Making an Axe Handle from Scratch

2019 ж. 26 Мау.
229 237 Рет қаралды

Today in the shop we are making a single bit axe handle from a piece of 8/4 Ash lumber. I picked up this piece of Ash from my local lumberyard. I went to pick up more 8/4 Hickory, but they were out at the time, so I got this Ash. I’m really happy I did because I’m really pleased with the way the wood works and how this handle turned out. As I said, only time will tell as to the way I use this Ash handle and the overall comfort of the 30 inch length, but so far I’m really pleased with the way it feels and handles.
Follow this link if you would like to see the video where I restored the Collins Legitimus single bit axe head that I hung on this handle.
• Restoring a Vintage Co...
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  • The gold standard of traditional axe handle making was established by the Schofield family of Lockartville Nova Scotia since the 1940's. In his small shop near Hantsport Keith Schofield hand carved thousands of axe handles as well as peavy stocks, shovel handles - basically any and all types of commonly used handles. He started by going to the woods to get straight grained ash. The ash logs were split into pie shaped billets. Only the outside part of the log was used. Keith would pick up a piece of ash that still had the bark on, put it on his shave horse and start carving with the drawknife. He would tell stories while he worked. When he was finished carving the handle it was scraped smooth and beautifully shaped. All that was needed was a rub with some sandpaper. How long did it take to make one handle? If he was talking a lot it took about 8 minutes but with no stories - 6 minutes. I timed him many times and it never took longer than that. He taught me to make axe handles but the best I could do after a lot of practice was 12 minutes. He was the best man with a drawknife I have ever seen - he passed two years ago and he is sorely missed. I just wanted to pass this story on out of respect for him and has craft. Thanks for your videos - you made me think of him.

    @cellerfeller1474@cellerfeller14743 жыл бұрын
    • That is a very interesting bit of history. Thank you so much for sharing it.

      @rootinteuton966@rootinteuton966 Жыл бұрын
    • My grandfather was making them in the 1920s, EJ Smith, England.

      @Captainblack710@Captainblack710 Жыл бұрын
    • Original woodcutters made there own during there breaks, whittled from ash limbs, to suit them selfs , like buying a pair of shoes, every one had different feel, height, levels of fitness! It was the individual who would be swinging it at the end of the day, - that shaft had to be comfy for them, it was there bread n butter .

      @Captainblack710@Captainblack710 Жыл бұрын
    • Any links to further reading or videos on this, please?

      @breauxp@breauxp8 ай бұрын
    • @@breauxp If you are interested in old time green wood carving Drew Langsner's book is a good resource and he has shop drawings in his book to show how to make one style of shavehorse. Keith had opportunities to be featured in magazines and on tv but he always turned them down. I realize now how lucky I was that he showed me how to make handles and orchard ladders. He was one of a kind.

      @cellerfeller1474@cellerfeller14748 ай бұрын
  • The best video yet..not 50 mles of talk...right to the point. Your a great crafter

    @gregmccarter2176@gregmccarter21762 ай бұрын
    • Thank you

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship2 ай бұрын
  • Job well done Sir ! Axe handle making is a dying art ,at least here in East Texas anyway . I had the Honor of meeting a Man here in Sabine county several years ago ,that could make any kind of handle you could think of , he did it the Old fashion way , he was to me a true craftsman , His work was as fine if not better than store bought , Mr. Willie Sweetie Bell, gone but not forgotten he used hand tools & peice of glass when it got close to the way he wanted it , a Fine Fine Old Black Gentleman .

    @jamesconn1104@jamesconn1104 Жыл бұрын
  • This is one of the worthwhile axe handle videos on youtube. Good demonstration and explanation. It's a 25 minute but moved along and seemed shorter which to me is the sign of a well done video. I especially like that there is no metal wedge used in the end. I do use metal wedges occasionally but only when I'm saving an old handle, never on a new handle.

    @JAMaxeRestoration@JAMaxeRestoration4 жыл бұрын
    • ok, I see that he is using wood clue to lock the wedge in. That's great, but if the head comes loose you're in for trouble as you really cannot remove it. Without glue it's not that much of a deal to remove the wedge. From experience I am in favor of metal wedge to lock the wooden wedge in place as the tend to jump out especially on longer handled axes exposed to more stress. Don't really understand why people have such a dislike for metal wedges - I mean after all there is no perfect solution here!

      @somatder@somatder4 жыл бұрын
    • @Olivier van Oeveren as a matter of fact I have started to glue the wedge in, lol! I have learned that the bond formed by the glue will go loose with heat. I like the clean look of only a wooden wedge

      @somatder@somatder4 жыл бұрын
    • JAMaxe Restoration this is social media’s only civil discussion in all the internet. Well done. 👏

      @donttreadonme1367@donttreadonme13674 жыл бұрын
    • @@donttreadonme1367 You spoke to soon. Jump from a roof and drink bleach anyone who uses wood glue for tool handles! Lol J/k

      @rogerjrusa@rogerjrusa2 жыл бұрын
  • Fantastic video. I usually have a million questions after watching a video about something I want to do. Instead, I feel like questions arose just before they were answered.

    @ReedFamilyArchive@ReedFamilyArchiveАй бұрын
  • watching this! is like meditation!

    @plantmuscle5693@plantmuscle56932 жыл бұрын
    • Namaste... haha

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • The old skills live with us thanks

    @fredflintstone6163@fredflintstone6163 Жыл бұрын
  • This is the most carpenter way of going about it ever 😂

    @scottobrien7965@scottobrien7965 Жыл бұрын
  • A true craftsman.

    @markopalikko6986@markopalikko69868 ай бұрын
    • Thanks Mark.

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship8 ай бұрын
  • I loved watching the fan dance for a bit at 10:42

    @StachuDotNet@StachuDotNet2 жыл бұрын
  • Beutiful piece of art made with notable passion. Like it, congratulations from Italy

    @MegaCocco63@MegaCocco632 жыл бұрын
    • Thanks for the kind words Luca!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • I have that same exact old table saw. Got it from my grandfather after he passed. He was great at wood working and I'm a 3rd generation carpenter so I get a ton of use outta it even with it being pretty old now. Gotta love all older tools as most are extremely well built unlike far too many tools out there today sadly!

    @auassassin787@auassassin7874 жыл бұрын
  • The Ol' rubberglove BLO My favorite way to apply

    @mybobbleheads@mybobbleheads Жыл бұрын
  • THE single best handle video I have ever seen. Thank You.

    @dalanbronnenberg@dalanbronnenberg4 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship4 жыл бұрын
  • Nicely done. And you are a very good teacher as well.

    @tcl5853@tcl58533 жыл бұрын
  • Watching These videos as a man it’s so informative but almost meditative. Love the content.

    @shawnhickman1412@shawnhickman14122 жыл бұрын
  • I'm really glad I found your channel ! I have a 100 year old axe head that I've been wanting to restore. You did a fantastic job on this video exsplaining the process to do it ! Thankyou for your video.

    @lawtonmurrey8601@lawtonmurrey86013 жыл бұрын
    • Absolutely. Good luck, and Axe on! 🪓

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship3 жыл бұрын
  • ❤ very creative 👌

    @gardeningwithkirk@gardeningwithkirk16 минут бұрын
  • I love the care you take into doing thing right. Beautiful bit and handle.

    @larryfath2673@larryfath26733 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you.

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship3 жыл бұрын
  • Watching you build with he craftmanship you put into it is a personal challenge for me to step up my game!! Not that I could compete! Your finish product was superb!! And being 6'2" I'm finding I to perfur a shorter handle! Thank you for sharing your craft with us!! Excellent

    @jonspruillsr.602@jonspruillsr.6023 жыл бұрын
  • you are a very fine teacher as well as a fine craftsman. thankyou.

    @kennyferguson1202@kennyferguson12022 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you Kenny

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship2 жыл бұрын
  • True ART of craftsmanship!

    @BestBuckingFirewood@BestBuckingFirewood Жыл бұрын
  • Chamfering that top edge and leaving the mushroomed top was super smart!

    @sronnau99@sronnau994 жыл бұрын
  • I have never had a wedge stay intact! It's always a little disappointing after all that hard work. Also, I love how calm you are about aligning the head to the handle. That is challenging. Great job!

    @mattvaandering@mattvaandering4 жыл бұрын
  • Thank you sir for sharing your talent with us. Simple, straightforward and easy going how more training videos should be made 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

    @Duke4ever188@Duke4ever188 Жыл бұрын
  • Cool! I love axes 😁🇵🇭

    @Cat_Trainer@Cat_Trainer Жыл бұрын
    • Me too!😁

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • Great work🎉

    @eruinihawke3628@eruinihawke3628 Жыл бұрын
  • nice work amigo

    @snort455@snort4555 ай бұрын
  • ...thumbs up from germany....i think this was tons of work you`ve invested in this beautiful axe-handle...thanx for sharing.

    @norbertzapf7546@norbertzapf75464 жыл бұрын
  • Great job shaping this axe handle! I do like the handles just a bit longer than 30", but you did a great job with the shape and flare. Nice to watch your work.

    @technicaltools741@technicaltools7412 жыл бұрын
    • Thanks for the kind words. There’s something about shorter handles that I like, although I’m a taller guy.

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • i always learn something new watching your videos

    @4PixelCorner@4PixelCorner4 жыл бұрын
  • Just amazing thousands 👍

    @cgkahani6056@cgkahani60562 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship2 жыл бұрын
  • Great work!!

    @michaeljohnston565@michaeljohnston5652 жыл бұрын
  • Good video mate ive slowly become addicted to making axe handles and this is a great video 1 thing to remember is you will never be 100% happy with your own work which is part of making anything by hand

    @brettlinsell4519@brettlinsell45198 ай бұрын
  • your fawns feet are gorgeous. the wedge turned out ok.

    @lancemillward2462@lancemillward246211 ай бұрын
  • i enjoy all of your shows and have watch many of them. I am goingg to make one or two axe handles. i have some very old dry Hickory and maple.

    @fosterfindlay6615@fosterfindlay66157 ай бұрын
  • thank you for sharing this knowledge!!!

    @auxburglar@auxburglar Жыл бұрын
  • Nice job, a pleasure to watch you make it from scratch. Thanks for sharing.

    @MrRahasti@MrRahasti Жыл бұрын
  • Great work

    @scottflanagan7927@scottflanagan79272 жыл бұрын
  • Great video! Thanks for sharing your craftsmanship.

    @jeffpopple3049@jeffpopple30499 ай бұрын
  • I love your spatula saw

    @zumazoomzoom7632@zumazoomzoom76323 жыл бұрын
  • very good video and handle

    @A.Mere.Creator@A.Mere.Creator3 жыл бұрын
  • Enjoyed watching you make this handle! Thx !

    @harryanderson6691@harryanderson6691 Жыл бұрын
    • You’re welcome

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • Beautiful!

    @cesarcelestino6232@cesarcelestino62323 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship3 жыл бұрын
  • You did a great job!! I could watch you all day every day!

    @scotthensler7159@scotthensler71593 жыл бұрын
    • Thanks Scott

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship3 жыл бұрын
  • Awesome work mate , I’m about to have my first attempt at a hatchet handle, thanks for the video and G’Day from Australia

    @scottjohnson5181@scottjohnson51816 ай бұрын
  • I haven't seen saws like that since high school you do good work thank you

    @thornrun@thornrun4 жыл бұрын
  • Great Video. Thanks

    @donaldlewis9734@donaldlewis97343 жыл бұрын
  • Amazing craftsmanship Justin! Was a pleasure watching you make this work of art!

    @shamibeef@shamibeef4 жыл бұрын
  • Thank you ; I'm in the process of making a handle for a hewing axe from scratch! I bought a 2x8x8ft.8in. rough cut straight grain hickory from a saw mill ! My first attempt! So thanks I feel a little more at ease!

    @josephbillian288@josephbillian2884 жыл бұрын
  • Nice job

    @johnreed6195@johnreed61957 ай бұрын
  • Another great job. I really wish had the sense and knowledge you have on these projects. You make it simple for us that have never known how to do this right along with a lot of practical knowledge that we can all learn so much from. Great job and a great video. Time well spent watching you get it done.

    @ronaldblair3236@ronaldblair32363 жыл бұрын
    • Agree. Well said!

      @randystrand908@randystrand908 Жыл бұрын
  • Zero Downvotes?!That shows how good you are!

    @heinwark3686@heinwark36864 жыл бұрын
  • Nice work!

    @anaya51@anaya512 жыл бұрын
  • just love it

    @murilloolimpio@murilloolimpio3 жыл бұрын
  • Well done sir, anyone wanting to learn how to make, and hang a axe watch this. Enjoyable to watch, Again Ha! Gives a old too, a new life that will last for years.

    @johnmutton799@johnmutton7993 жыл бұрын
  • Beautiful wood handle. Must be great to use and have a sense of pride that you made it yourself. Liked the construction and safety details. Thank you.

    @rayasunchine@rayasunchine10 ай бұрын
  • Very nice work! Liam Hoffman would be proud of you!

    @bmo125@bmo1253 жыл бұрын
  • Didn‘t know ash growing in the US!? It´s my favourite wood for many kinds of handcrafting. Here in Germany you find lots of ash, mostly dead.

    @Schechsi_handcraft@Schechsi_handcraft11 ай бұрын
  • 4:00 that's my favorite part of cleaning my band saws, just seeing all the dust fly away, thanks for Including that part

    @McGowanForge@McGowanForge3 жыл бұрын
    • My pleasure😁

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship3 жыл бұрын
  • Great job,thanks for sharing 👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸

    @simpleman4224@simpleman42244 жыл бұрын
  • Nice video. Thanks.

    @rosskeeling4459@rosskeeling44593 жыл бұрын
  • Very nice, straight forward presentation Thank you 👍🏻

    @NewLife-qj9mx@NewLife-qj9mx Жыл бұрын
  • Very nice work bro! I'm happy to see that us craftsman and carpenters aren't a dying breed and there's is so many people following you and your channel. I appreciate your skill at putting a nice fine edge on your axe heads and blades as well. 🤘💲🤘 🍻 from So. California!

    @auassassin787@auassassin7874 жыл бұрын
    • Thanks for watching! Hello west coast!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship4 жыл бұрын
  • Nice work you have put on your axe handle nice job. And i hope it serves you good.

    @gregoryhare6550@gregoryhare65504 жыл бұрын
  • Super nice pattern! I love the big sweeping curve on the handle at the axe head.

    @casterman2@casterman24 жыл бұрын
  • fantastic job

    @fuelmanjoe8639@fuelmanjoe8639 Жыл бұрын
    • Thanks Joe!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • O melhor vídeo que assisti sobre como se produzir com perfeição e estilo um cabo de machado. Parabéns! És um mestre.

    @marcoaureliomirandadarocha8795@marcoaureliomirandadarocha87952 жыл бұрын
  • Fantastic video. Such patience and precision. Love the end product. I have a small hatchet head and will use this video as my template. Thankyou

    @angelaburt3266@angelaburt32662 жыл бұрын
    • Thanks for watching Angela! Good luck!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • Nice handle for a great axe. Congratulations my friend. Greetings from Spain

    @Miguel_ON65@Miguel_ON654 жыл бұрын
  • It sure is purdy.....awesome job and great video.

    @michiganmikeupnorth@michiganmikeupnorth2 жыл бұрын
  • Nice job. I obviously see you truly appreciate axes and hatchets as I do. Mount Pleasant, IA

    @chadwhite4305@chadwhite43054 жыл бұрын
  • beautiful

    @dakillah6018@dakillah6018 Жыл бұрын
  • Nice job great workmanship. 👍

    @terryhatton3622@terryhatton36222 жыл бұрын
  • Your explanations throughout the video were very informative. Work was impressive. U dun good!

    @robertelias3431@robertelias34313 жыл бұрын
  • Well done. Excellent craftsmanship

    @chadmiller7145@chadmiller71453 жыл бұрын
    • Thanks Chad!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship3 жыл бұрын
  • Beautiful work on the head and the handle

    @johnleonard4261@johnleonard42612 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you John! Cheers!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • The shorter handle looks like a good idea. I've stuffed some handled with missed strikes.

    @Michael-vp4zt@Michael-vp4zt3 жыл бұрын
  • Awesome axe handle Sir !!!!!!!!

    @jerryjohnsonii4181@jerryjohnsonii41814 жыл бұрын
  • You did a great job, that's a sweet axe!

    @hildolfrdraugadrottin7279@hildolfrdraugadrottin72793 жыл бұрын
  • Great video bud love the handle thanks

    @bigturclakelife8980@bigturclakelife89802 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you LL cool lake.

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • Good job start to finish enjoyed both downloads.

    @nolanpeter2748@nolanpeter27484 жыл бұрын
  • Awesome video

    @alonsogonzalez5792@alonsogonzalez5792 Жыл бұрын
  • Really awesome I watch both..great job...

    @kendalkenny1843@kendalkenny18434 жыл бұрын
  • Thoroughly enjoyed watching this. Such a good workshop.

    @paulgoodall_@paulgoodall_3 жыл бұрын
  • Where ya been??? I binge watched all your videos a while ago and have been looking for you to put out a new one. Great job. Love your content. Well produced. Like the common man aspect of your work. Keep them coming!!

    @rfd62106@rfd621064 жыл бұрын
  • Excellent work and just a beautiful axe! Mesmerizing to watch!

    @tome.joyner887@tome.joyner8873 жыл бұрын
  • Lovely

    @foxfixa@foxfixa3 жыл бұрын
  • A very nice job. Thanks for sharing

    @JimG31547@JimG315474 жыл бұрын
  • Nice work, the first youtuber I've seen who knows how to set a wedge, lol 👍

    @Everythings_Adjustable@Everythings_Adjustable4 жыл бұрын
  • Now that is something that I have always want to do for my pet axe heads. Nice job. Excellent video.

    @johndimech8945@johndimech89454 жыл бұрын
  • Immediatly subscribed. What an accuracy and experience. You work like a CNC machine, my friend. I especially like your freehand draws, that turn out accurate like hell. I remember my grandad making handles from accacia and finishing them with broken glass and linseed oil. But what you present here is the top of the art, and I will combine both to hang any tool I use. Keep posting, please. Excellent channel

    @wekoweko71@wekoweko713 жыл бұрын
    • Thank you for your kind words.

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship3 жыл бұрын
    • Broken glass?

      @shags1130@shags11302 жыл бұрын
    • @@shags1130 Yes. When you break a glass bottle, you'll find a few pieces that have a straight, not jagged edge almost in right angle, but sharp like crazy. If you scrape an almost finished handle with that glass shard, the cut surface of the wood is going to be as smooth as marble and still a little bit textured. It is going to look like a piece of wood carved by knife, but much more delicate. This surface, treated with linseed oil, is great to aid the needed friction while you're not going to develop blisters and hot spots on your palm. If you ask why glass rather than a knife, the answer is, that the knife has a very thin edge that is harder to control, but this kind of glass edge is unable to cut into the wood so deep.

      @wekoweko71@wekoweko712 жыл бұрын
  • Nice Dutson. I've only just started watching your channel and enjoying what you. The knives are fantastic. I like glow in the dark. Awesome. I live in New Zealand 👍👍😎🔪

    @philipw7557@philipw75574 жыл бұрын
  • Great video thank you

    @forrestheaney9059@forrestheaney90592 жыл бұрын
    • Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship Жыл бұрын
  • Great work Dustin, you're the master at this thing you do! Keep up the great work buddy!

    @captainjax5809@captainjax58094 жыл бұрын
  • I really enjoyed this. My friend sent me an old axe head as a challenge to restore it and make a handle from scratch. My woodshop is lacking, so I figured I’d need to buy a lathe, etc. Now I know that all I need is a spoke shave, draw knife and rasp. I have all that other stuff, even though I’ve never actually used my band saw…

    @johngranaghan3751@johngranaghan3751 Жыл бұрын
  • Great looking handle. There nothing like a really nice axe handle made from quarter sawn Northern White Ash. My preference for tool handles.

    @magicdaveable@magicdaveable4 жыл бұрын
  • Ash is a great wood for tool handles. Great job as usual :-)

    @feralgrandad4429@feralgrandad44294 жыл бұрын
  • One of the best vids...good tips on the layout. might have to give it a try one day

    @blaineday8675@blaineday86753 жыл бұрын
    • Thanks Blaine!

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship3 жыл бұрын
  • Very nice work on shaping the ax handle. Not to be picky but in the first minute and a half you called the wood you were using as "quarter sawn," which it was not. Quarter sawn means the grain runs perpendicular through the flat sides. What you have is plain or flat sawn. The grain orientation you selected is perfect for you application, it is just a matter of being accurate in describing the wood you used. Again, I don't mean to be picky as I think you presented a great video on making an ax handles from scratch.

    @danbreyfogle8486@danbreyfogle84864 жыл бұрын
    • You are 100% correct. Must have slipped my mind. Thanks.

      @TheArtofCraftsmanship@TheArtofCraftsmanship4 жыл бұрын
    • Appreciate the clarification as I wouldn't want to head into a lumber yard asking for the wrong grain orientation! (Although I hope I stay motivated to capture tree trunk raw wood, I may likely give this a try from seasoned wood!)

      @randystrand908@randystrand908 Жыл бұрын
    • Thanks for that info!!

      @Vid_Master@Vid_Master11 ай бұрын
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