Montana Axe Handle Build from Scratch

Pour a whiskey, sit back, relax, and enjoy my axe handle build and mount. The handle is hickory and the palm swell laminate is lacewood. The wedges are lacewood and hickory as well. The axe head is a great Plumb rafter. Rafters are hardened on the poll (hammer side) which allows them to be used as such. This video was not meant as an instructional or How-To video, just simply to enjoy the process.
Learning to build axe handles brought me back from a dark place in my life. It was never meant to be a business just an activity that challenged me and brought mental heath. Out of the chaos in my mind Stumptown Axes came to be.
Thanks for watching the journey
www.stumptownaxes.com
/ stumptownaxes
Tools used:
Dewalt chop saw: amzn.to/437WPuD
Wood Glue: amzn.to/3q98FG8
Iwaski wood file: amzn.to/3Mu4XOS
Belt grinder attachment: amzn.to/42925Ng
Dead blow hammer: amzn.to/45xSD8Q
Dewalt orbital sander: amzn.to/3J3j5hl

[@axeandtool]

Crazy informative (and satisfying) video without needing to say a word - awesome job

[@StumptownAxes]

HAHA. That's because sometimes I don't know what the hell to say! I am already at max capacity moving the darn camera around haha. Thanks for watching!!!!

[@KrisDeVo]

Love it man! Great video to watch while enjoying a whisky :)

[@spencerpetrofsky2162]

Loved being able to see the whole process Paul! The cross wedge is awesome!

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for watching!

[@jasonslade1253]

You had the wrong grain orientation of your dark wedge to wrong way. End grain is running front to back not up and down. That’s why it snapped. Not sure if it will continue to crack and pop out on you, glue might save the day. The handle itself looks very nice. 👍🪓🪓🪓

[@StumptownAxes]

Yeah. It worked out fine. Thanks for watching

[@T_Goff]

Really enjoy and appreciate you work. High quality and attention to detail, very nice!

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for watching

[@abhilashravi5905]

Excellent work... outstanding...

[@StumptownAxes]

Thank you. Appreciate you watching!!

[@MrDude2237]

This is inspiring! Beautiful piece!! I believe my brother-in-law and I are gonna try to make our own! He has a ton of scrap wood (from making knives) that we can try out for knob accents

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for watching. Good luck.

[@MrDude2237]

@@StumptownAxes 🫶🏼

[@michaelplunkett7894]

2 1200 GS's in the shed. Love it.

[@StumptownAxes]

Close and good eye. Both GSs but a 650 twin and 800. Sadly been sitting a while 😕. Thanks for watching!!!!

[@michaelplunkett7894]

@@StumptownAxes Nice. My 1200 has almost 80000 miles, also sadly sitting more than I'd like. Great channel!

[@michaelplunkett7894]

What is the name of the blue tool that scribes the centerline? Can you get axe handle blanks in the Flathead? RBM maybe? Thanks!

[@StumptownAxes]

@@michaelplunkett7894 center line scribe is the name. Nobody I know of sells a blank but I get my lumber from Glacier Hardwoods south end of Kalispell.

[@jeremiahstutts133]

I could watch the drawknife all day long!!! Def favorite part!

[@StumptownAxes]

👍🏼

[@RedBeard_KNT]

Stunning bro!

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for watching 👍🏼

[@mildmanneredmercifulmouse1839]

Sweet .

[@StumptownAxes]

👍🏼

[@carlhamer3402]

Learnt more from that video than reading any books. Thank you

[@StumptownAxes]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting

[@unnikrishnan5345]

Excellent work....❤ Such a great level of perfection in making a simple axe handle. Amazing design...

[@Jaev75933]

Tu trabajo es una auténtica maravilla!!!!!!

[@guywihn1658]

Love your work brother!

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaellindsay8934]

Fantastic thanks for sharing

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for watching

[@kurts64]

Nice video! Beaut location at the end too, that mountain and lake looked awesome 👌 👍👍🪓

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for watching

[@_BigLife_]

Beautiful

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks

[@TomTheBFG]

Love it !!

[@StumptownAxes]

👍🏼

[@cmanobianco]

Awesome video, would love to see links to the tools you use in the video! And agree with the person above about a voiceover, would great to hear you talk through what you are doing. Keep up the awesome work!

[@StumptownAxes]

I’ll look to shoot another one with some talking between steps. Is there a particular part that gives you trouble or would you just find it more entertaining if I explained what’s happening?

[@cmanobianco]

Overall more entertaining and informative. As someone totally new a few things that jump to mind are things like wood species being used, what tools you use and recommend, axe head weight and handle length, why you chose that length, how you come up with the handle design, etc. a few wood workers who do a good job on the video side that have this style are four eyes furniture, Shawn Boyd made this, and Blacktail studios. Overall it’s nice to hear the thought process! Keep up the great work!

[@franzfenzl5687]

Tolle Arbeit 👍 Gruß Franz vom Chiemsee

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks

[@tbruce-sawsandsplitting]

Stunna

[@MrDudetheassassin]

This video definitely could use a voice over of what your doing but still an amazing video and beautiful axe.

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for the feedback, seriously. I debated on whether I wanted to insert myself or just wanted it to sit back and enjoy type video. I opted for the latter in this case. I am considering the next video to be slightly more talkative. Maybe before the step.

[@MrDudetheassassin]

@@StumptownAxes I would love a step by step. I have a little hatchet head that needs a base. I know the steps but it’s going to take me way longer. I live in an apartment for now so no big tools.

[@mikenormandy9250]

My man you are amazing with a draw knife, can you do a video on how you keep it sharp? I can never get the ones I have to cut like that?!? Or they just don’t retain an edge?

[@StumptownAxes]

I’ll try to put something up. I think I’ve covered it on instagram before but this is probably an easier search for me to discuss it. I am not a drawknife expert by any means but happy to share the knowledge I have. If it’s not keeping the edge that could be another problem of the hardening not being good. Give me a couple weeks and I’ll get a video up. Thanks for watching 👍🏼

[@joaopedrooliveira7711]

👏👏👏

[@lancemillward2462]

looks like you cut the grain the wrong way on two of the wedges. but what do i know turned out awesome :)

[@StumptownAxes]

Hotly debated topic. Fit is good, tested much longer than video showed, going with it.

[@bueller48]

Fantastic! Whats the name of the little plastic blue pencil holder you used to find the center line?

[@StumptownAxes]

Probably called something like a center scribe

[@BK33REVIEWS]

What belt sander are you using really like it. And love your work

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks for watching! It’s just a Multitool grinder attachment. Just google it and it will show up in a couple different configurations 👍🏼

[@patricksullivan6114]

Awesome. Does the grain for the dark wedges run vertically or horizontally? Thanks

[@StumptownAxes]

I believe I had these running vertical or parallel to the handle.

[@liamdarrow5324]

I’m south in Newberg and just jumping into this exact hobby and am looking for as many axe heads as I can get my hands on, no matter where it is made. What are your go to spots for finding ace heads?

[@StumptownAxes]

Well if you're just getting into this than you don't need as many as you can get your hands on. Just get a couple quality ones and focus on the craftsmanship. It will take an investment in time to shape your own handles. Plus you're in a good region for finding heads at garage sales.

[@SP6X6]

Interesting, I think your vid was great, easy to understand.I have a few ol heads kicking around might have to give it a goDo you source your hickory at Glacier hardwood?Is white oak ok?I grew up in Wfish and didn't even know about this,dont get in town much.Hatchets H/B and Marshall Wells

[@StumptownAxes]

Yes for Glacier Hardwood. I used hickory though.

[@oilburner8548]

Looks amazing but are these for collections ? Or a little bit of real work? Either way nice skills 👌

[@StumptownAxes]

They are made to be used. It’s up to the customers to decide what is done with them.

[@pawelnak4466]

Beautiful job. Do you use linseed oil?

[@StumptownAxes]

Yes

[@jasonsiegler6670]

What was the wood billet dimension you started with?

[@StumptownAxes]

4/4

[@jeffschroeder9089]

Plumb 4?

[@StumptownAxes]

I think that’s what it was

[@3.eyes.open.]

Dude I wanna work for you

[@StumptownAxes]

I can barely work for myself haha. Thanks for watching

[@beingrealistic2562]

GREAT VIDEO!!!!!

[@StumptownAxes]

Glad you think so!

[@ragefilledvergin]

Abfab

[@StumptownAxes]

Thanks. I had to look up what that meant so I learned something today haha. 👍🏼

[@ragefilledvergin]

@@StumptownAxes if you ever come across a 6+ pound splitter in a Jersey or tassie style I've been looking for years...can just be an axehead

[@StumptownAxes]

@@ragefilledvergin I’d love one too. Haha. I’ve only had one since I’ve been doing this. It was a Keen Kutter jersey and it was 6lbs. Monster. A good friend has it now. I am always looking though. 👍🏼

[@HaightTheGreat]

Are you an Orgegonian?

[@StumptownAxes]

No. I was born in North Carolina but really a military kid so moved a ton growing up. Home was always where I slept at night. Now I live in Montana and can't see moving for a long time.

[@HaightTheGreat]

@Stumptown Axes cool. They call Portland "Stump Town" so I assumed you were a local. Great content.

[@StumptownAxes]

@@HaightTheGreat Yes. Whitefish, Montana was originally names Stumptown also, which is where I live. There’s a pretty long history of logging “train towns” being called Stumptown at some point. I think the further east is in West Virginia. Portland is definitely the most famous one now, but there’s still businesses all over town here named Stumptown this or that. Thanks for the comments 👍🏼

[@jabroni6692]

what kind of wood is the handle made of?

[@StumptownAxes]

Hickory.