Hand Making Axe Handles

[Wilhelm]

Cornelian Cherry handle I made for my small ax.
The shape is a natural curve.
Holding up very well, doesn't look to bad either.


Steel wedge.

 

[ajschainsaws]

That bamboo is densw chit.they say alaskan cedar is hard to work with too

Yeah agree with this , it’s just like those Caribbean hardwoods the sawdust from it , is just like snuff

 

[ajschainsaws]

If it is anything like flooring, it is very very dense material. Usually has some sort of epoxy type straightening material mixed in on stacked end grains. Hard stuff.

I tried putting a burn on it to see what it would look like and it went a yellow white immediately so defiantely epoxy In there

 

[ajschainsaws]

I got a bamboo cutting board its harder then maple or oak.i remember day my wife bought that heavy *b-word i had to carry it all over the damn mall.

That’s what I was thinking this axe is gonna be heavy

 

[ajschainsaws]

Here you go Wilheim.

Always like seeing this axe of wilhelms superb beast fit for any Viking
Thanks for posting @RI Chevy

 

[ajschainsaws]

I smack a steel wedge in till the handle starts "singing", drill a hole through the wedge and secure it with a nail that I peen over on the exit side.
I drilled the ax head to have holes going through both sides and made a small countersink for the nails head and the peened side.
Works pretty well, no more loosing the wedge at the most inconvenient moment.


It seems to be a rather local design.
Try searching images on Google for "bosanska sjekira" , mine is very close to that design.
It seems that these can almost exclusively be had from blacksmiths.

Mine is closest to image number 2, Bosanska
View attachment 104599

The wide eye is somewhat of an issue when one needs to replace the handle as the handles sold in shops have a much narrower eye end.

I got mine in my teenage years, over two decades ago.

Some fantastic styles on that paper I bet I wouldn’t be the only one who would like the brother to your axe

 

[ajschainsaws]

Cornelian Cherry handle I made for my small ax.
The shape is a natural curve.
Holding up very well, doesn't look to bad either.
View attachment 104650 View attachment 104651

Steel wedge.
View attachment 104652

Ive heard of this cherry from different people but I read up about it tonight and didn’t realise it was I; t(e dogwood family and it’s dense as hell perfect for(andles

 

[Wilhelm]

Ive heard of this cherry from different people but I read up about it tonight and didn’t realise it was I; t(e dogwood family and it’s dense as hell perfect for(andles

Around here people are so short sighted they crawl into the bushes, look for a old larger sized Cornelian Cherry brush and cut out only the stem to use it for maul and bat handles.

I have a property that borders on a Cornelian Cherry brush lot.
Multiple times per year some of my neighbors cut out the main stem of the largest and healthiest specimen - that kinda annoys me.
When I do bush clearances I cut down everything but the Cornelian Cherry.

As said before, I would love a Cornelian Cherry ax handle, but it is hard to find a piece that has the desired dimensions and straightness.
Cornelian Cherry tends to grow twisted within itself and nearby specimen.

 

[Wilhelm]

Always like seeing this axe of wilhelms superb beast fit for any Viking
Thanks for posting @RI Chevy

Has been reseated since.
Same old handle but new steel wedge driven in to max depth to secure the head.
Has seen a lot more work too, might need a sharpening soon.

New pictures

 

[ajschainsaws]

Has been reseated since.
Same old handle but new steel wedge driven in to max depth to secure the head.
Has seen a lot more work too, might need a sharpening soon.

New pictures
View attachment 104677 View attachment 104678
View attachment 104679 View attachment 104680

It’s just built for the job it’s intended for and does it well genuine Work horse

 

[RI Chevy]

Looks like very, very good steel used as well. Really different than anything I have seen in the USA.
Hits very hard with that long handle and Wilheim's muscle. Lol

 

[jakethesnake]

I might have cut a straight piece of maple today for testing purposes. I may try to split a section out of it for a handle. Just not sure about splitting it now and leaving outside. Bring it inside. Not sure about warping more than anything

 

[Wilhelm]

I might have cut a straight piece of maple today for testing purposes. I may try to split a section out of it for a handle. Just not sure about splitting it now and leaving outside. Bring it inside. Not sure about warping more than anything

Leave it longer than You intend to make the handle and let it dry at least partially un-split.

That's what I would do.

 

[XP_Slinger]

I might have cut a straight piece of maple today for testing purposes. I may try to split a section out of it for a handle. Just not sure about splitting it now and leaving outside. Bring it inside. Not sure about warping more than anything

Not a fix-all for cracking, but if you mix equal parts of hot water and regular Elmer’s glue then smear a thick coating on the end grain it does help hold it together. I haven’t had any problem with warping because flat sawn or split billets “cup” when they warp. Very easy to reshape the billet for a nice straight handle. Illustrated in this diagram

 

[XP_Slinger]

Just got back from the mill. Good lawd that was a more expensive trip than I anticipated. Makes me really glad that I’ll be milling my own slabs come spring.

 

[Philbert]

Have you considered, or tried, laminating some thinner boards to make a handle?

Philbert

 

[RI Chevy]

Good point. I have seen more waste on jobsites lately.
Maybe even glue 2 pieces of oak flooring together, then make handle from there. [emoji106]

 

[XP_Slinger]

Have you considered, or tried, laminating some thinner boards to make a handle?

Philbert

I’ve thought about it but don’t know jack about laminating wood and having it be strong. Could definitely create some great looking handles with dark and light layers.

 

[Philbert]

That's very big with high end canoe paddles.

Philbert

 

[XP_Slinger]

That's very big with high end canoe paddles.

Philbert

Yes sir it is. Some beautiful stuff in Adirondack canoe shops up here.