Finding the Length of an Axe’s Handle
Place your axe on a flat work surface. Lay your axe down on its side on a flat surface that’s comfortable for you to work at, such as a work bench or a table. This will allow you to take the measurement of the handle accurately without the axe moving around or trying to hold it in one hand while you measure it with the other. Always be careful when you’re handling an axe because the sharp blade can easily cut you if you slip or drop it. If your axe has a cover over the head, remove it so you can measure just the axe with nothing else in the way.
Stretch a tape measure from the top of the axe head to the tip of the handle. Hook the end of a tape measure over the top of the axe head in line with the handle of the axe. Pull the tape measure down the length of the axe handle until you reach the furthest tip of the handle. A metal carpenter’s tape measure is ideal for this because you can hook the end onto the top of the axe, but you could also use a flexible tailor’s measuring tape if that’s what you have around. Just make sure to hold the end in place at the top of the axe head. If you don’t have any kind of tape measure handy, you could use a piece of string and a ruler instead. Stretch the string down the length of the axe and mark it where it meets the tip of the handle. Use a ruler to measure the length of string to find the length of the handle.
Read the number on the tape measure to find the handle length. Look at the number exactly where the tape measure meets the tip of the axe handle. This is the length of the handle. The axe handle length is the same as the axe length. For example, a 28 in (71 cm) axe has a handle that is 28 in (71 cm) long. Axe handles are typically measured in inches, so if you’re planning to shop for a new handle, make sure to read the length in inches.
Choosing a Replacement Handle
Look for axe handles made out of hickory or oak for a strong, durable handle. These are both hardwoods that are very strong and also absorb a lot of shock when you’re using your axe to chop. Choose an axe handle made out of either of these woods for a high-performing and long-lasting axe handle replacement. Modern axes mainly have steel heads and wooden handles, although there are also fiberglass handles available. Other types of wood you can consider for an axe handle are sugar maple, ash, and yellow birch. Keep in mind that these handles made out of these types of wood can break more easily and may not absorb as much shock when you’re chopping.
Fix an 18 in (46 cm) handle to a 1.5–2 lb (0.68–0.91 kg) head to make a hatchet. Light axe heads are best suited for shorter handles. Choose an 18 in (46 cm) handle if you want it for a smaller axe that you plan to use for light chopping, such as splitting small pieces of firewood or cutting kindling around your home or in the wilderness. Hatchets are easy to carry and handle, so they’re ideal for activities like going camping. Hatchets are also sometimes referred to as house axes or camp axes, since they’re the type of axe you find around many homes and campgrounds.
Use a 24–28 in (61–71 cm) handle with a 2 lb (0.91 kg) head for a limbing axe. A limbing axe is basically a longer hatchet with a 2 lb (0.91 kg) head that’s used mainly for cutting limbs off of felled trees or splitting wood. Go for an approximately 2 ft (0.61 m) long handle if you want a light, versatile axe with more chopping power than a hatchet. This type of axe can also be referred to as a boy’s axe. A limbing axe offers a good balance between size, weight, and chopping ability for versatile use. You can use this size of axe at home or while you're camping to split firewood or chop down small trees.
Put a 32–36 in (81–91 cm) handle on a 3–5 lb (1.4–2.3 kg) head for a felling axe. Any long-handled axe with a heavy axe head is considered a felling axe, which is an axe used to chop down trees. They are big and heavy, so only get this long of a handle if you want to fell trees. These types of axes are not as portable or versatile as shorter, lighter axes, so they aren’t good for an all-around camp axe. This type of axe would be best suited if you own a piece of land on which you sometimes have to clear trees or do other heavy chopping.
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