DIY Axe Handle and Broad Axe Restoration 

Glad you're making videos again.. two in as many weeks! Awesome!!

for marital bliss, I'd recommend making a treadle system for that grind stone.

bro, easy on the splitter axe just chucking it on the concrtete like that lol

Nice ax and superb handle! Beatty and Blood axes are some of the best! Why did you choose that length of handle for that ax? When I hew logs, I use a broad ax, like this one, with a straight edge and long, straight handle for scoring across the face of the log. I follow up with a curved edge ax, and maybe with a shorter handle, to hew flat. Riving handle blanks from curved logs can save the steam bending step. Thanks for making the video!

Hey Chris, sorry i've been quite busy with the holidays coming. This was a great video, how sweet of your wife to spin the grinding stone. That axe looks like it'll make a great addition to your collection :) keep up the good work my friend

Very good video, that grinding stone wheel is crazy. Now that is old school.

Mine was 2.25” by 3/4” at the eye.. I got a nice straight hickory handle 35” long from my local Ace hardware. It was 2.4” by 3/4”. I hope it will work. The head is soaking in Evapo Rust, now.

Chris, that's the largest spokeshave I've ever seen and I have a ton of antique tools, is that craftsman made or manufactured?

Chris, I just got a broad axe off EBay. Some AH had painted it Forest green to cover up the rust on it. I stripped the paint and have it soaking in Evapo Rust for a couple of days. I will then wire wheel it and straighten out the bevel and flat side. It is not got any big chips or dings in it, so it will probably be easy to restore. I have a new handle for it and I will burnish and linseed oil it. I think it will be easy to hang. This ain’t my first rodeo hanging axes. I will polish up the head and blue it with cold blue. It is almost identical to your broad axe. I am going to put a 35” hickory handle on it. That will keep my knuckles out of the way.

You did it again Chris! Thanks so much for these gifts (videos)!

dude that was so amazing! Wizardry!

This is really encouraging, thank you. I have a similar head, mounted on a standard recurve handle, it's awful. I had no idea it was supposed to be so short, that makes great sense. The stem set up is beautiful, I was over thinking that part. I saw another video that shows the "aussie hang" method. It uses a separate hardwood wedge, I think it's for one that can be disassembled for packing, not sure. Anyways the full length handle totally does not work at all, it's actually really scary. I'm going to hew my first big log it is 24 at the butt and 14 foot long. Having the broadaxe setup proper will help alot, thank you for your teaching

I have a right hand head that looks much like yours. It weighs 2.6 lb. I have had it many years and don't know where I got. It is pitted and rather crudely forged - you can see a small part of the line where the halves were folded over and forged together. I think I will put a 28 inch handle on it. What do you think?

One of your best!! You’ve came a long way for a guy who started by sanding wood with rocks.👍🏻

Nice looking handle. I'm worried about the abrupt shoulder where the handle enters the eye. That tends to focus the stress at that one place and can lead to breakage. BTW. a piece of an appropriately sized tire makes a dandy water bath for a grinding wheel like yours.

I’m thinking that the grinding wheel should be rotating toward the piece. Please coach me up

suggest you further research how broadaxe was used. Your demo shows splitting and rough work. Other tools did that while the broadaxe put the final finish on a square log - dropping the blade crossgrain ro diagonally to produce a smooth true surface.

I guess I need to read some comments before I write. It's bound to work, 2 great minds agree on it.

Come on now, you didn't need to make me feel that bad about my drawknife's performance! 😃 I think I'm gonna go sharpen mine

That was an amazing work! Thank You!

Chris, would you consider white vinegar and salt to remove that kind of rust, or is the product you used a better/gentler substitute? Beautiful restoration!

What’s in the bin besides the axe head and the solution? Looks like two round weights.. Can’t tell .. Great video

Was that a L hand or R hand broadaxe? I’m new, so forgive if it is a dumb question. Very nice work

Really good restoration, subsribed

As always, I'm in awe of your skills. Thanks for sharing the journey.

why don't you put a foot pedal on the grinding rock. We had one at home outside, it had one pedal, very easy to build, put a seat on the stand then you can get wet

Best method for laying out an axe handle that I have seen.

Great save on that axe sir. What is the size number and maker of that spokeshave you were using to make the handle ? That is the largest spokeshave I have ever seen and think it would really be handy making handles as you just showed.

Could have made two handles from that piece of ash.

I just picked up a 14 inch one can’t wait to finish up the handle

Steam in a plastic bag use an old 5 gallon gas can heat the wayer hoze to the bag handle its easier

Nice! Even better. Love this channel.

Посадочное маленькое. на долго не хватит. Больше похож на топор мясника.

I'm completely amazed by your work 👍 stunning outcome.

Such a big piece of wood, can do at least three handles, so it is too wasteful.

To me, it looks like the handle is too small compared to the axe head.

It looks like a piece of oak to me.

thumbs up for me, should it have shoulders like that, just asking cause i have not seen an old one with shoulders like that

great job well done.👍

See tips from a shipwright

Why the steaming and clamping?

Very impressive!

How long did you leave it in the Evapo Rus?

interesting ax shape😉

Slow and easy Bubba

nice methodology

the nice thing about this hobby is you NEVER run out of good kindling

No glue on your wedge ?

Great video. Just wondering where you got that stone? One more question shouldn’t you put a smaller wedge going perpendicular to the larger one in the axe eye? Just wondering. Great job and awesome ideas. Going to try that steam bending trick. Been looking for a handle for a left handed (me) forever. Thanks for posting

Great video sir. Perhaps you've addressed this issue, but the HVAC ducting used during the steaming process looked to be galvanized and I'd hate for you to get any zinc smoke exposure. All in all a very enjoyable and informative video. ~PB

well done man 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️❤️

I finally found one of those big coopers spokeshaves about a month ago. Had to travel 200 miles to get it but I found it!! It is now my favorite spokeshave to remove large material lol. It’s like a drawknife that has a sole on the bottom lol.

Enjoyed the video Chris. Very nice job on the handle. Thanks for taking the time to produce the video. Y'all take care and God bless.

I subed :p

Great video. I just picked up a goosewing head and need to make a handle. I was going to try and buy one, but this *may* have inspired me to try and make one. The bending process is cool.

Awesome find! Amazing what you can score at flea markets. Beautiful head restoration and handle making video!

Nice job with this. I can remember the canoe you made in high school. You were doing fine craftsmanship back then.

Beautiful work Chris. Great job!

Beautiful work Chris! You've given me alot of ideas for when I start my first 6 inch broad axe.

Nice job and video, may I ask why did you chose to sharpen the axe after the handle was installed.

Bravo

I got lucky i found a 12" in excellent condition for 25 freaking dollars awesome!

مرحبا كريس

مرحبا كريس

Great job Chris, good reproduction handle ! Thanks for sharing with us.

You do such a amazing job with all your projects

Parabéns

That's some damn fine choppin' Chris!

Fantastic job, man! So much work on it! Thanks for sharing with us

Hey Chris that's a lot of work you you're going, say hi to your wife for me 😁

You always inspire me to use hand tools more, great video

I'm no antique tool expert, but it seems that axe head required a much longer handle. It seems large enough to use standing on the log and hewing the side of the log. Handle would be bent like yours, just longer.

Very therapeutic to watch, nice job 👌👍

Awesome Job Brother... and Mrs. 👍

👍

hi chris good to see new video..

So nice to see a guy who has the right tools and knows how to use them. Chris, did the style of axe just have the bevel on one side? If so why is it made that way? thanks, Ray

Thanks for sharing that

Great video bud!

Good job.

😃👍🏻👊🏻

You could have made the axe handle at the edge of the wood instead of in the middle and losing most of the wood. Then you could have gotten 2 handles out of that piece of wood