Growing your own axe handle.

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Cool now you have me thinking about copice a stump so the root system sends up multiple new shoots and put a axe or maul on each new shoot.

I copiced lots of stumps in the past and a few years later we had new shoots that became trees. Since the root system is there and healthy why not let the stumps replenish themselves.

I been back to areas I cut and they look awesome where I thinned it out. We took out oaks, ash, hickory, birch trees and left the sugar maples for tapping. I’m thinking it was done for educational purposes. I feel proud to be part of the education project so others can get involved in taping maple trees.
 
I set up this axe handle on a pencil sized hickory tree six or seven years ago. I don't remember exactly how long ago it was. I just cut the hickory the other day and here are photos of the handle that grew inside of the axe head.

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Very cool but it sure takes long.
 
Thanks Bill.

I've found six or seven axe heads here on the property, some are double bit. The house is 150 years old. Some are in really bad shape and rusted. Also a few 'homemade' wedges. All kinds of metal parts tractor/plow parts are spread around the property.

I wish I'd set up more heads on hickories back when I did this one. Maybe I'll do it this winter.

Is hickory best?

I've got lots of red oak saplings and wild cherry, too.

Do you think I may have 'picked' it a little early?

The tree was starting to look unhealthy I think due to be girdled.
Hickory is best then White Oak.
 
second growth hickory has been the best were hickory is growing. but you use what grows were you live. i am not gonna put my handle tools on a tree and wait LOL that thing is gonna shrink and fail. just my 2 cents.
Still a cool as hell wall hanger.
 
It is still quite tight.

I think I'll hang it on a wall and not use it.
Yeah I think I would too...
Hickory makes some of the best tool handles but the problem with young small diameter trees like that is pretty much the outer 3rd is sap wood which has less strength and rot resistance than heart wood.
Still good wood just not the potential of the tree.
 
Yeah I think I would too...
Hickory makes some of the best tool handles but the problem with young small diameter trees like that is pretty much the outer 3rd is sap wood which has less strength and rot resistance than heart wood.
Still good wood just not the potential of the tree.
Iv'e used it for my Go Devils it works fine. Buford Pusser had one!
 
I have a hard time with hickory firewood.

We've got some type of boring insect down here in GA that gets into it after it is cut. Makes a dusty mess.
Got it here too. Doesn’t take them long at all to find it.
 

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