Axes

I decided to give my 50yr old Axe (gift from a bushman father) a new handle.
Drilled out the old one & off to Mitre 10 for a new one.
Left in a state of shock; indifferent handle over $40 I couldn't believe it.
Bunnings was no better; but a very nice man told me to go to CRT.
Great service, good quality handle, $17.
How can the others justify their prices.
Axe should now last another 50 years in my #1 daughter's trusty country hands; but not for a while yet.

I broke the handle of my splitter last year. Went to bunnings to get a new one, no handles but could get one in. Only problem is handle only $10 cheaper than new splitter and he reckons you will never get it sitting tight, will just keep coming loose. Lessen learnt, dont leave splitting axe outside at firewood pile, put away in shed after each use.

manuka/kanuka and a good spokeshave knife works

RD1 have quite a good selection of hickory handles, but they are not cheap either.

Some of my axes have galvanised pipe handles. Not kind to hands but also hard to break.

Im still searching for a replacement handle for my little pronged digging hoe head brought in from New Caledonia. I had used the implement and chose to leave the handle behind as the wood had been pitted from contact with stones and I didnt want to worry MAF.

So far, without any luck, have searched Mega Mitre 10, Bunnings and am coming to the conclusion that it may have to be custom made or DIY.
It needs a flared oval shaped handle similar to that of a pick/hoe where the implement slides down the shaft into place.

Thanks Stikkibeek... for your suggestion: will try RD1

My father figure prominent throwing axe existence for long decades primary function creating wood fire fuel from trees additional splitting bones of elk and bovine

Kiwi303;438576 wrote: manuka/kanuka and a good spokeshave knife works

Yes yes yes,i make all my own handles outa manuka and once a year a buy a litre of raw linseed oil and give them a good coating,best part about using manuka or kanuka is they are a far superior wood to US Hickory

I used an axe for years without messing with the handle until my daughter's grew up and they had their macho boyfriends offer to chop my firewood. In the real world why would you not want that?

First question would be - "have you used an axe before?" Yes they would answer and then I would watch them miss the wood and swing past their calf muscles. Freak! I then taught then how to use an axe but sadly my fantastic old axe also has huge chunks out of the handle where they did not get it right. Not just their boyfriends but male friends of mine as well. What gives guys?

I have now bought a house with a fireplace and can't wait to swing an axe again and chop wood. Just hope old trusty doesn't break!

PS - anyone know of anyone with DRY (not green) firewood near Pukekohe that is still available. I have waited 18 months to have a fireplace again and there is no firewood available. I am just so thrilled that my new house has a fireplace and I don't care of it is 30 degrees - 18 months without a fire is not on!

Reminds me of a story of someones Great Grandfathers axe, His G.Grandfather was given it as young man, and it it has been in the family nearly 100 years, Its only had 2 heads and 3 handles..........

Found the same thing when replacing the handle on my splitting axe.
Got a decent deal from a small independant farming outfitter shop that carries alot of handtools.

Also, those cheap crappy "fuller" brand splitting axes from Mitre10 etc aren't so crappy if you have an angle grinder and the ability to reshape the cutting edge yourself.

Can save yourself a bit of money between the basic fuller splitting axe and some of the top-of-the-line brands that come ready to work off the shelf.

Don't know why they can't put the modicum of effort in at the factory and have a decent product in the first place. :rolleyes:

Because they are too cheap RR. Things are made down to a price not up to a quality standard in factories staffed by people who are not paid enough to care.

The problem with Proton Energy Pills is that they give me the strength of 20 atom bombs for 20 seconds ..... and wood handled tools can't handle that.
So all my wooden handles and some of the fibreglass handles have been replaced at least once. Often a handle that has broken at the head can be reshaped for the tool or another tool.
Belle Bosse, with the slide-on handles on the pick and the mattock, I have shaped the top of the handle so that the head can fit when it is slid up the handle, then held the head in place with a couple of sturdy screws.

Belle Bosse;439003 wrote: Im still searching for a replacement handle for my little pronged digging hoe head brought in from New Caledonia. I had used the implement and chose to leave the handle behind as the wood had been pitted from contact with stones and I didnt want to worry MAF.

So far, without any luck, have searched Mega Mitre 10, Bunnings and am coming to the conclusion that it may have to be custom made or DIY.
It needs a flared oval shaped handle similar to that of a pick/hoe where the implement slides down the shaft into place.

Thanks Stikkibeek... for your suggestion: will try RD1

belle, we had a similar situation, brought in the blade of something called an enchada from portugal, without the handle. The handle fits the same way. We found one somewhere but I'll have to ask where we eventually got it from.

good to know that you can improve those splitting axes. We have one and it's useless. just sits around the shed never being used, while the very old axes that we inherited from my mum and dad (must be 40 years old?!) still do very well.