axe handle

Wooden Handle

A common material used as an ax handle.
If anything, there are more flaws, but one of the characteristics of wooden handles is the taste that is as good as the flaws.

Advantages of this plastic handle include:

Pattern exchange

Wood handles and their biggest advantage are the possibilities for this exchange.
Unlike the plastic handle that is integrated with the head, you can replace the handle and reuse the head even if the handle is damaged or broken, which is one of the factors that makes the ax a lifelong tool. One.
However, from a camping point of view, there are many people who say, "I don't use it so much that I change the pattern."

Adjust to your liking

Since the wooden handle can be "cut and scraped", it is possible for those who are more experienced to adjust it to their liking.

In particular, the handle of the Western ax ismatched to the size of the strong foreign lumberjack, Many people are doing processing to make it thinner to fit the hand.
The method is as simple as cutting with a knife and sharpening with a file.
If you sand too much, it will become slippery, so leave it rough.

It is often used by women in the camping scene, and I think many people feel that the handle of the ready-made knife is thick, so if you are accustomed to handling knives, try processing it.

Also, we often hear about processes such as sharpening the grip to a rough surface to prevent it from slipping, and polishing the neck part of a two-handed ax to a slippery smooth surface.

Since the length of the handle changes the usability, you can change it to a short handle to improve handling, or change it to a long handle because the longer the handle, the more power it has. It is also possible to customize it according to your usage, such as for chopping firewood.

Type of tree

Hickory is the most commonly used wood type, with walnut, oak, and tamo being minorities.
However, even after reading and listening to various reviews, Hickory's evaluation is the best, so I recommend choosing Hickory for a Western axe.

Wood Grain

One of the difficult points about wooden handles is that their durability changes depending on how the wood is grained.
Don't choose a handle with slanted or vertical grains when you stand it up, as it is easy to break.

The following points are good grain patterns.

• The wood grain on the bottom of the handle is vertical and straight
• The wood grain on the back of the handle is straight
• The wood grain on the head insertion part is straight into the head

The wood grain of the ax on the right side of the first and second photos above is a bad example.
* This is a bad example, but this ax is for carving, not for chopping wood, so I use it regardless of the grain.

Even if you buy it online, please inspect it when you receive it, and if there is a wood grain orientation, cracks, or a hangnail on the grip, please return it for exchange.
If it is a store that sells ax handles, it is normal to return or exchange the handle due to the wood grain, so basically they will handle it for free.

It's okay if it's slightly slanted or if it extends to the head without cutting, but when you raise the ax with bad wood grain, it will break without warning and the head will fly away. If you are worried, send a photo to the manufacturer instead of the store where you purchased it and have it diagnosed, then ask the store where you purchased it for a return or exchange.

By the way, reddish wood is hard and is said to crack easily over time.

neck guard

A drawback of a wooden handle is the risk of damage to the handle due to damage to the neck if it is hit incorrectly.
For this reason, most people wear a neck guard or wrap a paracord to prevent damage to the neck.

Knives in particular often break the joints, so be sure to wear a neck guard.

Maintenance

Since it is a natural material, it may be damaged due to neglect of maintenance.

When it gets wet with rain or evening dew, if it absorbs water, it will cause the wood to rot, so it is important to wipe it off as well as waterproof and moisture-proof it with maintenance oil, etc. is.

Oil finish

In addition to waterproofing and moisture-proofing, oil maintenance also has the effect of preventing drying and cracking.
Although linseed oil is often used as a maintenance oil, we also recommend other natural maintenance oils such as walnut oil and beeswax cream.
Basically, there is no problem with edible oil derived from nature.

To apply an oil finish, simply spread the oil thinly with a towel and apply it, let it dry for about 30 minutes, and wipe off any excess oil on the surface.
By doing this process many times, the effect will increase.

How to store

As a storage method, avoid storing in a humid place as it may cause mold, or after applying an oil finish to avoid drying due to long-term storage. Storage is important.

Plastic Handle

There is also a type of ax that uses a plastic handle called "resin" or "reinforced plastic".
As an image, it is a "maintenance-free, easy-to-use pattern with no peculiarities", and it is a pattern suitable for amateurs with many advantages.
It's not as bad as wood, but it won't be a masterpiece that craftsmen will use for the rest of their lives.

Advantages of this plastic handle include:

Hardness and shock absorption

A wooden handle can damage the neck if you hit it incorrectly, but a plastic handle is hard and has shock absorption properties, so even if you hit the neck, the wooden handle will not be damaged. The risk of breaking is lower than the handle.
So you don't need a neck guard with a plastic handle.

In addition, as one of the characteristics of shock absorption, it also has the effect of softening the impact when it is broken.
However, this is effective when dealing with large or hard wood such as logs, so there is not much benefit to mention when using commercially available firewood at camp.

Anti-slip and weight balance

Most of the handles have a non-slip finish on the grip, so the risk of your hand slipping when swinging the ax is less than with a wooden handle.

In addition, since it is an artificial object, there are many axes that have weights in the neck to make it easier to swing.
Even with a wooden handle, we adjusted it by making the neck thicker, but since it is a natural product, the plastic handle is adjusted more severely.

Weatherproof

Wooden handles are affected by water and humidity, but plastic handles are weather resistant.
However, when camping, it is often placed near a fire, so it is necessary to be careful as we sometimes hear stories of deformation due to heat.

Customization and maintenance

However, the thickness of the wooden handle can be cut to suit your hand, and you can partially adjust the degree of slippage. The handle cannot be adjusted.

In addition, there are many axes where the handle and head are integrated and the handle cannot be replaced, so even considering the above customization, it can be said that it is an ax that is "easy to use and suitable for amateurs". I guess.

People with plastic handles

Although it is said to be suitable for amateurs, it does not mean that the quality is bad, but that it is "out of reach for the itchy parts of the craftsman", so it is suitable for camping. If so, it is a pattern that can be recommended to everyone.

However, at camps that are strongly oriented towards nature, there are many people who say, "Reduce man-made objects and use natural materials." If you want to do it, choose a wooden handle.

Integrated Handle

Like knives, the head and handle are integrated, and some axes have a handle attached to the handle.
This type of ax has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive to make, and because it is thin overall, many types are lightweight and easy to carry.

However, the metal part of the handle is thin and lacks strength, and many of the head types are thin, so when it enters the firewood, it is difficult to split it without escaping outside. The role as an ax is unreliable.

I have the impression that it is a knife that can be used like an ax, but it is not suitable for hitting the back like batoning, so it is a subtle impression.
However, if you use commercially available firewood as your opponent, it has sufficient performance.

There are many products such as multi-tools that say, "You can use them like this," but the following is written in How to Choose Camping Tools for Beginners.

It looks convenient at first glance, but the quality of each item is "better than nothing" and it is not easy to use.
A tool to have just in case is fine, but avoid a multi-tool if you're buying it to use.引用元：How to choose camping equipment for beginners

People who are suitable for integrated patterns

I think it's suitable for people who want an ax-shaped knife because it's cheap.
For those who say, "Anything is fine as long as it is easier to use than a knife," we recommend a knife that is suitable for batoning.