Driving a wedge in an axe
**Update I am currently not using glue on wedges anymore. I prefer the flexibility to be able to service/adjust the head if needed. Glue makes this more challenging.***
Showing my technique for driving a wedge in an axe hedge during the mounting process. It one of the more stressful part, for me, of the handle making process. Hope it helps folks looking to make and mount their own handles. I am also wanting to provide more value to past customers showing them more of the process.
Hit me in the comment section with questions or criticisms, I am still on a journey and learning all the time.
I host most of my finished pieces on Instagram at:
/ stumptownaxes
@stumptownaxes
#stumptownaxes
DM on Instagram to get a project going or email: paul@stumptownaxes.com
Thanks for watching
Glad I’m not the only one that finds it stressful 😂
Outstanding! Best video on driving a wedge that I have seen. The close-ups and detail are really helpful. Thank you!
Thanks! Glad you found it useful
Hola nos az visto el aciatico que hace hachas esta en KZhead te invito a que lo veas tienes que ver como las hace las diceñas las cuñas que hace es un maestro Que Dios te bendiga
I stumbled upon your channel for the first time today. I wanted to say that I like what you're doing. I am an axe connasiuer myself. Have a little collection of vintage heads and I love using them. I liked the way you turned the axe upside to do the wedge. Have not tried that way myself yet but you had good results with it. Thanks for the tips.
You remind me of the big Lebowski but skilled. Thanks for the tutorial
I never really thought of the wedge part as being stressful, in fact, I always look forward to this. I don't really feel any aspect of this is stressful per se, except when I first started and I would carve a handle really nicely and then worry that I would shape the tenon too small for the eye. That is until I figured out two things; don't finish the handle until it fits the eye, and use cross wedges if it doesn't fit front to back. This way you don't spend too much time on a creation that you might have to throw out as well as knowing that yo u can salvage the handle if it's only a little too small.
fastastic instruction. I have a few really nice vintage heads I want to hang, so these little details are important to me
Great quality video. Dude should have his own show, he's made for this kind of thing
😂. That’s super kind of you to say.
@@StumptownAxes hahaha hey man i just call 'em like i see 'em... Very helpful video-just finished shaping my 1st try at a wedge ✌
@@Dickremoulade I updated in the comments I no longer use glue but that’s just my way. Plenty still use it, I just prefer the serviceability. Good luck
Outstanding! You answered a couple of questions I had and made a couple of detailed points I hadn't thought of. Making my first axe handle and watching many KZhead videos. I have all I need to get started, I have drawn the kerf x 2 so many times its crazy. I am going to try a cross wedge. I just watched your short intro cross wedge. Great music. Thanks.
Thanks for watching. Don’t forget to drill a relief hole at the bottom of the cross kerf. You’ll need it to reduce the chance of splitting.
Thank you so much!
This is how it shall be done! I remember, in the factory we just used to dam in a ready made square pice wedge and letting the axehead splitting it and then bandsaw it all down to size.. It will newer look as good as this and it's a minor h---l to adjust anything in the process.
Looks great! I spoke to you on IG about some handles for a couple axe heads I picked up. You have me slightly nervous about the hanging process! I guess I won’t get any better without giving it a shot. Hope to speak to you soon my friend. Thanks for the great video
Fine job!! I learned
I agree that wedge driving can be stressful and the more perfectionist you are, the more the stress. The commonest problem is having too fat a wedge. This will be apparent pretty soon after you start driving and it pays to recognize defeat early on and to withdraw the wedge before it all starts breaking up. As often as not this will make a bit of a mess of the wedge, but far better to make a new one a bit thinner, rather than end up with a smashed up, half driven wedge. If you were to use glue, getting out a part driven wedge is a lot harder to do. In order to get the wedge out, I use a couple of vise grips snapped tight onto the wedge to give good fixed points against which it can be levered out.
Interesting technique that tool is gonna last a long time
Nice work👍
Thank you so much! There are other channels on KZhead that show people putting a new handle on an axe head and it’s not even tight. It’s actually quite loose. And to counter that they fill it with epoxy, just to get this cross wedge in on an exotic redwood looking handle. And everyone is commenting on it saying they want to do that. I was in a conversation with someone and they said this axe is for display only purposes but they’re not telling anyone that. Anyway, thanks for your video.
If you display an axe like on a wall people will ask is it real will it chop wood - no it's just for looking at huh? 👍
I think I know the account you may be talking about. I have thought the same thing when I've seen people do that. I need to update this video. I no longer use glue. I prefer to have the option to pull the wedge and adjust the fit if necessary. As long as you get a good fit and well shaped wedge it will hold. Obviously you need to condition the handle and wedge too. Thanks for watching
Thanks for the great idea of moving it to the ground and a piece of wood underneath.
Hello, Paul; Thank you, very nice video. Very nice axe, I'm partial to the Jersey-style patterns, they just look like an 'axe' to me. Your work is really beautiful. I see your update & I agree. One point, not a criticism. I don't want my wedge to bottom out in the kerf, I think that stops the purpose of a wedge. So I would make the pencil mark at least 1/8-1/4 inch short of the kerf bottom. If the head loosens the wedge can be driven deeper, if it has the room. I don't really care about the aesthetics so much tho. It is a tool, function is more important to me than looks. I've never thought about fitting the wedge length-wise, it looks really good. As for metal wedges I think they work OK but they seem to damage the handle, IMO. My last axe I used a round metal wedge (barrel, cylindrical),. It was too soft but It really swelled the haft proud. I hope I can drill the center, tap & thread it, & pull it Urban Lumberjack style, if needed. So far I'm not real pleased w/ the House Handle I used. The one I got was not what I meant to order so I may change it after I use it a while. Where do you get your handles, this one looks good. Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!
Great explanation! Thank you for taking time to film, edit and post this video.
just like wrestling its the ground and pound. Subscribed
I just carved my first handle today! I tried to do the wedge and I thought it got. but a few test swings in and she popped lose........ going to try again this weekend! ill keep this in mind!
I think depth and compression. you want that wedge pushing the tongue against the walls of that eye. You may need a wider wedge if it's just popping out.
@@StumptownAxes thank you, I really appreciate it, do you have any tips to make the wedge without a sander?
@@ice_stormz_12minimum you’d need a vise or something to hold a piece of wood and then just a coping saw should work. Then just shape a little bit with some hand files.
@@StumptownAxes sweet. I’ll go grab some files this Friday! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 I’ll come back and let you know if I got it
I say whatever works for you everyone got an opinion like you know what thanks for video.
Thanks for watching. I have certainly changed my opinions on it as well. I updated my feelings in the description. At some point l'll redo the video to reflect my current method. Always good to know more than one way to do something.
Wood shrinks, even cured wood still shrinks over time (but not as much anymore and takes decades/centuries) You keep the steel wedges as a back up in case your head gets loose in a year or 5, you jump it up the handle a bit (because again, the handle shrunk) and then add the steel wedge. So the head will last a couple decades more.
Hi pal, defo the most stress part of hanging an axe. Alot of my wedges mush up not sure if it's the sizing of the wedge or bad seating technique. I'll defo try your idea of hitting the bottom end. Cheers neebs
The goal is a secure fit first. Doesn’t have to be pretty, I like it when it is.
@@StumptownAxes definitely but when ye see all these wedges in perfectly and yours mush up its a bit frustrating
You're right...the wedge is the most stressful part. A problem that I've had is the wedge not going down enough, even with much persuasion. How do you know when the fit is too tight before driving the wedge? Is there a certain amount of space to look for to make sure the wedge can drive deep enough? What is your technique? I hope the question makes sense. Great video!
There’s a lot of nuance in answering these. I’ll try to shed some light on them. I am eyeballing and using experience for that. If you’re consistently not being able to drive your wedges deep enough then you need to have a thinner wedge or cut your kerf wider or both. I like to have half of that kerf filled with my wedge. I’ll draw lines on the wedge to monitor this. I want really good compression in that eye. And I like for the wedge to push out the exposed section of the tongue to really secure the head. I also no longer use glue. I am preferring to be able to adjust the axe if needed. Hope that helps
That's a beautiful rose wood wedge! Does anyone know of a good source of exotic wedges? Love getting my handles from House Handles, but their wedges are trash poplar. Ive always had to make my own, but would love to buy some in bulk.
Place handle on the ground from the start. Use a wide wooden mallet to drive wedge in!
Hola nos az visto el aciatico que hace hachas esta en KZhead te invito a que lo veas tienes que ver como las hace las diceñas las cuñas que hace es un maestro Que Dios te bendiga
GREAT SAFETY for using Tape on Axe cutting edge! Remove Jewelry whilst working. 'Stuff'... happens!...Fast!
Which tool would you use to significantly trim down an axe wedge?
I make them on the bandsaw, shape them briefly on the belt grinder, and then slight adjustments with orbital sander or just sandpaper.
How come you don't want the wedge to go all the way down the kurf?
Great question. I don’t have an absolute answer but my impression is the wedge should have done it’s job before it gets to that depth. There shouldn’t be enough room for it at the bottom either. You will invite cracking to the handle with a spread at that depth. A great wedging is not a substitute for a poor fitting tongue. The wedge is just going to lock your great fit in place. Hope that helps. Others are welcome to chime in.
This was helpful, thank you!
How come wedges are wider than the eye? How do people even hammer it down without breakage? I can find no answers for this. I mainly just want to know why the wedges are wider than the axe eye
The eye wall of an axe head is tapered. The lower part of the eye is compression fitted on the handle. This serves as the greatest hold of the fit. Then the wedge with expand the handle tongue against the rest of the eye wall. It's a wedge shape to allow for a tight fit that runs deep into the kerf cut to hold the position. I hope this makes things clearer.
Cristo los AMA DE VERDAD Y ÉL YA VIENE BÚSQUENLO 😊
Anyone ever tell you you kinda look like Jim Carey
Not once 🤷🏻♂️
@@StumptownAxes lol well you kinda look like a stocky Jim Carey now with the graying beard and what not. Hope that isn’t offensive. Just kinda reminded me off him. Thanks for the info by the way
OMG.. All that hemming and hawing..just to whack a wedge in.. You are being rediculous.