Is Oak Good For Axe Handle? (Read this First)

You may have seen oak wood commonly used in so many different things, but is oak good for axe handles?

Oak is one of the best choices for axe handle due to its strength and durability. It has a high tensile strength, which means it can take a lot of force without breaking. The grain pattern of oak makes it easy to work with as well. 

When using oak for your axe handle, make sure that you choose a straight grain or quarter sawn type.

This type of wood will give you a stronger handle than a cross-grained or rift-sawn type. If you are looking to get a custom-made ax handle, then you should read this article because I am going to tell you some interesting things that you may not have heard before. 

So without any further ado, let’s get started!

Best Types of Wood for Axe Handles

Before we go further into details, let’s take a quick look at some of the most commonly used wood types for making axe handles. This will give you a rough idea about what kind of wood you need to buy.

The first thing you need to know is that there are two main categories of wood: hardwood and softwood. Hardwoods are generally heavier and denser than softwoods. Softwoods tend to be lighter and more flexible.

Hardwoods include such species as maple, ash, hickory, mahogany, teak, redwood, and others. They are often harder and more durable than softwoods.

Softwoods include pine, fir, spruce, cedar, cypress, and others. These are usually softer and easier to work with than hardwoods.

1. Hickory

Hickory is by far my favorite wood for axe handles. You can find hickory trees all over North America. They are very strong and dense, so they are perfect for making a heavy-duty axe handle.

You can also find hickory logs that you can turn into axe handles yourself. There are many different ways to do this, but the easiest way is to cut the log into 1″ thick slices. Then you can split them apart into smaller pieces. 

2. Oak

Oak is another great choice for axe handles. It is a common tree throughout the United States. It is fairly lightweight, but it is still quite sturdy. Apart from that, oak is also quite affordable.

3. Ash

Ash is a very versatile wood. It is lightweight, yet it is very strong and durable. It is also fairly inexpensive. So if you want to save money on your axe handles, you can always opt for ash.

The main problem with ash is that it tends to warp easily. Therefore, you should only use ash for small projects like practice axes.

4. Pine

When it comes to choosing the right wood for axe handles, pine is definitely not a bad option. It is relatively lightweight, and it is also pretty easy to work with.

However, pine is not recommended for large projects. Because of its low density, it is prone to warping. That being said, if you don’t mind having a warped axe handle, you can always try using pine.

So these were some of the most commonly used wood handles for axes. However, these are not the only wood types people also use the following wood types for axe handles:

• Birch
• Sugar Maple
• Cherry
• Mahogany
• Yellow Birch
• Cherry
• Walnut

Factors To Consider When Selecting Wood For An Axe Handle

Now that you’ve learned what are the different types of wood used for making axe handles, you might be interested in knowing how to choose the right type of wood out of these available options. 

In order to help you, here are some factors you need to consider when selecting the best wood for an axe handle:

Strength

The first thing that matters the most is the total strength of the wood. If you’re looking for a strong handle, then you’ll have to go with hardwood. Otherwise, you can go with softwood or even a combination of both.

Density

The density of the wood also plays an important role when it comes to making a good handle for your axe. The higher the density, the stronger and sturdier the wood will be. Denser woods are usually heavier, which means they won’t bend as much as lighter woods.

Weight

Another important consideration is the weight of the wood. A light-weight wood is going to be easier to carry around. But if you’re looking for something really heavy, then you should probably look at other materials.

Durability

Last but not least, durability is something that you shouldn’t compromise when choosing the right wood for an axe handle. This is because you’re going to be using your axe handle every day. And if it’s not durable enough, then you’re going to have to replace it sooner than later.

Is Oak Good For Axe Handle?

As mentioned earlier, oak is one of the excellent choices when it comes to picking the right wood for making an axe handle.

However, you might be interested in knowing why is it considered a good option. Here are some reasons why oak is so popular among many people:

1. Lightweight
2. Durable
3. Easy to work with
4. Good for carving
5. Great for practice axes
6. Can last long

These are some of the main things that make oak the best choice for making an axe handle.

Final Words

Oak is undoubtedly one of the most common woods used for making axe handles. There are so many things that give it an edge over other wood types, such as maple, cherry, etc. Some of these things include affordable price, high durability, more strength and density, easy to work with, lightweight, and great for carving.

That being said, there are still certain things about oak that make it less desirable than others. One of them is that it tends to warp. So if this is something that you’re worried about, then you may want to opt for another material instead.

So if you want to know whether oak is good for axe handles, then this article has already answered your question.

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