Axe handles

[H-A]

They look great, did you use a thin bit of ash, roughly the same thickness you wanted or split a larger piece?

 

How did you make the leather guards as well please?

 

I used a bit of ash that we cut at the Kemble steam Fair a few years ago.

 

It is tight grain and straight, it was going to be thrown away, but I put it through the saw again and gut a nice 5x2 out of it.

 

The leather guards are easy enough, got rivet and popper kits off ebay, leather was from an old bag, make a paper template cut out with a sharp knife then rivet together.

 

10 100 Double-sided Rivets Fasteners Studs Button Sewing Leather craft Jeans 8mm | eBay

 

I leave the finishing of the end of the handle until last, leave it long so you can bash the handle into the head with a lump hammer, good tight fit.

 

H-A

[jamesd]

I used a bit of ash that we cut at the Kemble steam Fair a few years ago.

 

It is tight grain and straight, it was going to be thrown away, but I put it through the saw again and gut a nice 5x2 out of it.

 

The leather guards are easy enough, got rivet and popper kits off ebay, leather was from an old bag, make a paper template cut out with a sharp knife then rivet together.

 

10 100 Double-sided Rivets Fasteners Studs Button Sewing Leather craft Jeans 8mm | eBay

 

I leave the finishing of the end of the handle until last, leave it long so you can bash the handle into the head with a lump hammer, good tight fit.

 

H-A

 

Ok cheers so my best bet is just to cut a piece of ash out of a larger log then rather than use a sapling/small branch?

How did you get the shape so well and smooth, what hand tools did you use?

 

Cheers for the help!

 

James.