Stave to handle to axe

rockman0 · Jun 24, 2017

My 2nd using no power tools. Debarked with a hewing hatchet, Shaped with a hatchet, 3 rasps, large, medium, small, sandpaper and a hand saw. Actually 2 saws, mitre saw to cut the kerf and that wraps up the tools used. Hickory stave from the holler in KY, grown, harvested and riven by master carpenter Quinton. He is a stand up guy if there ever was one and best I can tell from past pictures a pretty good griller of pork.

Head is a 2.5 lb Plumb national pattern. Handle is 34" from the end of my unconventional swell but as held in hand it's 32". A 28" haft on a boys axe is just too short for a 6'5" guy with big hands and i really love the feel of this handle.

Beachlogger · Jun 24, 2017

Super nice

stevewest · Jun 24, 2017

Wow! That, my friend, is a work of art.

quinton · Jun 24, 2017

Wonderful job, rockman!
And thanks for the kind words.

Agent_H · Jun 24, 2017

Old-School outstanding!

I appreciate the pictures of the separate stages especially.

Square_peg · Jun 24, 2017

Exceptional!

300Six · Jun 24, 2017

Gorgeous, man! Endeavors such as this create nothing but envy from us mere peons. And for sure you're not doing it to save money either.

rockman0 · Jun 24, 2017

Thanks for the compliments guys!
It's just an exercise in days gone by axe hanging and shaping to your preferences. I have a hickory tree in my front yard that has my attention but the wife isn't on board yet...

Square_peg · Jun 24, 2017

Save that tree for the end of the world.

rockman0 · Jun 24, 2017

And the spotted owls

Square_peg said:
Save that tree for the end of the world.

Hacked · Jun 26, 2017

Fantastic work Rockman0! I like the way the swell came out. I prefer a little backsweep on the back of the handle to support your hand. I'm sure it makes for a fantastic chopper. I need to make another handle myself. I've just been too busy lately for much time in the shop.

rockman0 · Jun 26, 2017

Thanks Hacked! It's hard for me to find time too, I started on this one back at the end of February, an hour here and there on weekends and 4 months later it's done.

Hacked · Jun 27, 2017

rockman0 said:
Thanks Hacked! It's hard for me to find time too, I started on this one back at the end of February, an hour here and there on weekends and 4 months later it's done.

Yup that's basically how my projects go. Good to know it's not just me.

phantomknives · Jun 27, 2017

i like to use big limbs when i make handles, which is convenient because they're everywhere here. when ever a big red oak goes down i go steal a chunk of a thick limb.
sure it weighs 120 pounds for a 3 foot by 8 inch diameter section but its the tightest grain, most dense part of the tree. i split it in quarters so i can get good grain orientation. then i hew it with the adze and so on and so forth we've all made a "log handle", we know what happens.

sure red oak isnt as hard but this specific cut is just as tough. especially when it's dry.
The only thing i dont like about it is if it gets wet at all the entire handle turns black for some reason thats not mildew

markv · Jun 28, 2017

nice job man. KY hickory will do the trick. we have some good hickory here in Mudzoory but the bugs love it and we have to get it hung pretty quick or it goes to holes.
thanks again for posting.

buzz

rockman0 · Jun 28, 2017

markv said:
nice job man. KY hickory will do the trick. we have some good hickory here in Mudzoory but the bugs love it and we have to get it hung pretty quick or it goes to holes.
thanks again for posting.

buzz

Thanks buzz! There's no shortage of bugs down here in AR either, this piece laid out in my storage building awhile before I knocked the bark off but that was during the winter which isn't very cold compared to states north of here.

phantomknives said:
i like to use big limbs when i make handles, which is convenient because they're everywhere here. when ever a big red oak goes down i go steal a chunk of a thick limb.
sure it weighs 120 pounds for a 3 foot by 8 inch diameter section but its the tightest grain, most dense part of the tree. i split it in quarters so i can get good grain orientation. then i hew it with the adze and so on and so forth we've all made a "log handle", we know what happens.

sure red oak isnt as hard but this specific cut is just as tough. especially when it's dry.
The only thing i dont like about it is if it gets wet at all the entire handle turns black for some reason thats not mildew

I've never tried using a big limb but if it's working for you might as well stick with it !

junkenstien · Jun 28, 2017

Do limbs ever twist and split on you?

phantomknives · Jun 28, 2017

a little bit, but it's still salvageable depending on the twist

quinton · Jun 28, 2017

junkenstien said:
Do limbs ever twist and split on you?

General rule of thumb.. never want the heart in anything but a log.

quinton · Jun 28, 2017

markv said:
nice job man. KY hickory will do the trick. we have some good hickory here in Mudzoory but the bugs love it and we have to get it hung pretty quick or it goes to holes.
thanks again for posting.

buzz

I keep my staves stored in a closed greenhouse all year long. It's just to hot in there for beetles during their mating/boring stage. I've never had any damage to my staves over the years.