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Hi Guys,

This is one of those things I should probably know.....and something my Dad would kick my butt for not knowing. But he doesn't have a computer.....and you don't know him.....so I can ask it here (hopefully). I picked up a military axe for my Pioneer rack, it's a 4lb Collins painted OD and it's in good shape. The problem is the axe handle isn't the correct one for a 50's M37, so I need to change it. My question is.....how do you get the handle off without destroying it? I don't see the obvious way to remove the wedge without destroying the wood around it. I can use the handle on one of my logging axes, which is why I'd rather not destroy it. So if you know the "trick" please let me know.

thanks,
bob

I've never tried this but suspect it would work: spot-weld an eyelet to the wedge, secure it to something solid, then drive the handle away from the eyelet-should pop the wedge out.

Let us know if this works!
Gary

Hi CG,

Funny you should mention that.......I spent a good deal of time last night watching Youtube videos and reading posts about how to remove an axe handle. Each one said to cut the handle off........ I went to bed thinking that sucks....and then thought the same thing you did. Weld a bolt or eyelet to the wedge and pull the friggin' thing out.

Smart minds think alike they say. Or if not they should say that.

regards,
bob

I've used a cutoff wheel to split the wood or steel wedge and then knocked it out with a screwdriver. Make sure to have the garage door open because the cutoff wheel will produce allot of smoke cutting into the wood wedge.

Bert

Hey Bert,

On my axe there's only one BIG steel wedge. Unless I'm looking at it wrong.

regards,
bob

Bob,

All of my Axe type of tools have a wood wedge across the short direction and a steel wedge across the long direction.........PM me your dads number and I will ask him.

Bert

Hi Bert,

What you describe is what I thought was typical too. I'll post a pic of my wedge later and we can chat. BEFORE you call Dad.

regards,
bob

Bert,

Here's what my axe handle wedge looks like. No wooden wedge and small steel wedges....just one BIG steel wedge. Not typical from what I'm reading on the web.

regards,
bob


. by w30bob, on Flickr

Bob as mentioned the weld thing may work well, if not depending on how much metal you have drill a hole and tap it ( hole size depends on how much metal you have to work with) use a side hammer with the appropriate stud adapter for the tap you made. working the slide hammer remove the wedge. The slide hammer will also work if you weld a eye bolt to the wedge. Again using the appropriate adapter hook on to the eye bolt and pull the wedge out. Auto body guys use slide hammers to pull dents out. I made a slide hammer for my use with a 1/2- 13 thread on the end. Then all the adapters I also make have a 1/2-13 female thread with what ever type of device I need.

Bob,

That is large enough to drill / tap or weld something to, then use the slide hammer idea on.

Bert

I would weld a short chunk of flat bar to that steel wedge and then hold the bar in a bench vise to drive the axe head off of the wedge

Another thing to do before you attempt to pull the wedge is to drive the butt end of the axe handle down on a hard surface to set the axe head lower on the handle, it should loosen the wedge some.

Thanks for the replies guys.

bob