pinned the head by boring a 3/16" hole through the head and handle and tapping in a nail. Are you going to have to thin the blade: hard to tell from the pix but it looks as if that ax was well used.
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I'm wondering about the durability and strength of the mahogony handle as well. Keep us posted
 
What is the weight of the head? I have a little Norlund double bit I have been thinking of putting a 19 or 20 inch haft on. I think you are smart for fitting it before carving out the rest of the haft. I would look into a product called "swell lock". You put it on the wedge and kerf just before you hammer the wedge home and it seems to lock it up good and tight.
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Bigox,

I would say the head is around 2-2.5 lbs. From what I have seen the Norlunds are a bit smaller and I think that 16"-19" would work well on them. I am also on the lookout for one of them. Thanks for eh heads up on swell lock, I will check it out.

Are you going to have to thin the blade: hard to tell from the pix but it looks as if that ax was well used.
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Alberta Ed, I am going to rework the head when I am done. I figured there was no point in dealing with a razor sharp object at this point. I am also going to thin out the one bit and have one thicker, following conventional double bit wisdom. As far as the axe being well used. It actually doesn't look like it hase ever been sharpened. I think it just needs a good cleaning.

I'm wondering about the durability and strength of the mahogony handle as well. Keep us posted
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I am not actually going to use the mahogany for any hard use, I wanted to get the handle legnth and balance down before I used any good wood. I also wanted to practice fitting the haft to the head as it was the first time I have ever done this.

I will continue to post my progress. Thanks again for all the advice.

Paul
 
All though I have never made an axe handle from scratch. I have rehandled many axes.I like to through them when I was a teen. And dads policy was, you break it you fix it.:D funny when dad give me that first axe I rehandled many year later, it had the handle broken.:D
Roy
 
Great start. I would like to be informed of any progress being made. Anything that you can learn from is a great new addition to ones mindset.
 
valcas1
you were lucky indeed to find this jewel.
i make many handles . lately i've been trying out some straight grain black walnut. works easy enough, but i cant say how strong it will be.
ash is good, just make sure you have straight grain ( vertical, in line with the eye)
pecan is real good,same as hickory. looks like you are going to have a nice experience
all good
buzz
send an email if you want. i have more time to talk about axes this weekend.
 
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