How to fit a new axe handle

ORIGINAL POST How to fit a new axe handle: "
The following guide was very kindly provided by Woodlore customer and Camp Craft course attendee Martin Dryden:

Hi Woodlore,

Just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks again for sorting out the Wildlife Hatchet Axe Head for me. It took a little while to source some suitable Ash and to shape the handle, but below are some pictures. The axe head is a really high-quality item and was a pleasure to work with.

My Small Forest Axe (issued on the Camp Craft Course) made light work of the job of splitting the Ash log I had. The wedge is the Holly Glut I made on the course also, so it’s now served use again.

Fitting a new axe handle

Once in half I split them down into quarters, which gave about the right size I felt to work with. In retrospect, I may have been better splitting it into 1/6 rather than 1/4, but we learn by doing.

Fitting a new axe handle

I then worked one of these down to a suitable-sized board. It was hard work as the Ash was seasoned and not green!

Fitting a new axe handle

I used the existing Small Forest Axe as a guide to mark out a handle, with some slight tweaking and roughed out the shape.

Fitting a new axe handle

With the axe, crooked knife and carving knife I set to carving the basic shape I wanted; then lots of trial fitting of the head and taking this down to fit. Getting the alignment right also took some time, but with practice this would get easier.

Fitting a new axe handle

The finished axe – it took a lot of shaping to get it to fit the head right and to fit my hand how I wanted it. I see improvements I would make next time and mistakes I would try and avoid. However, I think it turned out quite well. Lots of scraping to get a smooth surface and a boiled linseed oil finish.

Fitting a new axe handle

Fitting a new axe handle

It’s got an Oak Wedge with a metal wedge across this.

Fitting a new axe handle

The two axes side by side – the Wildlife Axe has a 40cm length in total and feels really light and easy to use. It will be great for light carving jobs, spoons etc.

Fitting a new axe handle

Fitting a new axe handle

Fitting a new axe handle

Just again to say thanks for all the help in sourcing the axe head. A big thanks to Ray as well for inspiring me to have a go, with the great Northern Wilderness series.

The problem now is wanting to do more and learn more each time. I have three more sections to play with and if I ever need to source more I will definitely look for green wood. That said, using seasoned shortened the time I had to wait before fitting the axe head.

Thanks Woodlore – all of you.

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