AXE Restoration | Carve an AXE Handle With an AXE

In this video I take you through the cleanup of a smaller 1 lb 13 oz Kelley Axe Co axe head and then how to carve an axe handle using an axe or hatchet and other hand tools such as a couple rasps and saws that will end in a beautiful hand carved handle.
Thanks to Austin, @OK.Tool.Co on Instagram for the walnut and metal wedge used in this restoration. You can check him out on Instagram at / ok.tool.co Austin does an awesome job at creating custom axes.
To help support my channel, so I can continue to provide videos like this, below are Amazon affiliate links for products and tools used in this video:
Birchwood Casey PERMA BLUE - amzn.to/2UuIeWL
Evapo-Rust The Original Super Safe Rust Remover, Water-Based, Non-Toxic, Biodegradable, 1 Gallon - amzn.to/2SVKiWb
Klean-Strip Green QLO45 Boiled Linseed Oil, 1-Quart - amzn.to/2XLuMzM

[@bighaze51]

That turned out awesome!! It’s nice to see someone doing a handle build correctly. One thing that may make your life easier. When pounding the wedge in, just flip it upside down and use the floor for the anchor. You can keep the wedge straight on the concrete and not have to hold multiple pieces at the same time. Beautiful job!!!! 👍👍

[@oldshovel]

Thanks for watching and good tip. I may try that sometime.

[@aktoolco-austinkelley1803]

I have tried that approach as well. Works great for large axes. For smaller ones like this, I prefer using the flat poll of another axe to get a clean even hit across the wedge.

[@bighaze51]

OK Tool Co - Austin Kelley Can’t go wrong with that either!! 👍👍

[@markharris5771]

Another superb restoration, very well done indeed. I only recently found out recently why the axe handle has an angled end. It’s supposed to be pointing at 90° to the top of the head, then it can be placed in the cut to calculate where the tree will fall. The skill then is assessing the weight of branches to how much it will deviate from this. Everything used to have a purpose and it’s amazing how well thought out tools were. And to think I thought it was just to make it look good hung up! A fantastic video, thank you.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks for the info. I did not know that either. Thanks for watching!

[@jr-a-cat]

Nice handle ,great job of making something you will love and enjoying knowing that you done for yourself. Save those chips for the grill or smoker that way you get to enjoy that handle .

[@oldshovel]

Lol... I do save the chips for just such stuff. I’m starting to get more than I need though lately. Thanks for watching.

[@Santokuryu]

You have some of the best quality tool restoration videos I've seen on KZbin. And I've watched waaayy to many of them. Keep up the good work, and you'll get the subscriber count you deserve soon enough!

[@oldshovel]

Kind words. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@brodude6457]

Best axe restoration video ive ever found because you explain the processes and methods you are using and you didnt miss anything vital. Love the commentary on this channel because listening to tools and machines alone starts to get old after a while, GREAT JOB!

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏 it’s always good to hear what I’m doing is appreciated. Thanks for watching.

[@EFreeman1970]

Dude, this is just amazing work. I’ve been following you for a few years now and just looking back at some things I’ve missed! Keep being awesome! Cheers😊

[@robertbrighton3184]

Love your restoration videos. I go to the local flea market and spend hours searching for such treasures. I make knives and am always on the lookout for old files, hammers, hatchet and axes. I think the trick is to find these items in a condition that others find beyond restoration when I know they are just another project for me to turn out something really good. Again, you did a masterful job on this ax and handle. Well done!!!

[@oldshovel]

Thanks for watching. I agree, I see the rusty and warn and think of the challenge and the restoration.

[@________________4979]

Each Person Carves To Their Satisfaction. That Is The Reason Other People Don't Care For Your Procedure. "GET THAT Mr. Ego"

[@donbentley250]

Beautiful restoration. Everything turned out good, including the handle, the axe head, and the wedge, and the fit. I love seeing old things get a new life.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@4PixelCorner]

I bought some Ash today as I couldn't find any yards with Hickory local to me, going to have a go at making an axe handle with it!

[@radagast6682]

Very nice job on the axe head, and handle. Your video has inspired me to make an axe handle for my Grandmothers old (1946) True Temper Kelly Works) axe head. I'm not a fan of the dark head, so I cut the cold blue with 8 parts water, to 1 part cold blue. Than I buff, with 0000 steel wool.

[@acawroom79]

Brilliant work, very inspirational! Thank you!

[@TheGhungFu]

I did my first hot bluing today, 65% sodium hydroxide (drain cleaner) 35% potassium nitrate (stump remover). Boiled an old Plum hatchet head i refinished for 25 minutes. I'll probably never use Perma Blue again, even if it is a lot safer. The hot bluing just came out so much nicer.

[@oldshovel]

I’d love to see that process. Thanks for sharing, watching and commenting.

[@MrBucidart]

Nice job, I like what you do on your channel. Thanks for showing.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks for watching!

[@williamlake6151]

Love it been down that trail. Great work

[@cohenfam]

I am mesmerized! Very cool project. Nice work.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks Jo happy to see you in the comments!

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

Nice work 👍

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@aktoolco-austinkelley1803]

Best video so far! Great job on the handle, and now I have a whole new appreciation for you- filming yourself while you work! Geez, that adds a whole new layer of difficulty. Good work + good angle. 😁

[@oldshovel]

Thanks Austin. I’m glad you liked it. Filming does add a level of complexity to the work and then there is the editing. With the way my views have been going the last couple of weeks I feel like it’s paying off. To nice to see folks enjoying my content.

[@aktoolco-austinkelley1803]

@@oldshovel well I'm definitely enjoying it. Thank you for putting it all together and challenging me to do the same.

[@oldshovel]

I’ll be looking for it when you do so it can watch and promote it.

[@forestfoodkitchen8319]

Great tutorial video!

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@not2fast4u2c]

I like that you made your own handle ..I have subbed your channel so I can see more of your work

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks!

[@MrDoeboy356]

Turned out great

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@garycarroll9447]

You are right about the handle

[@MissLady-pq4hc]

Nice job as always. You do such good work.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@bassackwardsbushcraft8961]

Beautiful job rehafting an old vintage ax. New sub here and love your work. I will be sharing your videos with others I know that also have an interest in bringing new life into old tools. Ciao.

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks 🙏

[@daturaca]

Great hang on the axe! Very well done.

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks for watching!

[@ToolsEditor]

Really nice job. Very enjoyable video.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@robertgilkerson8517]

That turned out very nice

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks 🙏

[@sbjennings99]

Awesome informational educational video experience Y'alls

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@arthursoctomah9175]

Nice work

[@wauhawk]

If you take say a mason jar and a cheap chip brush you can brush on the oil. Leave the brush in the jar with the oil. You won't waste oil spilling and dripping from your hands.

[@user-dx6pt9oo6h]

Very good restoration job 👍👍👍👍

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@pacula33]

Another great video.. beautiful axe.. happy scouting..

[@oldshovel]

Awesome app Josh. This one will be Used at a scouting activity, likely this next weekend.

[@pacula33]

@@oldshovel out of curiosity, have you or your troop/OA chapter ever made mt Rushmore pilgrimage?

[@oldshovel]

No we have not. It would be a cool trip though.

[@pacula33]

@@oldshovel you definitely should... it's right in my back yard.. kinda.. lol.. Black hills area council

[@ianmackney3089]

The rasp you call a cheese grater type rasp is called a Surform.

[@jastimbal60]

Great video! Great job!

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@Rusty_ok]

That handle turned up beautiful. If you had to estimate how long did it take to carve out the handle? Was it an all day project or a couple hours?

[@oldshovel]

Total working time was probably about 4 hours. More power tool use on the handle, like a bandsaw, would speed it up significantly but is not as much fun (for me at least). Thanks for watching!

[@joefunk2137]

Very nice work!

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks 🙏

[@Chuklz70]

Classic! You do know about bluing steel. For a cheaper method, try mustard!

[@oldshovel]

I’ll have to try it sometime.

[@masonrains5010]

MUSTARD ! I wanna try that too

[@Chuklz70]

@@oldshovel Did you try it yet? Came back to check, here's a video a young lady did on it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r53TpXuohrx5las Really glad I saved this video to my favorites, I didn't realize what a gem it is for carving down an axe handle and a few other odd techniques you used

[@falconeer99]

Would a draw knife work better for shaping the handle? Or do you just prefer using the axe?

[@oldshovel]

I do like using an ancestry and it was that process I wanted to show. I have a draw knife but it needs restoration (it’s in cue for a video sometime). I actually want to show the process sometime with a draw knife and spoke shave and another using a band saw and belt sander. All are great ways (band saw and sanders are super fast) but when I have the time I love the process of carving with a hatchet. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@straightpipec6099]

Very nice. Just subbed.

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks 🙏

[@mikeruthantisdel5679]

Nice job

[@oldshovel]

Thanks

[@joseramong.y7339]

Great job , hickory style jajajaja . Yes sir .likeeeee

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@ededmund5685]

nice job

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@samb4071]

Lovely work! What oil are you using when sharpening with the puck/sand paper?

[@benkanobe7500]

What brush was in your drill press in the very beginning when you were smoothing out the sides of the Axe Head?

[@benkanobe7500]

Can you make links to the Rasps?

[@benkanobe7500]

What were you using to sharpen your hatchet?

[@frazerhardstaffwinstanley3006]

Very nice job with the axe, only thing is I found it difficult to hear you when the machinery ess going, apart from that it was an awesome video and an incredible restoration

[@oldshovel]

Thanks for the feedback. I thought I had done better on this video. Most comments about audio are on the cashmere axe handle video. I wish KZbin allowed you go back and fix the audio. Thanks for watching!

[@kevinthompson507]

Question: I see you use evaporust in many of your videos and then you sand down or polish the axe head. Wouldn’t the sanding remove the rust? Is the evaporust part really necessary?

[@oldshovel]

You’re right. Often when I get started on a restoration though I’m not sure what I will do. The Evaporust is sometimes a first look and as I go along on occur choose to do more.

[@davidvines6498]

I have a very old hewing axe with a 3 inch neck. Where did you find the Hickory plank?

[@oldshovel]

I got my hickory from a local hardwood store that sells all types of hardwoods from maple and oak to rare exotic hardwoods.

[@davidvines6498]

Thanks. I will have to try a different Store then the big box located close to me

[@oldshovel]

Yah most big box stores only have maple, oak and poplar.

[@supervortex8363]

yes i gunblue all my tools vgood

[@skylarozimek502]

You refer to the knobby thing on the bottom of the handle as a fawns foot? I've always heard it referred to as a palm swell.

[@oldshovel]

I’ve heard both. I think the fawns foot is just more specific to the shape. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@skylarozimek502]

@@oldshovel cool. I love your channel. You are very talented

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏 much appreciated

[@Cobalt_glass]

🔥👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@Cobalt_glass]

I'm looking for old Japanese axes in the ground. Your video will help me a lot in the restoration🙏🏼.The wood is birch?