Hand Making Axe Handles

[ajschainsaws]

Sounds a lot faster than shaving it down. You sir are a handle factory

Yes it is quite fast I find you can turn your rasp and shave with the grain with out tearing the edges
I see offcuts of wood and clean them off with the grinder and flap disc and put them down , but can’t leace them alone I gotta make a start

Have you got any axes too make up soon

 

[RI Chevy]

I finally did some hand milling of a nice straight piece of swamp cherry. I plan on trying to make a couple of hatchet handles and hammer handles. I will get a better judge after it dries out a little. Its basically heart wood. Probably about 1.5 inches thick.

 

[jakethesnake]

Try cutting the sides outta a round @RI Chevy
That’s where the grain you want is. I’ll never say it won’t work. But. The runout is every bit of the whole stick. It may not work.
The edges certainly will though

 

[jakethesnake]

It may likely just break in half

 

[jakethesnake]

Ahhh *s-word. That’ll work Chevy. Just mainly use the outsides of what you have there. I’m trippin. I see now. Two pictures of same piece.

 

[RI Chevy]

Lol. I am more curious than anyone. The branch wood from cherry dries rock hard, so I figured I would try something in the name of science. It it doesn't work then back to the drawing board. Lol

 

[ajschainsaws]

Lol. I am more curious than anyone. The branch wood from cherry dries rock hard, so I figured I would try something in the name of science. It it doesn't work then back to the drawing board. Lol

I gotta branch from a cherry drying for three months now it’s still in the round
Can’t wait for you too get this shaped up and get those colours shine through
On a handle

 

[RI Chevy]

I cut up more of a large rock hard pin oak. I decided to try more milling. I figure I will try this too in Ax and Hatchet handles. This is already dried by 4 years or so. Any thoughts?

 

[jakethesnake]

I cut up more of a large rock hard pin oak. I decided to try more milling. I figure I will try this too in Ax and Hatchet handles. This is already dried by 4 years or so. Any thoughts?

I think it’ll make fine handles. It’s ready to be worked. Hard and dry.

 

[ajschainsaws]

That should go perfect Jeff

 

[XP_Slinger]

Didn’t make a handle for this one, but my youngest, JJ who is 11 sanded the store bought handle and rubbed some oil into it after I hung a 2lb boys ax on it. I’ll post some pics after he’s got it all done.

 

[RI Chevy]

Nice Josh!

 

[XP_Slinger]

Nice Josh!

Thanks Jeff, pretty happy that I got him in the barn doing something. He grabbed one of the store bought handles I use for a template and asked if he could have his own ax. Couldn’t say no to that

 

[RI Chevy]

Outstanding! [emoji106]

 

[XP_Slinger]

Finally made a handle for my Trojan ax today. I didn’t trace a store bought handle for the shape this time, just shaved it out so it was comfortable in my hand. I’ll be using it for a camping ax so I opted for a compact 18” handle. It feels great and I’m very happy with it so far, looking forward to sanding and finishing it tomorrow.



The hang is darn near perfect, resting an inch and a half from the heel with the end of the handle on the ground. It’s gonna swing and chop nice.

 

[RI Chevy]

Cool Josh.
Does that slight curve make ut swing better?

 

[XP_Slinger]

Cool Josh.
Does that slight curve make ut swing better?

Yes sir it does. When a handle is curved properly to align with how the ax is hung the bit strikes the wood square instead of too much on the heel or toe. I’m a rookie so that’s the best I can explain it...lol.

 

[RI Chevy]

Ahhh. Gotcha. Nice.
I am trying to learn as much as I can so I can even get to being rookie status. Lol

 

[XP_Slinger]

Ahhh. Gotcha. Nice.
I am trying to learn as much as I can so I can even get to being rookie status. Lol

Check this out Jeff, I learned a lot from this. I don’t get it right every time but at least I know what to strive for.

https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf99232823/pdf99232823Pdpi72pt05.pdf

 

[ajschainsaws]

Superb job again very nice combination , that link you put up very good read