First a trip to Lowes for materials. The axe handle is easy – it’s over in the garden tool section. Make sure that the handle has a wooden wedge taped to it! The wedge is what helps hold the handle in place.

In the specialty wood section I found pre-laminated pieces of 3X3 inch poplar, 36 inches long. They also carried the same size of wood in oak for around $5 more per piece. Go for the oak if you’re flush with cash but be warned, if you’re using hand tools you’re looking at more work. They also carried 1X3 in poplar which I needed to build up the size of the hammer head and provide some extra strength. (Click on the thumbnails to see the full sized image.)

Buy two of each piece.

Next up: Tools