Hand Making Axe Handles

[jakethesnake]

I like those draw shaves I personally don’t own any but I’d like to. I use a harbor freight belt sander with 40 grit for most of my shaping. Not sure that would work well on green wood. I read up on all this stuff a bit back @Scotty Overkill had a pretty good thread somewhere on handles he may could participate in this thread

 

[jakethesnake]

These round wedges work really well. Takes a pounding to get them into dry hickory but really holds up well in keeping the head of say a sledge hammer or likely an axe on tight

 

[jakethesnake]

You can cut the wooden wedges from leftover scrap from the handle material. You can also make the metal wedges if you have random scrap iron laying around

 

[Cracker Boy]

All sanded smooth as a babies bee hind. Just need to keep applying oil over the next few days.
View attachment 102677

I like that alot nice multi purpose. Hmmmm

 

[XP_Slinger]

I’ve never worked with any green wood nor have I ever done full sized axe handles. I even save my broken shovel handles from work to do hammers. Some folks don’t add the wooden wedge , only the metal ones. I believe the wooden wedge is very important. I’ll see if I can find some random handles I made at work.

Another option you can split your firewood down to make handles instead of buying planks. I can’t get my mitts on any hickory around here but for hatchets and short axes /boys axe I don’t think species makes much difference.

I like the wooden wedge too. When I drive them in, the handle wood usually ends up mushrooming over 1/16” beyond the eye. My pics don’t show it because I trim them down, next time I’ll post a pic before I trim it. I’m buying some seasoned wood so I can continue making handles until my own billets dry out. Working green wood is nice with a shave, but it doesn’t sand at all as you said. I now leave an extra 3” on each end of the handle so if it cracks while drying my handle isn’t ruined. Welcome to the handle thread man, I’d love to see some of your work. I just started doing this and I enjoy seeing other folks methods and styles.

 

[XP_Slinger]

You can cut the wooden wedges from leftover scrap from the handle material. You can also make the metal wedges if you have random scrap iron laying around

I’ve been making my own wedges out of hickory heart wood. It’s much harder than the sap wood and so far seems to be doing great. I will try those round wedges you posted eventually, I hear they work great. I’m not worried about using normal step wedges though, mainly because when I drive them in the wood isn’t splitting. That tells a guy right there that the fit is tight as all hell.

 

[XP_Slinger]

I like that alot nice multi purpose. Hmmmm

The more I handle it the more I like it. Think I’ll put a similar size on my Trojan boys axe, but it will have some curve to it. I’m excited to hang this one

 

[Scotty Overkill]

I like those draw shaves I personally don’t own any but I’d like to. I use a harbor freight belt sander with 40 grit for most of my shaping. Not sure that would work well on green wood. I read up on all this stuff a bit back @Scotty Overkill had a pretty good thread somewhere on handles he may could participate in this thread

Here's some recent handles I made from black locust for my ancient stone hammers....







I'll tell you one thing, I found an 18th century curved draw knife on ebay a while back and it works AMAZING for whittling down a axe/hammer handle. This knife makes pretty quick work of it.



Sometimes I'll cheat and get the handle roughed to size with the lathe first, but always use the curved draw knife to finish it off.

I'll be forging several copies of this draw knife from spring steel later this winter once Joe and I get the forge fired up, hoping that happens in January. I'll post up about it when I get the knives done.

Believe me, these knives are incredible for carving handles.

 

[RI Chevy]

Nice work.

 

[Cracker Boy]

The more I handle it the more I like it. Think I’ll put a similar size on my Trojan boys axe, but it will have some curve to it. I’m excited to hang this one
View attachment 103049

Spose to meet a lady that has a some old ones cheap soon.

 

[jakethesnake]

Here's some recent handles I made from black locust for my ancient stone hammers....

View attachment 103084

View attachment 103086

View attachment 103087

I'll tell you one thing, I found an 18th century curved draw knife on ebay a while back and it works AMAZING for whittling down a axe/hammer handle. This knife makes pretty quick work of it.

View attachment 103083

Sometimes I'll cheat and get the handle roughed to size with the lathe first, but always use the curved draw knife to finish it off.

I'll be forging several copies of this draw knife from spring steel later this winter once Joe and I get the forge fired up, hoping that happens in January. I'll post up about it when I get the knives done.

Believe me, these knives are incredible for carving handles.

If you happen to make an extra draw knife. I’d be interested in buying one if you’d be interested in selling one. If not all good in the hood. Your thread on these handles helped me out a lot when I did my first handles. Thanks for adding to the thread Nice work to all you fellas. I think I have some hatchets an hammers Layin around at work I’ll try to remember where they are and to grab some pictures

 

[Philbert]

I found an 18th century curved draw knife on ebay a while back and it works AMAZING for whittling down a axe/hammer handle.

That curved shape makes a lot of sense for handles.

Philbert

 

[XP_Slinger]

Here's some recent handles I made from black locust for my ancient stone hammers....

View attachment 103084

View attachment 103086

View attachment 103087

I'll tell you one thing, I found an 18th century curved draw knife on ebay a while back and it works AMAZING for whittling down a axe/hammer handle. This knife makes pretty quick work of it.

View attachment 103083

Sometimes I'll cheat and get the handle roughed to size with the lathe first, but always use the curved draw knife to finish it off.

I'll be forging several copies of this draw knife from spring steel later this winter once Joe and I get the forge fired up, hoping that happens in January. I'll post up about it when I get the knives done.

Believe me, these knives are incredible for carving handles.

Nice Work man, looks great. I’ve never seen a shave like that, I’d be interested in one when you get to making them

 

[XP_Slinger]

Well I’m back to ground zero as I have given away all the axes with handles I made for Christmas. The last one I made was for my brother @RIDE-RED 350r . He was in the barn working on a saw while I was making it so I was asking him what he would want for a wedge driver while I was making “my” wedge driver. Lol. Worked out well I think, can’t wait to get some more wood from that mill and get started on some more handles. Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[jakethesnake]

Merry Christmas

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Yep, one of the coolest Christmas presents I've ever got. Not sure if I even want to use it being as pretty as it is

 

[XP_Slinger]

Yep, one of the coolest Christmas presents I've ever got. Not sure if I even want to use it being as pretty as it is

If you don’t use it I want it back...lol! But I’m glad you like it Joe

 

[heritageguy20051]

This has really become a great thread. Makes me want to use my hand tools even more! I think a new spokeshave may be a nice addition. Merry Christmas guys!

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[XP_Slinger]

This has really become a great thread. Makes me want to use my hand tools even more! I think a new spokeshave may be a nice addition. Merry Christmas guys!

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

Hell yes! This has become a great thread and I think we would all love to see your work.

 

[RI Chevy]

This and the Ax thread are 2 of my favorites. [emoji106]
We have some very talented guys here!