Make a wedge-style handle - PEP BB tool.sand.handle

I used oak for the handle. This came out so well!

To get certified for this BB, post the following as pictures or a video (<2 minutes long):

See attachment 1   - tool with missing/broken/inadequate handle
See attachments 2   - new handle under construction
See attachment 3   - tool with new wedge-style handle installed
See attachment 4   - show the wedge after it  is installed

Clarification: store-bought replacement handles or blanks are not allowed

While working on another BB yesterday, the handle of my axe broke. So now I am doing this BB instead.

The best wood around here is oak, which I sourced from a nearby dead tree. The bits didn't show much damage so I went with it.

I also decided not to replicate the previous handle, it is quite thin. I don't trust my skills yet to go for that as my first try, so I made a thicker handle.

Replaced the handle on my hisbands maul. He wanted hickory but I wasn't able to get dimensional lumber thick enough. I found a 10' 'stick' that looked straight and tough and stuck it in my SUV. When I started cutting into it I quickly realized it was oak. Not the best material for a maul handle but it's my first attempt.

The tools I used are a hand saw, compound mallet, collins axe, jack knife and my favorite - my hatchet.

My masonry hammer needed a handle. The wood I used was a piece of oak pallet.

I scored this cool little unmarked hatchet head at a thrift store for $2! It's a very different pattern than others I have and seemed like it might be good for carving so I put it on the top of the queue for getting a handle. Dug through the wood stockpile and found a well seasoned chunk of osage orange and split some blanks out. Roughed out the billet with a hatchet and used my pocket knife, a spokeshave, broken glass and rasps to shape the handle. I used my shaving horse for most of the spokeshave work but did not get action shots of that.

I got the top of the handle fit into the eye and then shaped the rest of the handle. I used black cherry for the wedge, nice contrast. It felt very solid and secure with just the wooden wedge but I'm of the habit of adding a little metal wedge too and I wanted to fill a little gap in the front of the eye. I notch my metal wedges with a file to make them easier to pry out if needed in the future. I took the opportunity to clean up the poll of the head and thin the profile while it was unhafted. It still needs to be truly sharpened at this point but I'm happy with it thus far.