Thrane Axe & Saw Axe Refurb

jeremy1517

jeremy1517

Joined
Sep 11, 2012
Messages
1,036
I recently had Nick Thrane make me up a custom pack axe. He found me a nice 1.75 lb Wetterlings. He put it on a hand made 22" laminated handle made from Ash and Hickory. He also made me a blue sheath for the Axe.

I absolutely LOVE how the axe turned out! the axe is perfectly balanced and feels incredible in the hand. Just wanted to share the great work Thrane's did for me!!

What do you think?


12540572_1095521910466804_8045971046998103769_n.jpg

12662643_1098706506815011_8131014042406184937_n.jpg

12654607_1099355453416783_3394235240612195117_n.jpg

12651133_1099657393386589_2987027252841865644_n.jpg
 
Lovely looking tool and I feel badly about having to ask: Ash and Hickory? You are one of the very few on here to field a "glu-lam" haft. I can very well see that the maker of this handle perfectly understands wood grain orientation but why then the layers and why two pale-coloured types of wood? Having to shape a $10 premium House Handle Co. (or some such) blank or billet is not 'the end of the world' labour-wise and sure beats having to spend time making and gluing strips of (presumably scrap) woods together that are inevitably going to weaken or 'part company' due to time and weather.
 
Well 300Six...The Simple answer is I wanted to try something different and test the theory that laminated axe handles are inferior to solid handles.

I chose Hickory and Ash because My longbow I made and hunt with is made from Hickory and Ash.

If it doesn't work out well I can easily throw on a new handle....
 
It could possibly work. Many beams used in houses and other construction are laminated beams, which if I remember correctly, can give even more stability, weight holding capabilities, etc than a regular single piece of wood.

The idea of an axe handle being laminated, at this stage, I would say is more trial and error, or perhaps boutique, or whatever term I can't think of right now. If it was oiled and well kept, not excessively abused, it very well could work. Time, cost, etc wise, it might not be a viable option, but as we have discussed in different avenues on here, world is a big place now, lots of people in it, and some people will buy it, and some won't. More importantly, that's ok.

Hopefully we will get some feedback on it, weight, balance, feel, vibration, cost, inside storage vs outside, oiled vs non, etc to see how it does, but I think true results will take a long time to actually see.
 
jeremy1517 said:
Well 300Six...The Simple answer is I wanted to try something different and test the theory that laminated axe handles are inferior to solid handles.

I chose Hickory and Ash because My longbow I made and hunt with is made from Hickory and Ash.

If it doesn't work out well I can easily throw on a new handle....
Click to expand...

I can certainly see an economic future for partially laminated hafts. Much of a conventional billet is wasted in order to craft a shoulder and butt that is 5/4 thick whereas the working part of a handle is generally in around 7/8". Careful and proper lamination at these strategic locations would enable carvers and turners to use much thinner pieces of wood without sacrificing overall strength.

Chances are you take good care of your stuff so it will probably be quite awhile before you can offer comments on whether laminated handles are inferior to solids, unless you intentionally start leaving this axe out in the elements and full sun for extended periods.
 
300Six said:
I can certainly see an economic future for partially laminated hafts. Much of a conventional billet is wasted in order to craft a shoulder and butt that is 5/4 thick whereas the working part of a handle is generally in around 7/8". Careful and proper lamination at these strategic locations would enable carvers and turners to use much thinner pieces of wood without sacrificing overall strength.
Click to expand...

This is a very interesting concept to me. Curious to hear how the laminated handle fares with time myself. Good lookin tool!
 
I think the modulus of elasticity would be lower for a laminated haft than for a pure hickory haft. But as far as durability goes I don't think there would be a problem. Uncle Pimpy (Jesse Reed) does lots of laminated hafts. If they were all coming back he'd stop making them.
 
jeremy1517 said:
I recently had Nick Thrane make me up a custom pack axe. . .
What do you think? . . .
Click to expand...
The whole package looks great to me.

jeremy1517 said:
W. . . I wanted to try something different and test the theory that laminated axe handles are inferior to solid handles. . .
Click to expand...
Good for you. If I am correct, Nick's website says your handle is a protype. So it looks like you will be the first to use a Nick Thrane laminated axe handle?

Square_peg said:
. . . Uncle Pimpy (Jesse Reed) does lots of laminated hafts. . .
Click to expand...
He may have other venues he sells in that I don't know about, but only a tiny percentage of the handles shown on his facebook page
Uncle Pimpy's Axe Palace are laminated.

Square_peg said:
. . . If they were all coming back he'd stop making them.
Click to expand...
Maybe he has. :)

Bob
 
rjdankert said:
He may have other venues he sells in that I don't know about, but only a tiny percentage of the handles shown on his facebook page "]Uncle Pimpy's Axe Palace" are laminated.
Click to expand...

He sells a lot in ebay. That's his real business. He's been doing it for years. It's his full time job.
 
Square_peg said:
I think the modulus of elasticity would be lower for a laminated haft than for a pure hickory haft. But as far as durability goes I don't think there would be a problem. Uncle Pimpy (Jesse Reed) does lots of laminated hafts. If they were all coming back he'd stop making them.
Click to expand...

I'm curious about the idea of only doing the shoulder and swell. For instance, if you could only get 1" Hickory or something.
 
Laminates are very strong and last a long time. Much stronger than solid wood. They began being used in airplane wings for the spar in 1950's. But they cost more to build which may be the draw back for this application. DM
 
David Martin said:
Laminates are very strong and last a long time. Much stronger than solid wood. They began being used in airplane wings for the spar in 1950's. But they cost more to build which may be the draw back for this application. DM
Click to expand...

Is doing it right more involved than clamping the pieces together with wood glue? Maybe a couple pins ... or not.
 
I've seen guys making laminated bows using a bow press and the layers of wood and epoxy it together. As with anything there's a learning curve. Some tricks of the trade. Still, these guys I wouldn't consider them rocket scientist. It is basic and can be learned. From what I've seen, that's about it. Forms, a press and glue the layers together. Let it dry and shape it. Good luck, DM
 
David Martin said:
Laminates are very strong and last a long time. Much stronger than solid wood. They began being used in airplane wings for the spar in 1950's. But they cost more to build which may be the draw back for this application. DM
Click to expand...

Physical and structural properties of laminates are infinitely easier to ascertain and the material is rigorously consistent in comparison to sawn lumber. Plus you can pre-form laminates. None of this is indicative of laminates being stronger. Just more uniform.
Sure a Glu-lam floor joist or lintel is rated to span a greater distance but that's because building code specs for lumber intentionally err on the side of caution knowing that resin pockets, knots, splits and blems are inherent to most lifts of natural material.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top