Making an Axe Handle

Videos I watched before this project:

Things I Used in This Project:

[PhantomFish]

F.A.I.L. = First Attempt In Learning. Nice job, April.

[crossgrainwoodproductsltd]

This is one of the reasons I and so many, are such fan's of your's. You take making a mistake and turn it around into a learning experience. You could have just left it as it was, but even after the hours of hard work sanding that handle, you decided to try again. And that my dear, is one of the many reasons why we are such fans. You've taught me and I'm sure others, not to get mad, but turn it around and learn from what was done wrong. Thanks for another great video April, you rock!
~Dolly

[jgclark]

I always appreciate when makers show their mistakes, we can all learn from them. Thanks April

[BuckinBillyRaySmith]

I DID'NT SEE ANY MISTAKES, , I SAW AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU NOW HAVE YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE ON, , LOVED IT, YER AWESOME FOR TRYING THIS, , IT IS VERY REWARDING TO USE YOUR OWN TOOLS, , WELL DONE..

[mailingjoseful]

I tried my hand at Ana White's dollhouse bookcase for my 4 year old. It being only my 4th project ever (and first time using a jigsaw) I was not very pleased with it at all. But she loved it and asked me to finish it. I didn't correct it. I liked that she loves it as is, because her daddy built something for her for all the books she loves. Also, it's nice to know someone as talented as yourself, still makes mistakes once in a while. I feel more human and more encouraged to keep giving his craft a chance.

[sawdustwoodchips]

just stumbled upon your site - we all make mistakes. I have been woodworking for almost 50 years and my old teacher used to say "the man that never made a mistake never made anything" great job - I have a box with axe heads - you have inspired this 50+ year old to actually make a handle Thankyou!

[poolplayer]

Great job April. You asked about mistakes. I made one with boiled linseed oil. Almost burnt my house down. Linseed oil soaked rags can spontaneously combust. I read the warnings on the label and meant to dispose of properly, but I got sidetracked and forgot about it. I'll never make that mistake again!

[YouCanMakeThisToo]

Came out good in the end! This fall I made three workbenches with a drop wheel mechanism. when I went to start putting the sides to the stretchers I realized that I'd made all the sides identical instead of mirrors.. got to rebuild half of them. Just part of the process!

[cjpenning]

I've been a carpenter for 25 years and haven't even attempted half the things you do. Good work!

[mawuho]

As I started falling trees in forestry I once pinched my powersaw, than pinched my back up saw directly above it and while I was chopping them out came a heavy rain storm ; ) the tree fall in the end, I was soaking wet and finished the job a other day. Sharing failure's is such a great thing to grow! Thanks you for this great video and all the best from Germany, Maximilian.

[thecordlesscarpenter]

love it! i think it's awesome that you didn't edit out the mistake, instead reminded us that we are ALL human...

[howielane]

From a guy who is dyslexic; the work looked nice to me. I was all into the video and then you on'ed up to the mistake. See that is just why I watch your vids and have subscribed to your channel. You are a hard worker and not afraid to show your opps. You are honest and still awesome!

[JonAres]

Nice work! If you're still looking for a sign or engraving on the old handle: "Failure. You CAN "handle" it!"

[edaker]

April, I give you a ton of credit for admitting the mistake. You could have scrapped the video along with the handle and remade everything, and we would have never known, but your integrity clearly shows here. You're talented and a good soul. I've made more mistakes in my 25 yrs of wood working to list here, but they taught me what I know today. You've accomplished so much in such a short amount of time and you should be proud. Love your channel and looking forward to your future projects!

[RunninDPerformance]

Once you have the axe hung and wedged, soak the entire head, eye, and handle in the linseed oil, for a day or two. The wood (in the eye)will continue to absorb the oil, and once saturated, will crystallize and keep the head tight on the axe for much much longer. I try to soak the entire axe when I re-hang any of mine.

[dalanbronnenberg]

I just screwed up a sledge hammer handle hang. Put the roughly round handle in at an off angle from the center line. I gorilla glue my handles in so when you screw up, it’s a mess.

I typically make the wedges out of treated lumber to last a little longer than poplar. The gorilla glue does a good job of keeping water out of the handle head, and filling in small gaps. My current technique with a box plane, my hand grinder, and sanding machines is a far departure from my first handle replacement nearly 50 years ago. I had broken a splitting maul handle (I broke a lot of stuff when I was young) and I ask my grandfather how to fix it. He gave me a rough handle and a piece of broken coke bottle glass. It took me all weekend to finish it. Love to watch your channel.

[DonDegidio]

Hi April,
Nice job. You always have a great attitude, even when things fail. Just another learning experience. Like the brief glimpses of the T-Rex when you growl. :-)

[BearCreekWoodworking]

I couldn't sleep tonight, so I found myself watching YouTube videos. This is the very first video of yours that I watched many months ago. I've been a fan of yours ever since. Keep up the great work April!

[jimmydiresta]

Great work!! For some reason every shit head is and expert on axes!!! ...Make a video and they all come out frm woods... You're awesome!!! Xo!!

[tyrellthomas]

I built a tv stand out of 150 year old Cyprus, I made it using through mortis and tenons for the top and bottom shelf. Mind you the only wood I had was enough for the stand. I cut the tenons wrong so in order to save it I cut it shorter. The client had a specific use for the size of it and refused to pay me ( I don't blame him) so I had to eat 300 dollars worth of wood and 3 days of shop time. Hahahahaha lesson learned for me! You are doing great, love the videos and all you do!