How to fix loose axe head?

[brewer12345]

I have a 3/4 axe that has an intact, solid handle and a very sharp head.  However, the head has become loose and it wiggles and wants to slide off if I use it to chop.  Is there a way to fix this problem easily?

[Spork]

I assume by "solid handle" you mean it isn't the split handle with the wedge.   If that's the case... could you just replace the handle with a regular split ended/wedge handle?

[brewer12345]

I assume by "solid handle" you mean it isn't the split handle with the wedge.   If that's the case... could you just replace the handle with a regular split ended/wedge handle?

It is a wood handle that is just as it came from the store.  I think the end in the axe head shrank.

[Spork]

Wood handles usually have a split end with a wedge in them... if that's the case, you might could pull the head off and insert a bigger wedge (or really just a bit of wood as a shim) and drive the wedge back in.  This all may be covered in a plastic/epoxy goo making it hard to do.

[brewer12345]

Ah, gotcha.  Yes, it has the wedge in.  Since the head wants to s;ide off anyway, I will pull it and see if I can do a shim.

[Rural]

If you can find hardwood, it makes a better wedge. Hard to find in premade shims, though.

[Mr. Minsc]

Observe  to see how loose the head is on the handle and decide if adding a new wedge will fix the problem.  The axe handle may not have shrank, was worn down over time from use when loose.  In those cases it may be better to fit a new handle.  It may take some chiseling and sanding on the new handle but with a little work you can make a nice fit to the axe head. If you need a new wedge just cut one out of the old handle. This is what I did and my hew handle is holding solid.

[Greg]

What I do is occasionally soak mine in water.  I have a bucket near where I chop wood, and in it is a few inches of water.  The water, of course, keeps the head tight.

[Woodshark]

Go to a hardware store and ask to see if they any metal wedges to drive in. Then soak the head in water to make it swell.  These two things will probably make it very tight.

[No Name Guy]

Go here:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/
and scroll down a bit to "An Ax To Grind:  A practical ax manual" (should be the 5th one down).

This is the trail workers ax manual.  At page 17 starts the detailed discussion and directions of how to re-handle ("hang") an ax.

Quoting from page 26:

A loose handle can be temporarily tightened either in the field or in the shop by soaking the head in a bucket of linseed oil. Never soak the handle in water, except for short-term, emergency field tightening. Water will tighten the handle to the head, but the water dries out rapidly, leaving the head looser than before you started. Tightening the handle by soaking it in linseed oil is also a temporary measure. The ax must be rewedged or hung again to keep it tight.

Bottom line:  Don't soak an ax in water to tighten the handle.  Fix it properly.