How To Wrap An Axe Handle With Paracord (4 Steps Process)

Many axe users consider wrapping their axe handles for separate reasons. Some people do it for aesthetic purposes. A paracord wrap can improve the look of your axe. 

On the contrary, some people wrap their axe handle to protect it. When you’re swinging the axe and accidentally miss the target, the handle gets hot, and the wood suffers from damage. 

So, I’ll be talking about how to wrap an axe handle with paracord today. 

Let’s get to it.

How to Wrap an Axe Handle with Paracord – Step by Step Process

Before getting started, make sure that the axe blade is covered with a sheath. You will be swirling the axe with your hand, so an exposed blade will be dangerous. Let’s take a quick look at the things you will need.

Things You Will Need

• Your axe
• Paracord
• Scissors
• Lighter

Even though the procedure is pretty straightforward, I’m dividing it into some steps so that you can get a clear idea. First, let’s see how to wrap a handle with paracord.

Step 1: Preparations

Proper planning is the key to everything. No matter how minor the task is, everything can go wrong if you’re not prepared. For this process, there are a few things to do before getting started.

Keep everything near at hand. Imagine being in the middle of the process, and you don’t find your scissors anywhere. You will have to leave the paracord, and the wrap will loosen. This is just one example of the things that can go wrong. 

The next thing to do is make sure that the axe is covered with a sheath. You will have to manually swirl the axe, so it’s extremely essential that you keep the blade covered to ensure safety. 

Step 2: Cut the Paracord

A paracord will come in a big spool. You can avoid this step, but the result won’t be perfect. So, how long to keep the paracord length? It depends on your preference. 

If you’re wrapping the entire axe, you will need a longer piece of paracord. However, if you are only wrapping the neck, you won’t need much. 

The best way to ensure the precise length is to test-wrap the handle to see how much paracord is required. Make sure to keep the paracord a bit longer than you estimated. 

Step 3: Start Wrapping

The first thing to do with the paracord is to make a loop. Take one end and fold it in a loop. The loop should be longer than the length of your wrap. Next, place the loop on your axe handle. 

Now, take the longer end and start wrapping the handle over the loop you created before. After each round, use enough force to ensure that the wrap is tight enough. Then, keep wrapping it until you reach the start of the loop. 

Step 4: Finishing Touches

You’ve finished covering the handle with paracord; insert the end of the paracord into the loop. Think of inserting a thread into a needle. 

Hold the other end of the loop near the bottom of the axe handle and pull it strongly enough so that the loop emits inside the wrap and the other end gets locked. 

Now, take your scissors and cut the extra lengths of the paracord. Then, use a lighter to burn the ends. It will create a round knob, and the end won’t be able to slip through the loop. 

Things To Keep in Mind

• There are other ways of wrapping an axe handle. However, I will recommend sticking with the one I described. It’s the most straightforward one.
• If you are trying out different paracord handle wrap patterns, secure the blade with a clamp to make sure that the axe doesn’t move.
• You can use a soldering iron instead of a lighter to secure the ends.
• Allow the axe enough time to cool down after burning the ends. Only touch the handle after the paracord is safe enough to touch.
• Make sure to keep adequate tension on the paracord during the entire wrapping process. 
• You can also use the same procedure to wrap the handles of different tools.

Advantages of Wrapping Your Axe Handle

• Regardless of what your axe handle is made of, wrapping it will offer an excellent grip on the hand.
• Using bright colors to wrap an axe handle makes the axe easy to locate when you are into the woods.
• A wrap protects your axe handle from getting damaged by the chopping. It’s particularly more helpful when the handle is made of wood.
• If your axe isn’t in its best shape, you can only give it a full makeover by wrapping the handle with a paracord.
• If you are into decorating your axes, it can be an enjoyable task to do. Once you familiarize yourself with the basics, you can get to more complex patterns.

Disadvantages of Wrapping Your Axe Handle

• You will have to replace the paracord after it tears or wears. It can be a hassle to wrap an axe handle frequently. However, if you don’t overuse your axe, the wrap will last an adequate amount of time.
• If the paracord gets wet, keeping it that way can damage the wooden handle. So, you have to make sure that the axe handle is completely dry before storing it.
• If the paracord somehow loosens, it can be dangerous to swing the axe. So, when wrapping the handle, you have to make sure that the paracord is tightly secured.

FAQ

Final Verdict

The wood on your axe handle can get the best protection and grip if you know how to wrap an axe handle with paracord. It’s one of the simplest tasks to do. Besides, if you are a DIY enthusiast, you will enjoy doing it too.

If you own multiple axes, try different colors when selecting the paracord. This way, you can lighten up the entire area where they’re stored.

Learn more:

• How To Make A Wedge For An Axe Handle [Wood, Metal & Plastic Wedge]
• How To Replace A Fiberglass Axe Handle [7 Steps Guide]
• How Long Is An Axe Handle (Know The Proper Measurement)
• How Many Coats Of Boiled Linseed Oil On Axe Handle?
• How To Change An Axe Handle: A Proper Guideline?