How To Replace A Fiberglass Axe Handle [7 Steps Guide]

Replacing a fiberglass axe handle isn’t as easy as replacing wood handles. The primary challenge is removing the handle. Installing is quite straightforward compared to that.

No matter how tough it sounds, it’s entirely doable. If you don’t want to go to a professional and spend money on this chore, utilize your home tools and do it yourself. Let’s get to know how to replace a fiberglass axe handle without further ado.

How To Replace A Fiberglass Axe Handle – Here’s the Steps

Most of the time, a fiberglass axe handle will come with the necessary accessories. If yours didn’t, you could get a fiberglass axe handle repair kit. Let’s assume that your handle didn’t have any instruction with it either. Take a look at the steps below to fix your broken axe handle.

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

You will need a few tools to remove and replace your old handle. The first thing you will need is a vise to secure the axe. It’s crucial that your axe stays stable the entire time. Let’s see what else you will need.

Electric drill
A few drills of different sizes
Chisel and hammer
Wood piece
Sandpaper
Masking tape
Fiberglass axe handle epoxy
A new handle

Step 2: Remove the Epoxy Resin

Use the vice to secure the axe. The axe needs to be in a stable hands-free situation. Then use a small drill bit to drill on top of the axe head. It will start removing the epoxy axe handle.

After creating a few holes using the smallest drill bit, upgrade to a larger drill bit and repeat the process. Keep increasing the size of the drill until you clear all the resin axe handle had.

Step 3: Remove the Axe Head from the Handle

Remove the axe from the vice. Hold it upside down on the edge of your working table. Tap the head from the bottom with a wooden piece. You can also use your hammer if you want.

This way, the head will eventually fall off from the handle.

Step 4: Clean the Axe Head

Chances are, there are still resin residing inside the axe head. Use a chisel and a hammer to remove everything from the inner side. After you are done doing that, use sandpaper to remove any residue.

You can also polish the axe head if you want to redo the entire look.

Step 5: Tape the Top

Before you get to installing the new handle, you need to make sure that the eye of the axe is closed from the top. So, place the axe head on your table and tape it on the bottom. Then, place a wooden piece large enough to cover the entire eye and use masking tape to secure it.

This ensures that the resin you will be using stays even and clean.

Step 6: Install the New Handle

Your axe head is now ready to have its new handle installed. Mix the resin well and pour it into the axe eye from the bottom. Fill two-thirds of the eye and keep one-third empty for the handle.

Place the handle’s head inside the axe eye. Before pushing it further down, make sure that the part that goes inside is entirely covered with resin. Then, push it to insert the handle inside the axe eye.

Step 7: Finishing Touches

Keep the axe somewhere secure where it won’t move at all. The resin needs to be set well before you can swing the axe again. One smart way of doing it is to strap it on the wall so that it stays straight and out of reach. Once the resin has been set, your axe is ready to get back on the chopping block again.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Fiberglass Axe Handle

If you’re replacing your axe handle, you should make an informed decision about whether it’s a good idea to choose a fiberglass handle or not. Let’s take a look at the advantages first.

Advantages

Compared to a wooden handle, a fiberglass handle is way more durable. You can swing a fiberglass handle for years without replacement.
You can cut stubborn objects, and the handle will remain secure on the blade.
Fiberglass handles have better shock absorption.
Fiberglass is also less sensitive to environmental influences.

Disadvantages

A fiberglass handle is comparatively difficult to replace.
Fiberglass handles are a lot more expensive than wooden handles.
As frustrating as it sounds, you can’t find a fiberglass handle everywhere. They’re less available than wooden handles.

Safety Warnings

Wear safety glasses and gloves during the entire procedure.
Avoid touching damaged areas of the old fiberglass handle.
Don’t let the axe move when the resin is getting set.
Do it in a working area and keep people out of the area.
Ensure to keep all tools in a safe location when you are not using them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you replace an axe handle by yourself?

Considering that you have the essential tools in your home, you can certainly replace a broken axe handle. However, some handles are comparatively difficult to replace. For example, a wood handle may be straightforward to replace, but the same isn’t true for fiberglass handles.

Where can I get epoxy resin for my axe handle?

If you purchase a new fiberglass handle, get one that comes with the resin. Alternatively, you can visit a local store to get epoxy for your axe. Another way is to buy resin online. It will save you the labor of finding a store that sells resin.

Final Verdict

I have tried to include everything regarding how to replace a fiberglass axe handle in this article. Yet, if you are not convinced that you can do this by yourself, ask for professional help. Or, you can switch to a wood handle, which is certainly easier to install.

You can also get a new axe if you want. For example, if the blade you were using has become blunt and the handle is broken, getting a new axe will be cheaper than fixing the broken one.

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