Instructions on how to make an ax with your own hands - a step-by-step description of how to create and assemble. Taiga Ax: Blueprint. Forged taiga ax How to make a taiga ax from an ordinary one

The ax is one of the most famous and affordable tools in the arsenal of most summer residents and professional craftsmen. If used correctly, it can simplify many of your workflows, resulting in great results. An ax can not only be bought ready-made in a specialized store, but also made at home. It will not take a lot of time, effort and money. Today we will take a closer look at how to correctly make an ax with our own hands.

How to select and prepare wood?

Many works are impracticable without a well-sharpened and strong ax. This tool is often needed both in household and in larger-scale works. In retail outlets, you can find many different models there are quite a few such tools, because there are quite a few types of axes themselves. Pick up perfect option possible according to any requirement.

But there are also cases when the consumer could not find a suitable tool for himself. Many people in such situations find an easy way out for themselves - they make an ax on their own. For a tool to be of high quality, reliable and durable, it must consist of good elements.So, to create a hatchet, it is very important to choose the right suitable material.

Not every kind of wood is suitable for creating this part of the ax.It is believed that a true master will go around the entire forest before finding the very tree from which it will be possible to make an ax. In most cases, the specified ax element is built from the root section of a birch, and even better, if we use the growths that are present on its trunk. These parts are characterized by a very dense and curled structure.

Birch is not the only tree that can make a good ax. Instead, it is permissible to refer to trees such as oak, maple, acacia, ash and other hardwoods. According to experienced craftsmen, beech, oak, larch, walnut and elm produce the most reliable, comfortable and durable handles of the highest quality. But it is not enough to find the ideal material for making a hatchet. It is also necessary to competently prepare him for the upcoming work.

The blanks must be dried well.This is done only in natural conditions, and it often takes a lot of time - on average 3-4 years, or even longer (5 years will be quite enough). Wood should be dried exclusively in a dark and dry place where there is good ventilation. Precipitation, moisture and water should not penetrate into the space where natural material will be prepared. Otherwise, there will be no sense in such drying, and you will not be able to make a good hatchet.

How to make a template?

If you have already prepared and dried to the required degree of material, then you should proceed to the next stage of creating a handle for an ax. Next, you need to competently make a convenient template, which will be an excellent assistant in further work.

Here it is important to take into account the fact that there are quite strict rules governing the shape of the hatchet based on the main type of device. So, light tools, the weight of which usually ranges from 0.8 to 1 kg, are usually made with a handle having a length of 0.4-0.6 m. As for the more "serious" heavy axes, there is a length of 0.55-0.65 m.It should also be borne in mind that all existing species axes are divided according to their main functionality.

So, the following types of these tools are distinguished:

• carpenter's;
• lumberjack;
• knotted;
• cleaver;
• butcher's.

Before embarking on the independent design of such a tool, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the detailed drawings of different handle models.

When making a template, a number of important features should be considered.

• So that in the process of work the ax does not slip out and does not jump out of the hands at the moment of the swing, its "tail" must be made a little wider than the place of capture.
• When making an ax for a cleaver, it is necessary to make a part with a length of 0.75-0.95 m. Carpentry tools are made short. Their handle mostly reaches the 0.5 m mark.
• To the parameter of the length of the handle, the will of the butt must be added another 8-10 cm for the allowance. It will be possible to cut it off after installing the butt. It is very important to make sure that the tree does not start to split at this moment.

The template, with its correct shape and all dimensions, will need to be applied to paper or cardboard.

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions

It is not difficult to prepare an ax with your own hands. To do this, you must adhere to a not very complex technology of work. Let's get acquainted with it:

• mark the workpiece using a template;
• after that, it can be carefully cut out with a jigsaw or other similar tool;
• further, the prepared part will need to be turned on a special machine and polished.

There are a number important rules, which must be adhered to in the course of work.

• The processing of the attachment place of the hatchet must be carried out as carefully and carefully as possible so as not to accidentally remove the excess part of the tree. Otherwise, the butt simply cannot be firmly fixed in place. It is better to periodically try the handle on to the eyelet, so that in the end you get a small margin (no more than 2 cm).
• Do not use the file in the process of finishing the part. This will inevitably loosen the wood. Because of this, it will be more difficult to work with him further. It is better not to use a file, but a fine abrasive sandpaper with a grinder. You will need to move the tool along the wood fibers.
• It is necessary to give the final, correct and beautiful shape to the fixing place of the handle, taking into account the angle of the butt nozzle. As for the cleaver, the specified angle should be approximately 85 degrees. For a standard ax, 75 degrees.

When making a hatchet yourself, you need to act very carefully. There is no need to rush. If you wish, you can decorate the handle of the tool with patterns and carved decorations (for example, you can wrap it with a jute cord - it will also hold the blade more securely). When the hatchet is ready, it will be necessary to correctly install the cutting part on it.

Let's consider how to do this.

• Adjust the top of the part to match the eyelet of the blade. Remove the excess wood with a knife. Be careful.
• On the handle, exposed horizontally, put the cutting part on top. Then you need to put a mark on the handle with a pencil, to which it will be driven in. Divide the line and make another mark.
• Lock the handle in an upright position using a vise. The wide piece should be at the top. Prepare a hacksaw for metal. Cut exactly to the second wedge mark.

• At a specialized outlet, pick up a wedge made of metal or make it yourself from wood.
• Place the board on a separate countertop. Expose the blade to it. Lay it upside down. Throw the prepared hatchet over this part, tapping it on the board. Now turn the fixture over and knock on the board with the handle. The part will continue to fit. These steps should be repeated many times. As a result, it will turn out to drive the ax into the eyelet well.
• Then set the part upright. Install a wedge in the cut. Hit him with a mallet. Saw off excess protruding parts

How to protect against decay?

The wood from which the ax is made, like other similar materials, is subject to decay. Such problems always arise over time or in improper storage conditions of the tool. It is important to take care of a homemade ax in advance, protecting it from decay. It is strongly discouraged to use compounds such as lacquers or paints to protect wooden handles. The ban on the use of such compounds is due to the fact that their presence on the handle can lead to it slipping out of the hands during certain work. The reason for this is the glossy smooth texture.

The optimal solution to protect the ax from decay, other suitable impregnations will become. You can cover the handle with linseed oil or good old drying oil. There are other highly effective antiseptics that will prolong the life natural wood... But we must take into account that they will need to be applied periodically. Don't forget about this procedure.

Some masters add red pigment to antiseptic protective agents. They don't turn to this trick to make the instrument more interesting. appearance... After this coating, the ax will be much easier to find in the grass, because its color will become brighter.

Please note that the handle should be made so that its section has a characteristic oval shape. Only by observing this condition, it will be possible to hold it successfully without straining the hand too much. In this case, blows with an ax will be more accurate and light. It is recommended to make wood blanks for creating a hatchet in late autumn. It is during this period that the movement of juices is minimized (practically stops), which means that the tree becomes, as it were, dehydrated.

Many inexperienced craftsmen neglect to dry wood for the construction of an ax. As a result, it ends with the handle changing in size, and the metal part with the butt on it holds very poorly. It is permissible to refer to undried material only in special situations when the handle needs to be built in an urgent manner, and this spare part is made as a temporary one.

When making a new hatchet yourself, you need to draw up a detailed drawing / template of the future tool. If you have a very handy old ax in your arsenal, then you can remove all parameters from it. It will be much easier and more convenient. Do not rush to turn the cutting edge of the tool. First you need to make sure that the metal is sufficiently hard. If it turns out to be too soft, then it will need to be additionally hardened under the influence of high temperatures.

It is permissible to start sharpening the ax blade only after installing it on the ax.

It is very important to use a ready-made ax (both homemade and purchased in a store) correctly. Experienced craftsmen it is strongly not recommended to try to cut various metal parts with such a device. Even if you plan to chop wood, it is best to make sure there are no hard particles inside that could harm the tool.

It is strongly discouraged to throw the finished tool on hard surfaces, especially from a great height. It is not recommended to leave the ax under the open sky. Precipitation or aggressive sun rays can negatively affect quality wooden parts... Keep such a tool in a dark and dry place. Only under this condition will the ax serve you for many years.

In each country house there are a number necessary tools for different jobs. To build a house, chop wood, or butcher meat requires an ax. You can purchase it from the store or make your own. The purchased tool may be inconvenient or unreliable, and this is unsafe. A hand-made tool is distinguished by its special convenience and reliability. Before making an ax with your own hands at home, you need to know what the ax looks like, what parts it consists of, and decide on its purpose.

Types of axes

The tool is usually classified by the type of handle.

In addition to basic axes, there are tools designed for special jobs. These include: cleaver, carpenter's, large carpenter's, sculptural ax, as well as a figured tool and an ax for concave surfaces.

DIY ax making

Components of an ax: a hatchet, a metal blade and wedges. How easy and comfortable it will be to work with the tool depends on the length and shape of its handle, called a hatchet. Consider how to make it right and suitable size... To do this, you need to select the material and cut the workpiece according to the template.

Homemade product impregnated with a protective agent, this will help protect the ax from decay. Impregnation is done in several layers of linseed oil or linseed oil... Each subsequent layer must be completely saturated. It is not recommended to cover products with varnishes and paints. They will give the handle a sliding effect, and the ax will constantly begin to slip during operation. Sometimes a bright dye is added to the impregnation. The handle of the tool takes on a bright color, which is good when work is carried out in overgrown areas. The ax will always be visible and will not be lost.

Choosing a metal tip

It is impossible to forge metal tightly with your own hands, so they buy it in a hardware store. Tips for choosing a piercing part:

1. A quality blade should be solid, without chipping, chipping or dents.
2. The metal is marked in accordance with GOST.
3. The butt ends should be perpendicular to the blade.
4. The eyelet must be tapered.

Ax attachment on a hatchet

The process is carried out in several stages, such as fitting, fitting and wedging.

It is possible to eliminate cracks that will arise when the metal sheet is installed using epoxy resin. It is poured into the cuts before driving the wedges. The resin will dry in a day. And only then you can saw off the protruding part.

Sharpening and hardening the blade

The performance of the tool depends on the sharp blade. Therefore, you need to know how to sharpen the ax correctly. For each type of work, a different cutting angle is selected.

Sharpening is done on an electric grinding wheel, smoothly moving the blade along the circle at an angle of 45 degrees. To ensure that the quality of the cutting edge does not deteriorate, do not overheat the blade. To do this, a container with water is installed near the grinder. A blade is periodically lowered into it for cooling. At the end of the work, the blade is polished. To do this, use a sharpening block or sandpaper.

A metal sheet made of soft material will often have to be sharpened. To avoid this, you can do the hardening of the ax. This requires a gas burner, oil and water. The blade is heated on gas until a red color appears. Then it is dipped in oil and in cold water... All repeat 3 times.

Recently there has been a real boom in blacksmithing. Young people become blacksmiths. Knives and axes made by their hands are real works of art.

Nothing is impossible

Looking at the work of blacksmiths, the thought comes that there is nothing difficult in making an ax. But in practice, it turns out to be much more difficult.

In addition to a piece of metal for forging an ax, you need: a forge, an anvil, holes for an eye. Not everyone has such a set of tools. Of course, you can make a forge and breakdowns, but you can also try to make an ax in a different way.

Making an ax by the locksmith method

Ideas for how to make an ax outside the forge lead to the plumbing method. The ax consists of three parts:

• ax blade
• hatchet

If everything is clear with the materials for the manufacture of the hatchet and the wedge, then the question of what, most importantly, how to make the canvas is puzzling. Knowing that the blade consists of a blade and a butt, you understand what is needed to make an ax:

• metal strip for blade
• a piece of pipe for a butt

Blade

The full size drawing will show the quantity required material... The blade requires a hard metal, such as a car spring.

We transfer the outline of the drawing to the spring and saw off all unnecessary things. We also make descents with the help of a grinder. It is important here not to overheat the metal so that the edge remains solid and holds the sharpening well.

Butt

For the butt of a medium ax, you need a pipe with an inner diameter of 38-40 mm. It is better if it is thick-walled. We cut the pipe to size from the drawing. Then we heat it, for example with a gas burner, and squeeze it in yews to make it more rectangular.

Assembling the canvas

We connect the blade and the butt by welding. It is important to boil the metal with high quality so that the ax does not crack during operation.

Then we grind the seam with a grinder, if necessary, boil the shells, grind again. For extra strength, you can rivet the butt and blade with strips of metal.

Hatchet

A good ax requires a well-made ax. To the question of what the handle for an ax can be made of, there is a simple answer - from hard wood.

The most common wood for making an ax handle is birch. But, if you make an ax not only for chopping wood, but for the soul, then you should look for a wood species with a more expressive texture.

Ax tree

An ax handle made of ash, elm, hornbeam will look very beautiful. It is problematic to buy boards made of such wood species in some regions, especially in the outback. Of course, you can take advantage of online trading.

The wood for the ax must be well dried and free of knots. At home wooden plank dried at room temperature for six months

The longer the wood dries, the stronger the handle will be. According to custom, timber was dried for years in the attics of houses.

Action plan

Drawing up instructions on how to make an ax with your own hands allows you to break the process into elementary steps. The compiled list of actions will help to avoid mistakes and improve the quality of the result. This is especially important if you are doing something for the first time.

Note!

The step-by-step process on how to make a pen at home will look like this:

• sketching the hatchet and template
• wood processing
• ax attachment
• topcoat.

Hatchet sketch and pattern

For comfortable work, an ax handle is made about 50-70 cm. Having drawn a sketch in full size, it is easier to imagine the proportions of the future ax. Next, we transfer the drawing to plywood or thick cardboard and make a template.

Roughing

Using the template, we outline the contour of the handle on the tree and cut out the blank. We give a more rounded shape to the handle. For these purposes, you can use a plane, chisels or a small hatchet.

Fit

The next stage in the manufacture of the hatchet is the adjustment of the shape and ergonomics. We grind the wood to give it the correct shape and a comfortable grip.

For these purposes, a large rasp is perfect, as well as a power sander. The main thing here is not to loosen the place of the ax attachment on the ax handle.

Note!

Grinding and assembly

After rough processing, we grind the handle with sandpaper and make a slot for the wedge. We put the ax on the handle and drive in a wedge. Many people advise putting the wedge on glue or epoxy resin... The choice is yours.

Finishing

The assembled ax is carefully sanded with fine sandpaper. The wood can be stained or left as is. The protective layer is applied with oil or varnish.

For more exclusivity, the ax can be decorated with carvings, inlays or wire cutting. On the canvas of the ax, a pattern etched in a salt solution will look beautiful.

Conclusion

It is very easy to purchase an ax for chopping wood, and there is no need to make it yourself for this purpose. Homemade axes are more used as an object of creativity, but he is capable of performing his direct duties.

Some independent copies will give odds to industrial designs, give the owners a reason for pride and pleasure in the work done.

Photo of a homemade ax

Note!

Undoubtedly, people who live in a private house or who often go on hikes need such an irreplaceable tool as an ax. To purchase it, you just need to go to the market.

If you have questions about the quality of the purchased ax, you can make it yourself. Moreover, this can be done very easily if you use the instructions and tips for making it.

Classification of axes

Axes are of the following types:

1. Joiners. Lightweight, small axes with a sharp blade. Designed for undercutting and precise work with wood.
2. Carpentry universal. Axes of different weight. They don't have a big handle. They are used for inaccurate woodworking.
3. Lumberjack's ax. Used for chopping wood, has a wide blade and a long handle.
4. Ice ax. Used in mountain climbing. Consists of a thorn, a head, a blade and a handle sharpened at the base. Outwardly, it looks like a pickaxe.
5. Cleaver. A cone-shaped ax with a lot of weight. Shape and weight help to split hard wood.
6. Blacksmith. It is possible to chop off metal materials with such an ax. They put an ax to the place where it is necessary to chop off, and beat them with a hammer on the butt.
7. Potes. With its help, they cut a tree. The ax has a rounded blade for efficiency.
8. Povarskaya. An ax with a shortened handle and a heavy and sharp cutting surface.
9. Paznik. Used to cut grooves with a rib onto a blade. The cutting part is perpendicular to the handle.
10. Fireman. Ax with a metal handle that is insulated to withstand a voltage of 1000W. Its peculiarity is that there is a spike on the butt, which is used to cut through the rubble.
11. Assault firefighter. A massive ax with a long handle. In case of fire, heavy structures are broken with the help of it.
12. Tourist. A small ax with a short handle. Can be combined with a knife or saw. For safety, it comes with a cover.
13. Tsalda. The ax blade, made in the shape of a sickle, is used to clear the area from small bushes.

Self-production

The order of work is as follows:

Hatchet cutting works

Before starting work, it is necessary to make cross-sections at the top and bottom of the timber. The depth of the cuts should not reach the line of the ax by 2-3 mm. An extra layer of wood is removed with a chisel. Use a rasp to cut out places where corners and transitions are needed. At the end, the handle is sanded with sandpaper.

Choosing the piercing part

At home, a metal sheet cannot be made, so you need to know what to look for when choosing it in a building market:

• ideally, steel should be marked in accordance with GOST;
• the eyelet must be in the shape of a cone;
• the blade should not have dents, bends or jags;
• if you look at the butt, then its ends should be perpendicular to the blade.

Planting an ax on a hatchet

This can be done by performing the following simple operations:

1. On the hatchet in the upper part, cross and longitudinal cuts are made.




2. Cut 5 wedges from hardwood.




3. Gauze soaked in resin is wound over the handle for tighter passage into the eyelet.




4. Hammer the ax into the eye of the ax.




5. Drive wedges into the incisions.




6. After drying, the protruding parts of the wedges are cut off.

Sharpening the blade

Good functionality of the ax will provide correct sharpening blades. Depending on the type of work performed, you should choose the sharpening angle.

For example, a taiga ax is sharpened at an angle of 25-30 degrees. If fresh wood is to be cut, it must be sharpened at a 25 degree angle.

If a grinding wheel is used, the butt must be held at a 45 degree angle. All movements are performed smoothly, without jerking.

As you can see, having in your arsenal a small set of tools, instructions for making an ax, it is not at all difficult to make it according to your size and needs.

Look video instruction for making a taiga ax with your own hands: