Way to Wrap an Axe Handle with Paracord

P

PDE

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Nov 7, 2010
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I was curious how everyone wraps there axe handles for overstrike and protection. I know some use hairspray or superglue, but I was wondering if there was a certain knot that was used specifically for it. I have tried many different ways of wrapping, but none work and the paracord slips off after several good swings.(secured with a common whipping)
Your advice would be useful and I thank you in advance.
 
I think the best thing to do would be to drill a hole through the handle of the axe, about 1/2" from the base. That way, when you start (or stop, depending on which direction you wrap), you can put the cord through that hole, and tie it tight. That should stop the string from coming off.

also, what kind of string/cordage are you using?

Calebklyne said:
I melt my end to the rest it usually works pretty good
Click to expand...

I think he means that he has issues with the cord coming off the handle, not the wrap just coming loose.
 
PDE said:
I was curious how everyone wraps there axe handles for overstrike and protection. I know some use hairspray or superglue, but I was wondering if there was a certain knot that was used specifically for it. I have tried many different ways of wrapping, but none work and the paracord slips off after several good swings.(secured with a common whipping)
Your advice would be useful and I thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

Read the whole post!!!!!:D:D:D:D
 
I don't know about drilling a hole in my GB, I would think there was a less permanent way to do it. That is actually more permanent than super glue.(which ends up leaving a mess AND it makes the cord brittle.)
 
Go to your local fishing/sports store and buy some heavy grade trot line. Now lay a strand of the trot line the length you want wrapped on your axe handle and then double it so that you've got a U-shape at one end and the end of the trot line and the roll of trot line at the other end. It's best to put the U-part at the top of the handle near the axe head.

Now on the lower end where you've got the end-of-the-trot-line and the roll-of-trot-line begin wrapping the handle going up toward the U-part near the axe head.

Keep wrapping (make sure it's tight) until you've reached about half-an-inch from the U-loop. Now cut the trot line and slip the remaining piece under the U-loop and let it dangle about four inches.

Now cut the trot-line at the roll-end at the bottom of the handle and leave about five or six inches of trot-line.

So now you've got about four inches of trot line slipped under the U-loop on the top end, and you've got about six inches of trot-line dangling a the bottom end of the handle. NOTE: This bottom end of the trot-line is going under the wrapping all the way to the U-loop and it forms part of the U-loop.

Now get some pliers and pull the bottom six inches (this will take a bit of pulling) until the U-loop starts to disappear under the wrapping. When the U-loop disappears it will also pull the four inches of trot line dangling at the top end under the wrap.

AND NOW you've got a beautifully wrapped handle with no knots, no obtrusive kinks, no need to use glue or epoxy or anything else. You'll have two pieces of trot-line remaining at the top and the bottom. Cut them and burn the two ends down to the handle or wrap. You can...if you want to...put a drop of epoxy at the two burned ends but it's not necessary.

If I knew how to post pictures on this site I'd post some pics showing how this is done because I realize the directions are a bit confusing. Sorry about that.
 
No that is wonderful instruction. I bet you could do it with the guts of some 550 also. I always wondered how they got those wraps so clean, now I feel like a big dumba$$ due to the simplicity of it. :o.. Good tip man.
 
What about using a rubber overstrike protector? I used to have one on a maul I used a lot and it seemed to work pretty well. They just slip onto the handle and fit snugly if you get the right size.

I realize they don't look nearly as good as a cord wrap. But can anyone who has used both compare the usefulness of one over the other? I realize this doesn't answer the question asked, but I had just been thinking about it, and it seems to fit here. I just ordered a tomahawk, and don't want to use a permanent wrap that will prevent me from removing the head to use as a tool without the handle.
 
FYI I just tryed it with the inner strands of 550 it wont work so dont waste your time. Maybe if you put three or four of them together it may work but one strand breaks under strain.
 
woodsroamer said:
Go to your local fishing/sports store and buy some heavy grade trot line. Now lay a strand of the trot line the length you want wrapped on your axe handle and then double it so that you've got a U-shape at one end and the end of the trot line and the roll of trot line at the other end. It's best to put the U-part at the top of the handle near the axe head.

Now on the lower end where you've got the end-of-the-trot-line and the roll-of-trot-line begin wrapping the handle going up toward the U-part near the axe head.

Keep wrapping (make sure it's tight) until you've reached about half-an-inch from the U-loop. Now cut the trot line and slip the remaining piece under the U-loop and let it dangle about four inches.

Now cut the trot-line at the roll-end at the bottom of the handle and leave about five or six inches of trot-line.

So now you've got about four inches of trot line slipped under the U-loop on the top end, and you've got about six inches of trot-line dangling a the bottom end of the handle. NOTE: This bottom end of the trot-line is going under the wrapping all the way to the U-loop and it forms part of the U-loop.

Now get some pliers and pull the bottom six inches (this will take a bit of pulling) until the U-loop starts to disappear under the wrapping. When the U-loop disappears it will also pull the four inches of trot line dangling at the top end under the wrap.

AND NOW you've got a beautifully wrapped handle with no knots, no obtrusive kinks, no need to use glue or epoxy or anything else. You'll have two pieces of trot-line remaining at the top and the bottom. Cut them and burn the two ends down to the handle or wrap. You can...if you want to...put a drop of epoxy at the two burned ends but it's not necessary.

If I knew how to post pictures on this site I'd post some pics showing how this is done because I realize the directions are a bit confusing. Sorry about that.
Click to expand...

I am afraid this is the same thing as the "common whipping", it STILL slips down the handle. Thank you, though.
the common whipping knot is used to prevent braided rope from fraying, I adapted it early on in my life to wrap various items other then rope.
 
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What I ended up doing was started and wrapped a common whipping about three inches from the axe head with natural, waxed cord.(Before this I had wrapped a layer or two around this section up to the axe head on the handle). After I built up a large ridge I took gutted paracord and did another common whipping around the section in between the ridge and the axe head. Now, it will not slip further because of the ridge and the ridge will not slip because of how grippy the waxed cord is. Just to be safe, however, I impregnated the paracord with superglue and due to the electrical tape underneath the paracord, I do not have to worry about it getting all over the handle.
What I am left with is a surefire way that will protect both axe and handle, plus it looks great. This way worked like a charm, you all should try it out.
 
I use Woodsroamer's method (except I make the "hoop" out of the cord itself, and use rawhide lace instead of paracord. Soak it, wrap it tight, and when it dries it's not coming off, even if you want it to.
 
if you like you could use a little spray adhesive then wrap your handle. Then later if you wanted it done just pull off the cord, wipe the haft with some Acetone and re-oil the handle to keep it from drying out.
 
Rub the area you want to wrap with beeswax, then wrap it. The beeswax provides positive grip, if you remove the wrap just apply heat and friction and rub the wax into the wood.
 
my method is kind of like Uncouth's beeswax, but using hockey grip tape under the paracord...I've used this method for axes, tomahawks and hammers for work and haven't had the cord come loose yet (and i beat the work hammers pretty hard, busting concrete and setting steel anchors)
 
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