Introduction
When using an axe, there is bound to be wear and tear across its entirety, but if you miss your mark while swinging, you could severely damage the handle and create a risky situation. This guide is here to show how to rehandle an axe so you can still safely chop some wood.
Any cracks or damage to an axe handle should be reason enough to replace it. The major concern is that an axe head can fly off a damaged handle. This can cause severe bodily harm to anyone in the vicinity. Another concern is that the handle can cause splinters and cuts when in poor condition.
Before using this guide, please make sure to research what type of axe handle you want. There are several types of wooden handles to use, so make sure you are using the appropriate one for your needs. More information on the pros and cons of each type of wooden handle can be found on Awesome Axes. For this guide, we will be using a straight handle.
Make sure that you have ample space and energy to work on this project before beginning. Step 2 is time-consuming and requires a lot of physical energy, depending on how much wood needs to be shaved off the handle.
If nothing else, let's begin!
What you need
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Find the slot on top of the axe handle.
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Place a line using a marker where you want the axe head to rest on the shoulder.
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Insert the handle into the bottom of the axe head.
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Shave off excess wood from the top of the handle to the shoulder of the handle using the wood rasp.
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Push and pull the rasp across the handle horizontally with one hand while the other hand secures the handle. Work around the entire kerf.
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Repeat until the bottom of the head hits the shoulder.
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Hold the handle so the head is on the bottom.
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Tap the bottom of the handle with the rubber mallet. This will begin moving your axe head further into its appropriate spot.
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Cut a small insert on the thick end of the wedge where the excess wood is.
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Snap the wooden wedge along the small insert and dispose of excess wood.
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Continue tapping in the wooden wedge as far as it will go down the kerf.
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Lightly tap the metal wedge on the mark you made until it can stand on its own.
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Hammer the wedge down into the eye and stop once the top of the wedge is flush with the top of the handle.
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Repeat steps with the second metal wedge.
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Safely swing at a dead log and recheck the axe head. The axe is secure if there is no wiggle.
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For further maintenance in protecting the axe, look into applying boiled linseed oil on the handle and cleaning the axe head frequently. Stay safe and enjoy your rehandled axe!
Team
Northern Arizona University, Team 1-3, Konrad Spring 2026 Member of Northern Arizona University, Team 1-3, Konrad Spring 2026
NAU-KONRAD-S26S1G3
3 Members
1 Guide authored
