How NOT to Fix an Axe...

[30-30remchester]

Most "victims" by your definition would be all poor folk with limited resources. Sad view of life...

Different priorities and philosophies. When I was first married and not 2 nickels to rub together, I got my wife the best wheelbarrow made for our first anniversary. Fifty-one years later she still has it and is on her 4th tire. Haven't bought a NEW tool in decades. Got to love yard sales, Re-store and auctions. I believe less expensive tools best for civilized places and the best tools for adventures far from home.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

The simplest and easiest way to tighten an axe/hammer/splitting mall etc. . Is to soak the head and handle in bucket water for several days. The wood will absorb and swell. Tightening it right up.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

THREE things that stay in both of trucks. A short handled PLUM axe. A machete. And a folding entrenching tool.(bet younguns don't know what that is!!!)
All get used when required. All have saved my bacon before I had 4 wheel drive and a winch.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I'm kinda in the duct tape camp. Or, let someone else ax whatever needs axed!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Out in the garage We got a Single Bit Ax Head.
No Mama, No Papa, No Uncle Sam.
Was thinking about a handle for it.
A replacement handle at nearby Lowe’s is $20.
Considering we have 5-6 axes and some Hatchets that we seldom use,
New Ax Handle probably not in the cards.

 

[margethatcher]

You spend enough time clearing woods, you have about four on hand and go from there. A lot of the time it's easier and cheaper just to get a second hander and give er a file cut. I've accumulated a bunch of axe heads and, God willing, intend to devote a day to attaching new handles, but the trees keep falling on my patch.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I will buy old name brand axes and hatchets at yard sales.
I've found the best way to sharpen them is with a belt sander and 100 grit belts. Beats the heck out of draw filing.

 

[LostintheOzone]

My good axe is a STIHL.

Actually I got both a good single and double bit axe as well as some hatchets. It is just that I almost never use them any more

How do you make kindling for a fire? Or don't you build camp and brush fires anymore?

 

[LostintheOzone]

Different priorities and philosophies. When I was first married and not 2 nickels to rub together, I got my wife the best wheelbarrow made for our first anniversary. Fifty-one years later she still has it and is on her 4th tire. Haven't bought a NEW tool in decades. Got to love yard sales, Re-store and auctions. I believe less expensive tools best for civilized places and the best tools for adventures far from home.

On your next anniversary buy her the best mop you can find.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Gotta use lock washers on them screws so they don’t back out.

 

[DWalt]

There used to be a nearby store called the Texas Tool Trader. That guy had at least a dozen used tools of any type, hand or power, you can think of, even some machine tools. Thousands of them. And his prices were pretty good also, much less than new. I bought quite a few items from him. It was always an adventure to go inside. It shut down six or seven years ago. I have wondered where all that inventory went.

 

[Eric300]

If you ever need it sharpened just let me know. I'm pretty good at it.....

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Way back when, I bought a Pickup Camper from a guy in Elizabeth, CO.
On my way back to I-25 in some small town I can’t recover I see a used item store.
I stop and buy a shovel and an Ax.
I really wanted a Single Bit, but he’s out, but he has some double Bits.
He apologized for them having some wear and tear.
I told him that the just the thought of wearing out a Double Bit Ax was more than I could handle!
We had that Ax for many years, it disappeared during a move.
I still have the Shovel.

 

[CALREB]

Well I have a bunch of axes, hoes, and mauls that look like that . Of course, I at least use camo Duc-tape on them and metal wedges, but they end up looking about the same. Not like they are the sword Excaliber or anything. Cant see spending more time prettying them up than I do using them. I gave the wife(30 yrs) a brand new manure cart from Northern Tool last Christmas with a fancy Trump sticker on it. She loved it. Backed it up with a new Kawa UTV in case the joke didn't go over so good. She didnt say so, But I think it went over better.

 

[marinevet]

The simplest and easiest way to tighten an axe/hammer/splitting mall etc. . Is to soak the head and handle in bucket water for several days. The wood will absorb and swell. Tightening it right up.

I soak them in a can/bucket of old oil........

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Granted, not pics of the hang, but...I hope this may add something nicer than a pile of nails in an otherwise nice axe....

A couple were literally dug out of a garbage pile. Others were yard sale door stops, etc. Now...happily rehabilitated...

 

[s&wchad]

When I was first married and not 2 nickels to rub together, I got my wife the best wheelbarrow made for our first anniversary. Fifty-one years later she still has it and is on her 4th tire.

51 years... Wow, congratulations!
Christmas is just around the corner...

The simplest and easiest way to tighten an axe/hammer/splitting mall etc. . Is to soak the head and handle in bucket water for several days. The wood will absorb and swell. Tightening it right up.

That's a temporary fix and weakens the wood over time. I've had good luck with Chair Loc, but driving the wedge deeper or replacing it is a better option.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Boiled linseed oil is the best soak, in my humble opinion but I would agree, driving the primary wedge deeper is preferred. I've known folks to leave them 1/2" or so proud for that purpose. Real goofy looking, but....

I also prefer a nice barrel wedge when I can. Step wedges are good too, but...I just like the barrels.

When setting the head I've learned to push the handle up 1/4" or so to swell around the top of the head and help secure it. My earlier hangs that I set flush continue to function okay, but I wish I head learned to leave a bit of handle through the top earlier.

 

[clang444]

Sometimes you just have to MacGyver things.

 

[s&wchad]

When setting the head I've learned to push the handle up 1/4" or so to swell around the top of the head and help secure it. My earlier hangs that I set flush continue to function okay, but I wish I head learned to leave a bit of handle through the top earlier.

Smart!
I'd fit the handle proud of the head, installed the wedge and then trim it back flush in the past. I too have learned to leave it a little bit proud. Proper hafting isn't all that hard, but there is a learning curve and like most skills, you improve with experience.

You can see the grooves in the tip of the handle made by the eye ridges of the Tru-Test head. Kelly Axe & Tool is known for that feature and almost certainly made it under contract.

I hate it when people stick the head in a log when splitting and then pound it with a sledge hammer. That's what wedges are for! You can see on the Plumb Victory where I ground down the peening and blued it. I won't use cold blue on a gun, but I will on an axe head. Some guys like to polish the heads. It does look nice, but I prefer to leave as much original finish/patina as possible.