This section will describe each type of handle along with its pros and cons so that you can decide which type suits you the best. The Steiwa handle has an excellent fit with the US throwing axes produced by Cold Steel – their eyes luckily all have the same shape. My favourite all-purpose throwing axe is the Cold Steel Frontier Hawk – I also use it for competitions. We include a long and sturdy bolt that fits the tapped screw hole of Cold Steel axe heads, for fixing the head “permanently” to the handle. The Steiwa handle also fits many French hatchets. Just getting any replacement handle won’t work – the shape and size of the hole in the axe head (“eye”) differs too much.

For example, for chopping you will want to avoid wood like Beech that flexes too much. Body coated with fire engine red enamel and the cutting edge in clear lacquer to deter rust. Click on the photo or product name to view more details and see additional photos. Click the Add To Cart button if you want to purchase an item below. How easy it is to perform each of these functions will largely depend on the type of bushcraft axe in use. BobVila.com and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. I wouldn’t want to chop a tree down with it, but a great lil companion axe for close to the campfire. It’s light enough to carry anywhere, but stout enough to get the job done.

Also, we have discussed the top three axe handle manufacturers to help you make a purchase right away. You can measure the length from the axe’s top edge to the knob situated at the bottom. However, the axe handle comes at a standard length of 36 inches. Also, the dark spots on the handle are the indication of the weak wood, and it will form a split after some time. Apart from that, lighter color streaks on the handle are not a cause of concern. The longest surviving axe handle manufacturing company, Tennessee Hickory, runs the business for the last ninety years.

I agree with everything you say except the quote. While being a great glue when clamped, the expanding foam holds NO structural strength. All you are doing is filling the head with bubbles. Body coated with fire engine red enamel and the cutting edges in clear lacquer to deter rust. ANSI Standards call for bit hardness of Rc 45-60, at least ½ inch back from the cutting edge. Council Tool internal standards call for tempered bit hardness of Rc and we target 1-1/4 inches from the cutting edge. The poll and eye walls are not hardened and remain in the as forged condition. Depending on your purpose, do have a look at other wood properties, too.

TUV GS Splitting Axe with fiberglass handle

You could even heat up some lard or bacon fat and use that if you wanted the porcine dream of axes. After you have corrected the bit geometry on both sides, you are ready to set the keen edge. Paradoxically, you will be blunting the cutting edge of the axe. Put your file at about an angle between 15 and 20 degrees and file just the cutting edge on both sides of the axe. By doing this you will create a thicker cutting edge which is a little bit less sharp than the 20 degree edge you had before. After it dries, you can sand the axehead if you want. Other than that, however, the choice of sanding the head is largely a matter of aesthetics. Theoretically, a smoother axe is a better performing axe, but in practice, I do not think it makes a tremendous difference. A basic C-clamp large enough to secure the head of the axe to a countertop or bench. Below is an example of a double-bit axe whose bit is too far gone to bother with.

Many storebought handles will come with a pre-made kerf. The “kerf” refers to the saw wedge in the top of the handle. This allows the handle to fit into the eye of the axe. Find the point on the handle where the kerf ends and trace a pencil line around the handle. This will offer a visual reference of how deep your handle needs to go. Even if you take your time to eject the old handle from the blade, there may still be debris in there. Push out the excess pieces with a chisel, then smooth out the insides. If you’re truly a DIY type, you might consider making an axe handle from scratch.

If the old handle was fiberglass, it may be easier to purchase a new axe. Removing the old epoxy can be difficult, and time consuming. I prefer a wooden handled axe or maul for my own use but we use fiberglass handled axes with our youth group as they are much tougher. BTW, another very important factor to consider as far as axes go – ergonomy. One of the reasons I truly love my Gransfors Bruks small forest axe is that aside from an excellent head, the handle is absolutely perfectly shaped. Wherever and however you grip it, it allows full control whether you do heavy chopping or finer work like carving. Most other axes on the market, either wood or fiberglass handle, fall way short in that department. And I think that sort of abuse would be realistic in a lot of SHTF scenarios. And an axe is the original multitool, filling a lot of roles.

Made to use—and not lose.Leatherhead Axes are not only efficient cutting tools, they’re made to be seen under the most difficult conditions. Their Hi-Viz fluorescent fiberglass axe handles give excellent strength and control, plus unsurpassed visibility, with less weight. The solid, linear layered fiberglass shaft has a very controllable flattened cross section that’s easy to swing, and far tougher than traditional wooden handles. The grippy rubber handle provides both shock absorption and an exceptionally firm grip, wet or dry, hot or cold— even when your gloves are wet. Reflective bands beneath the polypropylene handle guard make them quickly visible under a flashlight beam, even when it’s completely dark. Whether you’re chopping kindling for a campsite or firewood in your backyard, the portable Hyper Tough 1.25 lb. Camp Axe with Fiberglass Handle is the perfect choice for garden work and outdoor enthusiasts. This easy-to-carry hatchet combines an ultra-sharp blade with a lightweight, fiberglass handle to maximize cutting and chopping performance outdoors. The high-carbon steel blade is properly hardened and tempered to a sharp edge, withstanding high amounts of striking pressure while cutting easily through any surface.

Fiberglass offers a middle ground between the durability of metal and the comfort of wood. Fiberglass handles are much more robust than wooden handles but are just as effective at absorbing vibrations . Depending on the manufacturer, they can even be stronger than steel if they’re properly reinforced. The main disadvantages are that they’re often the most expensive and the smooth surface can be difficult to securely grasp unless it’s covered with a nonslip rubber grip. Wooden axe handles are comfortable to hold, absorb shock well, and are reasonably durable. However, a wooden handle’s durability and short-absorption capacity will depend on the particular type of wood. Hickory wood is most commonly used for axe handles since it is robust and absorbs shock exceptionally well. The manufacturer or brand of the hammer is not important. The handles can be used for many types of hammers and other tools. Buy steel handle axes only in the case where handles are provided with shock absorption material.

We can provide the download address of our product catalogue if you need. The bit weighs 8 pounds, and makes up about 80% of the total weight of the maul. This means that you’re going to deliver an incredibly powerful swing with each strike, so make sure that you’re using the right form to prevent a back injury. This camper’s axe is similar to the hunter’s axe we just covered, but much lighter and easier to carry. You can even take this one backpacking since it’s so light, and it’s a great option to have around the home for small cuts. It’s pretty short and light, but that just means you can’t use this axe for big cuts. Double bit heads have been around for centuries, but many people opt not to use them.

The important thing here is that the steel and especially the wood soak up oil so they will repel water and protect the integrity of the axe. If, however, it is wood – and it should be wood — then you are ready for the last aspect of doctoring your axe. You will want to sand the handle in the same fashion you did with the axe head. Using small squares of sandpaper, start with your coarsest grit and work up to your finest. I like throwing off sawdust and really learning the shape of the handle with my hands. So, how do you go aboutreplacing a splitting maul handle? Rather than replacing your old or broken wooden handle with a new wooden handle, you can replace it with durable fiberglass handle. Fiberglass is costly but it will not require replacement as frequent as a wooden handle would . Some axe handles come in fiberglass while some axe handles are wooden.

drop forged steel head with sharp cutting edge and 34 in. fiberglass handle is assembled in the USA to ensure quality. This is a professional grade axe engineered for durability and all around use in construction, repair. Swinging a large-impact tool like a splitting maul, it is natural that sometimes you will miss. Each miss has takes a huge toll on the handle of the splitting maul, whether wooden or fiberglass. The result is that the handle will give way or the head of the maul will loose. Wooden handles are more predisposed to breaking while fiberglass handles can last indefinitely. However, broken maul handle does not the end your log splitting work or the usefulness of the tool.

blade can make a crevice so the fork can fit in the bulkhead door. The spike can be used as a handle to pry open the crevice or it can pull the roof open after cutting it with a saw. The top of the axe is a striking plate so you can drive the fork into the crevice if necessary. The ring can be used to rope vent windows with a half hitch on the handle. Dynamic function of a sledge hammer and cutting axe. The overall weight with the handle is 10 pounds. And whether fiberglass axe handle is oem, , or . Again and again, you have seen hickory is mentioned as the best wood for the handle. However, you can find some alternatives as ash and oak. Other material choices like steel and fiberglass are also there, but wood is more environmentally friendly and comfortable on hands.

Finally, saw off the protruding wedge and treat your new handle with a coat of mineral oil. Alternatively, you can purchase a new axe outright. If you don’t have the time to replace a handle, buying a new axe will save you effort. Bottles of mineral oil are relatively cheap, and can be used to restore life to a drab handle. Drip some mineral oil into a handcloth and apply it consistently to the axe handle. Files and rifflers may also be used to file down a length of wood.Allow at least half an inch between the bottom of the kerf and the main handle. The handle may need few tries to get in properly. Push it in and try to get it in manually at first.