The 36-inch handle on my 3.5 pound Collins single-bit axe broke last week. Since a brand new axe was only $5 more than a new handle, I bought a new axe. But I decided, ‘To Hell with it. I’ll fix the old axe.’ I took it to the hardware store to be sharpened, along with a smaller axe and a tomahawk, and asked that they put a new handle on. They didn’t, because it didn’t fit.
The opening at the top of the head is just big enough for the handle to fit into. The opening on the bottom is smaller by ¼ to ½ inch. This makes sense, as such a taper would help to prevent the head from flying off, especially after installing the wedge. But I’m at a loss as to how to get the handle into the bottom of the head. It could just be that it’s the wrong handle. Or, it could be that it’s supposed to be like that.
It sounds like you have too big an axe handle you are trying to fit into the axe: the handle should fit into the bottom of the axe and the wedges you hammer into the top of the axe will expand it to fill the bigger top area. [Naturally it will be a tight fit and you will probably hammer it in and if a slightly different shape trim it.] See some Youtube videos: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wedges+axe+handle&search=Search
I agree that you (or the store you brought it to) doesn’t have the right handle for that axe head. They can probably shave down the shoulder to fit properly, or you can purchase a handle that is the correct size and mount it yourself.
I thought it might be the wrong size, but I thought there’s the possibility there’s a Woodsman’s Secret. Sounds good I didn’t buy it. I’ll go into town and see if I can find one that fits.
I had a shufti at one of the videos PastTense linked to, and it showed a guy cutting and shaping a handle to fit a head. I don’t know if I want to go to that trouble. I tried to contact Collins Axe, but apparently the axes are made in Mexico and I can’t find contact info for Truper Co to see if they had any handles.
I’d like to point out that in the movie, those are pick or mattock handles, not ax handles.
Ax handles are much slimmer at the top and, at least for a single bit ax, have the traditional “hook” at the end that’s held. Double bit is usually straight.
Axe heads should not be used as a wedge, either separately or as attached to a handle. The hole for the handle will deform with impact and you’ll find that you just get the head stuck in a stubborn log. Proper splitting wedges are about $20 which is far cheaper than the amount of time you’re going to waste trying to pry that axe-head out of a tough log or potentially injuring yourself. With log-splitting, using “the right tool for the job” is a serious safety issue.
I’ve had a number of axes and replaced handles as necessary, but I’ve honestly gone to using these. They aren’t the same quality steel as my Gränsfors Bruk and the handle does not have that nice ergonomic curve that gives good control for tree felling and trimming, but when it comes to splitting rounds into firewood the X27 splitter is nonpareil compared to every maul I’ve ever used, and the smaller forest-type axes and hatchets are so much lighter to carry that I’m hard pressed to take a wood-handled axe unless I’m doing some kind of fine woodcraft like building permanent shelter.
I use mine mostly for trail clearing and various log construction projects. I have a small electric chainsaw that I can use around the house but most places are far from an outlet.
I keep,…not an actual axe but something about halfway between the size of an axe and it’s much smaller cousin the hatchet in my camping/emergency kit in my truck. Other than using it for campsite firewood chores and delivering a mercy strike to a car struck, injured small mammal, I’ve never used it.
of course people make choices based on their needs and resources. is it unimaginable to you that someones needs might include a log spitter? that’s not a lifestyles of the rich and famous piece of equipment. the two people I know that have them aren’t wealthy. they heat their homes with wood.
and you don’t have to need a pickup every day to drive one. they work fine for basic transportation.
*you basically responded to my post without actually responding to it. I’m interested in your actual response to it. what do you use your axe(s) for? with what frequency?