Re-wedging an Axe, bad idea?

[klaus von herten]

Howdy all! Hope you are having a blessed Easter Week!

I have a question regarding the practice of re-wedging an axe that had become loose?

I inherited a True American USA Michigan-style axe from my pop, and it’s sat in my Phoenix garage for 5 summers. Don’t know too much about these axes but apparently you can still buy them.

As you might imagine, nearly all of the moisture has been driven out of the wood and the axe head is now a little loose.

The handle looks like it’s in great shape there are no cracks to be found anywhere that I can see.

I have driven in another wedge closer to the front where it seems like it had been a little loose. Now it’s tight. The kerf has seemed to have moved a bit downwards, however. Is this a false sense of security, or is this generally good to go?

I have another handle a 34 inch one, that I just received but I might let it stay in the garage for a couple summers so this doesn’t happen again.

What would you guys personally do? Rehandle?

Thanks for your responses.

 

[Bearcat22lr]

I would use it, if it stays put you should be good to go.

 

[Stock]

Howdy all! Hope you are having a blessed Easter Week!

I have a question regarding the practice of re-wedging an axe that had become loose?

I inherited a True American USA Michigan-style axe from my pop, and it’s sat in my Phoenix garage for 5 summers. Don’t know too much about these axes but apparently you can still buy them.

As you might imagine, nearly all of the moisture has been driven out of the wood and the axe head is now a little loose.

The handle looks like it’s in great shape there are no cracks to be found anywhere that I can see.

I have driven in another wedge closer to the front where it seems like it had been a little loose. Now it’s tight. The kerf has seemed to have moved a bit downwards, however. Is this a false sense of security, or is this generally good to go?

I have another handle a 34 inch one, that I just received but I might let it stay in the garage for a couple summers so this doesn’t happen again.

What would you guys personally do? Rehandle?

Thanks for your responses.

why not stand it in water to rehydrate it..................................................................

 

[watchamakalit]

That only works temproary. And when it dries back out the head will be loose. If you want to soak it try boiled linseed oil. It wont dry out of the wood as fast as water.

 

[klaus von herten]

why not stand it in water to rehydrate it..................................................................

Will that work? Could I use something like boiled linseed oil? I keep this in the garage I’m worried about it happening again. It appears to be varnished hickory.

 

[cookies]

I'd put a little oil on it here and there and watch for cracking or head movement during use if planning to keep the old handle. For a regular use axe, hafting it would be safest.

 

[camel2019]

We always used to let them sit in oil I have used motor oil and kerosene mixed.
I’d knock the varnish(first thing I do to a new handle) off give it some loving with boiled linseed oil and Let the head end sit in some for a bit.

 

[3000 FPS]

I usually take the old wedge out if I can and then put a larger one in.
If not then I do what you have done. It should be ok.

 

[cookies]

Beware of the dangers boiled linseed oil carries, it can self ignite...experienced it first hand

 

[klaus von herten]

Beware of the dangers boiled linseed oil carries, it can self ignite...experienced it first hand

Yes thank you for the reminder. The first time I used it I learned this lesson.

 

[SweetMK]

The last wedge I installed was a DIY wedge, cut from some long-stored pressure treated 2X4.
The wedge wood was so hard it would be tough to drive a nail into,,
anyways, I cut the wedge on a bandsaw, then I put Gorilla Glue in the handle slot, and, per instructions, I wet the wedge with water.

I drove the wedge into the handle, then as expected, over some time, the Gorilla Glue expanded like insulating foam.

Two days later, I cut off the little excess wood sticking out of the axe head.
That little piece of handle/wedge was glued together like CRAZY,, it is an amazingly strong joint.
I can not imagine that handle ever becoming loose,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[buzz sawyer]

I mount my sledges, hatchets, and axe heads with golf club shaft epoxy before wedging. Even after if there are any spaces between the handle and head. Let it cure for at least 24 hours.

 

[benz66]

Wood expands and contracts I'm most places. In AZ, maybe it just contracts. As long as the head is tight, you should be fine. I lot of us have used handled tools a little loose. Nothing to worry about, since yours is tight now.

BTW, the way to snug up a loose handle is to hold it head up, and tap the end of the handle on the ground. If the handle is really loose, then adding a wedge is acceptable. Old timers cut off the tip of an axe handle halfway up the angle so there is a flat at the end of the handle, perpendicular to the centerline of the handle. This keeps the handle from splitting when you tap it to tighten the head. Mall handles are often wrapped with several layers of friction tape right at the end. This serves a couple purposes, at least. Anyone wanna guess what they are?

Always position your wood and axe or maul (hammer) (and other people) so that if the head flies off it won't hurt anyone. It is rare, but it has been known to happen.

 

[BrettS]

I used engine coolant (Ethylene glycol), I stand the axe (head down) in a container of the stuff overnight, it doesn't evaporate and my axe head is still tight months later.

 

[Cricket]

I used engine coolant (Ethylene glycol), I stand the axe (head down) in a container of the stuff overnight, it doesn't evaporate and my axe head is still tight months later.

Hadn't heard that one - going to have to try it (had an axe head come off somewhere above my head once - I have a bit of an interest in not experiencing that again... )

 

[ATH]

Wood expands and contracts I'm most places. In AZ, maybe it just contracts. ....

Yeah...I gotta think getting it shrunk down (stored in very low RH) as low as small as it will ever get for a long period then wedging it is a good way to keep it tight.

 

[alanbaker]

Hadn't heard that one - going to have to try it (had an axe head come off somewhere above my head once - I have a bit of an interest in not experiencing that again... )

Where did the ax head end up?

 

[alanbaker]

I used engine coolant (Ethylene glycol), I stand the axe (head down) in a container of the stuff overnight, it doesn't evaporate and my axe head is still tight months later.

Don't let dogs or cats near an open container of ethylene glycol - it taste sweet and can kill them

 

[BrettS]

Hadn't heard that one - going to have to try it (had an axe head come off somewhere above my head once - I have a bit of an interest in not experiencing that again... )

It's a variation of the water treatment but it doesn't evaporate like water does.

 

[BrettS]

Don't let dogs or cats near an open container of ethylene glycol - it taste sweet and can kill them

No dogs or cats were present when I carried out said deed.