Wedges slipping out

[Curt Hal]

So I took two axes to my BIL's farm to check them out. One was a 3.5 lb Andes felling axe on a 36" straight haft from HH. The other was a Swedish HB, 2.5 lb. on a 28" octagonal handle. Both were newly rehafted using wooden wedges. We picked a dead poplar 12-14" in diameter. We used both axes. Once we felled the tree, we noticed the wedges on both axes had popped out about 1/4 of an inch. What causes that and what can I do? Usually, when I finish rehanging an ax, I invert it in BLO so that the wedge and the haft swell up. I don't use glue or aluminum wedges. I hadn't soaked these guys because it's too cold outside. It as about -20 C (-2F). Any ideas?

 

[Square_peg]

You can prevent this if you have enough experience to know when your wedge is about 1/8" from stopping.
When you hang your axe leave the haft 1/4" proud like we all do. Then stop driving your wedge just short of tight. Let it sit overnight and then trim the wedge flush to the haft. Then use a flat bar of steel to punch the wedge that last 1/8". The ends of the haft will swell over the wedge locking it in place.

 

[300Six]

Just guessing here. How smooth are those wedges? If they readily come out try roughing them up against or across the grain to improve their friction grip. Other is to reduce the angle so they don't pinch as much and want to pop out like a squeezed bar of soap.

 

[Curt Hal]

Thanks! All good advice. I am going to try Square Peg's solution. Also, thinking about 300Six's advise, I have been sanding the wedges to make them easier to pound in more easily, but that is likely the exact wrong thing to do. Luckily, the heads did not become loose at all.

 

[Square_peg]

The sanding was likely the problem. Easy in - easy out.