Needlessly complicated axe repair
Yes, I know, the proper tool for turning a log a is cant hook or a log peavey. Neither of which I have.
I started by planing a flat reference surface to one side of the handle, which would help fix the handle in my jigs.
Because my axe handle broke right where the head is attached, I figured I'd get a bit more strength if I had a tapered handle that inserted from the wider end of the head. To keep the head from flying off, I'll fasten it with a screw and washer. Not sure if this makes much difference. The hole isn't tapered as much as I'm showing with the model here.
I set the vertical alignment by holding the router bit at the height of the middle of the block on the end of the handle, then raised the template so its center was at the same height as the follower bearing. For horizontal alignment, I held the follower bearing above either end of the template and made sure the router bit was positioned to cut equal amounts from either side.
I made a straight tenon, but what I really needed was something slightly tapered. So I put a smaller follower on the pantorouter, which makes for a smaller tenon, then routed the end of the tenon again.
Once I could get the head most of the way on, I hammered it in all the way.
Finger jointing the handle instead of making a new one definitely cut down on work. I'm not sure if carving the tenon with the pantorouter saved much time, though if I had to make a lot of handles, it would definitely be worth it. I'm sure people will warn me about the risk of the handle breaking where I joined it, but the handle is much thinner where it joins the axe head. So it will break there long before it will break at the finger joint. I think the reason the handle is so wide at that point is so that the handle doesn't get worn away as fast from over striking (that is, hitting the wood with the handle instead of the axe head). But I don't think an overstrike is likely to break that joint either. See also: ![]() ![]() Back to my Woodworking website |