Axe

I put a new handle on my Axe. My wife found the axe about 12 years ago while hiking, and it has been our general wood-splitting axe ever since.

I've never been one to baby tools. I take care of them, but I have no problem using them hard. When they break, I fix them, and if they are beyond fixing, I get another. Tools are to make my work easier. They are not talismans that must be treasured.

Still, maintainence goes a long way, and kept the axe working through 12 years of hard use. The old handle had been slightly splintered under the head for years, but my neighbor borrowed it to split wood after having a few beers about a month back. On one particular swing, he must have missed the log with the head, and bounced the handle on the log.

The handle was no longer smooth enough to allow your hand to slide down during the swing, so I found a handle at a hardware store for about 10 bucks.

I cleaned and sharpened the head, then repainted it. I didn't have any red, so it got a coat of tan. I got a few drips. Oh well.

After removing the old handle with a saw, drill, and chisel, I began shaping the new handle. It took about an hour with a wood rasp and draw-knife. I got it to fit right, and drove home the wooden wedge.

Last, I cut the top just a little proud of the top of the axe head, and seated 3 'keys', little metal wedges that go across the grain structure of the handle, and really make the head tight.

And now, I have a working axe again. It cost about 12 bucks, 2 hours of labor with hand tools, and some sweat. Much better than going to buy another $45 dollar axe, huh?