This axe haft has been in terrible condition for some years now. While quick fixes were always easy to do, a better solution is to rehang the axe with a new handle.
After selecting a new block of wood, cutting it to profile was quick work with a bandsaw. Unfortunately, I didn’t photograph this part of the project.
After cutting the rough shape, I used a sharp plane, a chisel, a microplane, and several chisels to shape the haft. During this time, I also cleaned the head up, sharpened, and oiled it.
After this, the handle was finished with boiled linseed oil, and the head wedges were installed.
The axe is still in use today, if somewhat infrequently. The finish has held up nicely, and the haft shows few signs of damage after several hard overstrikes.
