Axe Handles for older stuff

Re: Axe Handles for older stuff

Dean J in MN


>You make them of course -- St. Roy describes the process far better than I could even try.

-Dean

Re: Axe Handles for older stuff *LINK*

Mike Hamilton


>Responded to Al on the Looking for Something board but will put this here as well for any interested.

This place has gotten a coupla kudos on the Old Tools List recently.

Regards,

Mike Hamilton

Plainfield, IN


hillbilly handles

Re: Axe Handles for older stuff

Thom D


>I'm just finishing up a broadaxe handle at the moment. I just used some red oak I had lying around, riven stock. Not the best choice, particularly due to the texture, but overall you can use pretty much any durable species you have around. I'd rather use something other than hickory rather than the average piece of hickory one gets in a handle these days. Also a lot of handles are flattened into uncomfortable shapes in order to get handles out of thiner boards. Whenever I buy a tool I check as many as I can for grain orientation, quality, and runout. I also study the angle of the hammer or axe to the handle and make sure it is set right. I've made handles out of cherry with complete satisfaction. Kinda like a carbon fiber shaft.

I have also laminated pieces in order to get various traditional shapes. Sometimes that is a lot more efficient than steam bending pieces for bent handles. For instance I part bent and part laminated a piece for a guttering adze. Those tend to be steamed a good long while, and bent on a fairly large form. Then the U shaped bend is sawn into two handles with moderate curve. It's hard to get the right curve without using an extra long piece of wood. Running the bandsaw for a few minutes is cheaper than boiling water for an hour or more.

A lot of handle breakage comes from abuse. If you don't abuse your tools handles last a long time.

Re: Axe Handles for older stuff

Jack Guzman from Maine


>I usually make my own ax handles.They're usually pretty simple to make.Drawknife and spokeshave practice.Most old ax handles I've seen are handmade.For adzes those hillbillies that Mike gave a link to make a nice handle.---Jack

Thanks for the help, guys.

Al Kapocius

Ace Hardware

Dave Thompson


>I just got back today from a week up in upper peninsula Michigain...

I spent a little time at the Ace Hardware in Iron River looking at axe handle to fit with my broad axe head that I recently bought. I figured it would be a good area since the primary commodity there, these days is logging. The entire UP is one big forest. I think they had about a dozen different axe handles, about a dozen hatchet handles, ~3 different adze handles, and multiple maul/sledge handles. I recall all of them being in the $10 range (+/-5). Most were made from hickory.

I was looking for a short bent axe handle for my broad axe head. All of the axe handles were long, like one might find on a typical tree felling axe. The hatchet handles were the length I had in mind, but the head of the handle was too small for a broad axe. At 10 bucks for a beautiful pre-made handle, my motivation to make my own is waning, though it is an excuse to play with the draw knives and shaves. The other option might be to buy a long one, and cut to size. It just depends on where you want to spend your time.

On Monday, I'll probably stop at my local hardware store, and see what they can order in, assuming they don't already have what I want on the shelf.

enjoy,

Dave

Handle Arts and Mysteries

Adam Cherubini, NJ


>Old handles aren't like new handles. 18th c handles were generally straight. It also seems to me that many handles had thin necks. Maybe not felling axes so much, but certainly hatchets and especially hammers. I have an old beetle/commander with 1" dia handle (which seems small given its 10" dia head).

I think there may be possible explanations.

1) I suspect they sought a whip effect provided by a flexible handle

2) It may be that the light handle decreased shock.

3) I think they loosened their grip on impact. I think this does a ton of stuff for you.

I'd be interested in others' thoughts. Anybody else noticed thin sections on tool handles?

Adam

Re: Handle Arts and Mysteries

Dave Thompson


>I might have spoken too soon in my earlier post.... I wasn't aware of the changes in common handles when I looked last week, nor was I armed with the dimensions of my ?19th? century broad axe to take notice of the suitability of the size offerings. I did see a broad selection available at a common hardware store, and figured that such could be ordered from any other hardware store including in the corn belt where I live. If too big, it could simply be whittled down. Naturally this doesn't help if too small, unless epoxy filler is an option.

Haven't a clue with regards to 18th century axes or ealier. Was there a standard? 1/10th cubit?

Dave