Growing your own axe handle.

[Del_]

Did the wood shrink or is the head still tight?

It is still quite tight.

I think I'll hang it on a wall and not use it.

 

[Huskybill]

Cool now you have me thinking about copice a stump so the root system sends up multiple new shoots and put a axe or maul on each new shoot.

I copiced lots of stumps in the past and a few years later we had new shoots that became trees. Since the root system is there and healthy why not let the stumps replenish themselves.

I been back to areas I cut and they look awesome where I thinned it out. We took out oaks, ash, hickory, birch trees and left the sugar maples for tapping. I’m thinking it was done for educational purposes. I feel proud to be part of the education project so others can get involved in taping maple trees.

 

[lone wolf]

I set up this axe handle on a pencil sized hickory tree six or seven years ago. I don't remember exactly how long ago it was. I just cut the hickory the other day and here are photos of the handle that grew inside of the axe head.

View attachment 675449 View attachment 675450 View attachment 675451 View attachment 675452 View attachment 675453 View attachment 675454 View attachment 675455 View attachment 675456 View attachment 675457

Very cool but it sure takes long.

 

[lone wolf]

Thanks Bill.

I've found six or seven axe heads here on the property, some are double bit. The house is 150 years old. Some are in really bad shape and rusted. Also a few 'homemade' wedges. All kinds of metal parts tractor/plow parts are spread around the property.

I wish I'd set up more heads on hickories back when I did this one. Maybe I'll do it this winter.

Is hickory best?

I've got lots of red oak saplings and wild cherry, too.

Do you think I may have 'picked' it a little early?

The tree was starting to look unhealthy I think due to be girdled.

Hickory is best then White Oak.

 

[siouxindian]

second growth hickory has been the best were hickory is growing. but you use what grows were you live. i am not gonna put my handle tools on a tree and wait LOL that thing is gonna shrink and fail. just my 2 cents.

 

[lone wolf]

second growth hickory has been the best were hickory is growing. but you use what grows were you live. i am not gonna put my handle tools on a tree and wait LOL that thing is gonna shrink and fail. just my 2 cents.

Still a cool as hell wall hanger.

 

[Del_]

second growth hickory has been the best were hickory is growing. but you use what grows were you live. i am not gonna put my handle tools on a tree and wait LOL that thing is gonna shrink and fail. just my 2 cents.

I think long and hard before chopping down a tree.












I just did it for fun.

 

[grizz55chev]

I think long and hard before chopping down a tree.












I just did it for fun.

We have locust around here that should work!

 

[J.W Younger]

It is still quite tight.

I think I'll hang it on a wall and not use it.

Yeah I think I would too...
Hickory makes some of the best tool handles but the problem with young small diameter trees like that is pretty much the outer 3rd is sap wood which has less strength and rot resistance than heart wood.
Still good wood just not the potential of the tree.

 

[lone wolf]

Yeah I think I would too...
Hickory makes some of the best tool handles but the problem with young small diameter trees like that is pretty much the outer 3rd is sap wood which has less strength and rot resistance than heart wood.
Still good wood just not the potential of the tree.

Iv'e used it for my Go Devils it works fine. Buford Pusser had one!

 

[J.W Younger]

Iv'e used it for my Go Devils it works fine. Buford Pusser had one!

Yep, Hickory is some fine dense wood, can't hardly be beat for shock resistance...white Oak beats in in rot resistance though.

 

[lone wolf]

Yep, Hickory is some fine dense wood, can't hardly be beat for shock resistance...white Oak beats in in rot resistance though.

Yup Hickory rots fast outdoors.

 

[lone wolf]

Yup Hickory rots fast outdoors.

I made a Hickory milk stool-bench like in the 70's and the person still has it and it hasn't aged a bit!

 

[Del_]

I have a hard time with hickory firewood.

We've got some type of boring insect down here in GA that gets into it after it is cut. Makes a dusty mess.

 

[lone wolf]

I have a hard time with hickory firewood.

We've got some type of boring insect down here in GA that gets into it after it is cut. Makes a dusty mess.

Powder post Beatles?

 

[Del_]

Powder post Beatles?

Probably.

I do find small grubs.

Maybe what I"ve got is Norwegian wood?

 

[lone wolf]

Probably.

I do find small grubs.

Maybe what I"ve got is Norwegian wood?

Good song.

 

[Deleted member 135597]

I feared that there would be some shrinkage.

Like wolf said, awesome wall hanger. Cool as hell.

I always fear the shrinkage too.

 

[Deleted member 135597]

I have a hard time with hickory firewood.

We've got some type of boring insect down here in GA that gets into it after it is cut. Makes a dusty mess.

Got it here too. Doesn’t take them long at all to find it.

 

[Huskybill]

I’d either leave it be or remove the bark, smooth it out and linseed oil it. Or pick a good stain like Solar lux stain the formbys tounge oil.

https://www.shellac.net/SolarLuxDye.html

https://www.shellac.net/Behlen_Color_Chart_2015.pdf

Wear gloves with this stain. I use this on all my wood even gun stocks.