What do you do to protect your wood handle from damage?

Pipeman said:
I did this wrap with heavy cow rawhide. Sewing it on wet helps it shrink tight around the shoulder.

Regards

Robin

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Looks good...but I don't see any scuff marks on it from use. :D
I usually don't have issues with overstriking either, but occasionally when limbing out a tree you are going to catch the handle on some brush or skid along the trunk. In a field carry axe that is being utilized for a number of uses it eventually is going to get some abrasions then splinters. I learned from the carpentry trade that if you use a wood or fiberglass handle hammer tape wrap goes a long way in extending the handle life. Two other reasons why I like tape is that it lessens the opportunity of the handle breaking and the head flying off and you can quickly dress up abrasions by replacing the tape. I use black tape so the aesthetics are not bad at all if you do a neat wrap job.
 
thunderstick said:
My question is specifically related to protecting the wood near the bit where it could get marred from splitting or an overstrike. I wrap the first few inches with Hockey stick tape on many of my axes. It adheres when cold, is designed to take impact, and works well to keep the wood from splintering. What do you do? I notice that most of the axes pictured do not utilize protection.
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Dont overstrike. Think twice strike once.
 
"Dont overstrike. Think twice strike once."

Sound advice...but for those who use an axe as a tool for real work (rather than merely bushcraft weekends) over a period of time will have handle abrasions.
 
I've never used anything like that. I don't think it would do much apart from protect against scratches, unless you really went crazy (like those rubber maul protectors).
 
thunderstick said:
"Dont overstrike. Think twice strike once."

Sound advice...but for those who use an axe as a tool for real work (rather than merely bushcraft weekends) over a period of time will have handle abrasions.
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That's funny you say that...Operator is a huge "bushcrafter!" now watch him get really pissed...:D
 
G-pig said:
I've never used anything like that. I don't think it would do much apart from protect against scratches, unless you really went crazy (like those rubber maul protectors).
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I used bike innertubes to make a protective collar and cap for my pick mattock to protect the handle from rocks. It's done quite a bit to protect it because it diffuses impact from edges or points over a wider area. You might still get a shallow dent if you have a particularly nasty impact, but it'll be much less severe. Not an axe handle, but similar at least.
 
I typically whip about 4-6 inches of the handle under the head with nylon cord/rope and apply a light coat of superglue to keep it in place. Similar to the rawhide/paracord options above.

Frosty
 
I'm sharing this because it does work quite well--even in cold weather. Hockey tape is made to withstand some hard impacts and will work well on your handle unless you really abuse it. I played hockey for 14 years and thought about trying this and have been pleased. I had a splitting axe from my grandpa with a wood handle that I wrapped pretty heavily and it lasted for 20 years--just replaced the tape from time to time. I replaced the handle last year because it was starting wiggle a bit when the axe stuck an not because handle was splintering.
 
I use mostly fabric-tape to protect the handle from damage. That´s not beautiful, but cheap, everywhere available and can be removed at all the times easily.

Kind regards
 
I scarcely know what that word means. But I worked in the woods for 40 years and made my own firewood all my life. I used to sell firewood during spring breakup. Me and my partner would cut it down, skid it out with an IHC 500 and split it by hand. We had a kid who piled it on the truck and on a good day we'd do 8 cords. (2 truckloads)
I'm past my prime and make a lot less now, but 7 years ago, I could still light a match with a swing on a 36" handle with a single bit Kelly about 25% of the time. I'm 65 and I still help my son make firewood for sale. Although we use a gas splitter now. The majority of my hand splitting these days is kindling.
 
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Not sure if this makes sense, but being new here, here we go. I like to wrap my single bit handle directly below the head with aluminum, then either electrical tape or duct tape. This seems to work well. And aluminum cans will work well for this, might have to put multiple layers, thats all.

Thanks.
 
markv said:
i've thought about using old kevlar airbag material and epoxy.
anybody try it?
i can get the used airbags from the local body shop.

buzz
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Be sure it's KEVLAR! I've spent nearly all my life around autobody shops and my interest in the material led to some testing. Most of what I've seen isn't kevlar. I don't think it'd be much different than the fiberglass and resin mentioned.
 
Kevlar comes in lots of different varieties as well. Not all are suitable for laminating.
 
Where i live, a whole lotta people split wood - every year, with axes.

They take a heavy-duty metal can, usually tin, and wrap that around the front side of the axe-handle (behind the edge).

Fold it around to the backside flat.

Nail it in place.

They've been doing this for generations and it works AWESOME.
 
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