Making an Axe Handle Without Power Tools (Uh...Mostly!)

[@jackreeves3001]

Very enjoyable Walter. You are a man of many talents and never boring. Thanks for sharing!

[@censusgary]

I love these “hand tools only” videos! Please make more of them.

[@douglasyoung927]

This is a great video and really helps to show that even accomplished professionals always have room to grow. It's not always about knowing how to do something and often the experimentation yields more growth than simply asking an expert how something in theary should be done. I grew up using axes on a ranch and this is my favorite size/style of axe for general use. I always appreciate your videos, thank you.

[@jkr3008]

Love the shape of the axe head, it came up very well. I usually leave an axe head-down in a bucket filled with warm linseed oil or mixture natural beeswax+linseed oil. It allows the wood to soak with oil which prevents it from absorbing water in the future. So this way handles serve waaaay longer.

[@scottm9605]

The specialized work holding tool for using draw knives and spoke shaves is called a shave horse. They work awesome but if you don't do a ton of that sort of work, they take up a ton of space and so probably aren't worth it.

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

yep, also called a Bodger's horse. Really useful for making anything relatively short and roundish. Bodgers were chair makers in the middle ages.

[@ianmoz7313]

Thanks Walter! I always like seeing how different people handle an axe.

[@richroc7]

Excellent job Walter! Well done Sir! That’s my favorite size & I used to think it was only for boys but I know that everyone uses them. I hung one axe and I bought a handle from tractor supply because I don’t have a good spokeshave, band saw, caliper tool. I’d love to try someday though. Ty for the video.

[@Dragon_flight]

Walter thank you for the video! I cant say how many times I had to fit a new or busted up handle on an axe! I plan to make a simple axe restoration video myself!

[@RoscoPColetraneIII]

I thought you did a fantastic job, sir. As for the critical comments (constructively critical, but critical nonetheless), they go to show that there is simply more than 1 way to do something because none of the "my ways" are perfect. If there was a perfect way, the world would just be boring. Thank you again for your teaching. You have a real knack for teaching. Don't see that too often. But I always remember the good ones. Best to you and your family.

[@Dont_Poke_The_Bear]

Man, I am digging this Walter! I am really curious to see how o1 holds up in this application compared to 5160 or the other "traditional" axe steels! I am stoked!!

[@jailer23044]

A draw knife works great for shaping handles, I also use it to rough in the eye and then switch over to a spoke shave. I also use my bench vise with a set of soft jaws for holding the handle stock while I work.

[@talltimberswoodshop7552]

When we had to replace a handle, my dad would use broken glass to make the final adjustments to fit the handle to the head. A large piece of glass would remove just the right amount of wood so that we wouldn't ruin the handle and have to start over. It's a poor farmer's way of replacing a handle, but it produced a really smooth finish on the wood.

[@tonybowers9490]

Awesome. Great looking axe. Thank you for sharing!

[@bootlegblades6276]

Great tip on getting the bolsters lined up brother!

[@outdoorperson6411]

To get the best fest feel on a handle I Sand to 220 then scrape the wood with something sharp it gives you a smooth finish with some grip to but it won’t blister your hands. Don’t scrape your handle until you’ve tried it on a noter pice of wood just try different tools with different edge angles and find what works.

[@MaxPowerCrafts]

My favorite way to hold a handle for spoke shaving is lean into it with my stomach and push it into a block on the ground, and shave away. It's not smarter, but my body made a good clamp.

[@shootermcmillan]

Handsome work Walter, if you are going to do many axes May I suggest you check out Hoffman Blacksmithing channel? He is a very talented young man who specializes in axe making. With a simple shop vise and a draw knife he roughs out his handles in about a minute. Obviously practice makes perfect, experience is what you get right after it would've been useful and all that.....but you managed a nice looking axe there friend.

[@bf3forevergreene165]

any recommendations on good course woodworking rasps, course metal working resps, spokeshave, Pullsaw or good woodworking saw, chisels, and anything anything else? I’m a beginner black smith to do any suggestions on things I need?

[@mikeboone4425]

A whacking beast . but you did not show us it actually worked but I for one will take your word for it. HAPPY TRAILS heal quickly.

[@stevensanders7561]

What oil do you prefer for quenching

[@greasyfingerprints]

"forgot". Good job.

[@johnc7642]

really cool. I love your videos

[@axeandturtle]

Great work! great video, as I've always seen.

[@andrelevesque6300]

Hi Walter. I have a question? I have a cnc plasma machine. can I use it to cut my knife blanks? 440C , 1095 etc. Will it affect the steel properties? Thanks

[@pukinpaja1974]

Nice Axe! 🪓🎅🏻👍🏻🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮

[@jorgepiza2040]

Good channel

[@sumochop360]

I'm probably wrong but shouldn't the grain on the wood be like a 45 and not straight for an axe?

[@Omar80533]

Thank you!!

[@georgeborcean3265]

Nice with that "Without Power Tools" , can you try again ? :)

[@Masterfighterx]

Personally, I would have seated the head by hammering on the butt of the handle so the wood would stand proud over the head and then tapping in the wedge and the cut off the excess with a little but sticking out, makes for a tidier and more hassle free job

[@guss1470]

Don't need glue for the Wedge, the wood will bond with the other wood, Should leave about 1/4 inch of wood produding to muschroom at the top to help keep the ax head in place, other than that, I have got to learn to make my own, always breaking them, chop and haul a lot of wood.

[@Masterfighterx]

It is still recommended sometimes, even by Gränsfors. While I'm sure it's not needed everytime, sometimes it can't be done without, or at least not without a metal wedge or circle wedge, I tried handling a hammer with the old handle (removed the gunk the chinese factory used and removed the varnish) Couldn't do anything without having used glue/the original circle wedge

[@sergiomariano4378]

Good 👍👏

[@KowboyUSA]

Been saving heads of axes, mauls, sledgehammers, etc. for more than 50 years. Need to make a bunch of handles, or it's been nothing but years of hoarding.

[@myckakoger3309]

7:08

[@ManCrafting]

I probably would have taken it a lot closer to finished dimensions on a bandsaw, then started the tedious process of working the final finish. I am way too impatient to do it all by hand. Turned out great though.

[@PatrickDustman]

Great video, what a very interesting idea. SurvivalAustria

[@ANXIETOR]

Well that was painful. Please see Hoffman Blacksmithing.

[@roderichall201]

Yeah if you want to watch someone that specializes in making axes, but I like watching people work outside of their comfort zones.

[@66bigbuds]

A shave horse and draw knife serve well in making handles.

[@ybotigchelaar9766]

Loved the video but you made a mistake when you were hitting in the ramp ( don’t know how to spell it) to fit the handle you should’ve put an piece of wood over it so not to split it. Ps like from the Netherlands. I’m 15 years old and I like your videos to bad almost all the other 15 year olds are gaming.

[@calebanderson2303]

I’m finally confident enough in my craftsmanship and skill that I want to try and make an Asian type sword like a katana I’m not worried about doing it traditionaly but I’m not quite sure where to start and what steel to buy so I came here to ask what size of sword would be best for me Im about 5’4”

[@tobapiggery2951]

like, then watch 😁

[@starrstroh3578]

I'm sure you can do it too. Just look for woodprix plans.

[@jackychan8539]

wtf 5/4

[@degerlitaslar375]

1st :)