Fitting A New Axe Handle - How I Do It

A short and simple example of how I typically re-fit axe heads from broken handles. Grain orientation on this handle was the best I could find on the shelf, that being said this is just a cheap replacement handle. Let me know if you want to see another overstrike test!

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Music: Bathed in Fine Dust by Andy G. Cohen

Released under a Creative Commons Attribution International License

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Music: Land Legs

by Andy G. Cohen

Released under a Creative Commons Attribution International License

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[dirtyshame]

My dad told me that his dad (my grandpa) would use broken glass to scrape the handle to a perfect fit. He was a logger in east Texas over 100 years ago.

[TheDigitalslayer]

I learned a few things from this, even though I was not doing it wrong, sometimes, there’s a better way.
Never stop learning.🤓

[aussievaliant]

I was surprised how gently hitting the base of the handle worked- after shaping the handle to fit, it went in to the head and was a firm fit. Or so I thought until I inverted it and hit the base. The handle came out another five eighths. I made a hardwood wedge, put a piece of wood across the top and tapped it in, cut off the excess and it was done. It worked perfectly, so thanks mate. Good advice indeed!

[michaellavery]

Oh that's clever. I was thinking about putting the axe head over a tree sapling, then sanding the tree down when I felt it was tight enough.🤪

[beertek]

No nonsense approach 👍
.. the way I like it. Very good 👏

[afellowamericanafellowamer]

So many YouTube talk it up with too much explanation.
This was straight forward.
I have a few handles hammer and axe heads.
I'll look at the other videos and when the time is right I'll give it a try.

[general_paine]

Nice to know I've been doing it wrong all these years. Thanks man. Now I know how to do it properly. Lol!!!

[godsdozer]

I'm headed to the hardware store tomorrow to buy an Axe. Just because of this video.

[ColossalSwordFormAndTechnique]

Sometimes life is easier with a full tang axe. But good to learn this too.

[suzieq]

my grandfather in the very early 1900s made ax handles and things, also make the louisville slugger

[rdGemini]

Looks like you split your wedge. Piece of wood across the top would spread the force out so it won't split.

[AliveNotDeadmund]

Nice video! Did you drill a hole in the bottom of the handle to prevent cracking when you hit it?

[StephenBeale]

are those parts at 5:55 just to make it fit extra tight?

[meadowmade]

I LOVE the background music. What is it called and who's it by????

[FilthyPancakes]

I'm curious why you chose a step wedge rather than the barrel wedges that came with it?

[Mixwell]

What is the benefit of hitting the bottom of the handle vs tapping the axe head on? Does it seat better? Just replaced a handle and i hit the handle on the ground and also tapped the head onto it then put in the metal wedge.

Edit: I just answered my question by holding axe upside down and whacking the base with a deadblow hammer while holding it. Seated almost another 1/2" further down. Now i need to trim the proud portion of handle around my metal wedge and drive the wedge farther down. Thing is tighter than a snakes asshole now.

[marioorellana]

Que es lo que tiene el mango en la punta

[blake]

Those round wedges are better than the steps you put back in that

[pamtnman]

a little bit of shim in the front of the handle, where that gap is, before the wedge is seated, would not hurt. Thanks for the video

[yvanhoule]

Followed it to a T and it worked! Thanks. Music ?