A few Northern Woodlands readers have confessed privately that what started as the innocent acquisition of an old axe has evolved into a full-blown obsession. Like any obsession, management is required. Many perfectly good axes have ended up with crooked handles – a result of leaning in the corner of the garage. Additionally, these storage spots tend to be damp, encouraging rotting of the handle eye and inevitably rust on the head.
One solution is to build an axe rack that allows the axe to hang vertically. This design can be modified to match the number of axes you have (or wish to have). In this case, I opted for a 5-foot axe rack to hold about 20 axes.
Materials List:
- (4) 2” x 6” x 24” leg supports
- (2) 4” x 4” x 42” uprights
- (2) 2” x 6” x 60” support rails
- (24) 3½” wood screws
Step One: Begin by cutting the dimensional lumber listed in the material list. The support rails can be cut any length based on the number of axes you wish to store. If you’re building a rack 48 inches or less, you can substitute 2” x 4” support rails for the 2” x 6” lumber, as sagging is less of an issue with short spans.
Step Two: Begin by centering and attaching a leg support on each side of the uprights. Three screws on each side of the upright are sufficient. Be sure to do this on a level surface to prevent a wobbly stand. I used rough-cut lumber, but you could also use planed lumber from the store. If you opt for the latter, you’ll want to use 3-inch screws instead.
Step Three: Attach the rails to the uprights using three screws at each contact point. If you are using the rack to store double-bit axes, the rails can go at the same height. I designed this rack to hold single-bit axes and therefore attached one of the support rails ¾ inch higher on the poll end to compensate for the downward sweeping heel of the bit. The result is that the axe hangs level (and securely) in the stand.
Step Four: Now comes the fun part! With your axe stand complete, it’s time to fill it up. By hanging the axes vertically, you’ll encourage the handle to stay true, and the axe head will be subject to less moisture. If you’re storing your axes in a damp basement or garage, consider preserving the head with a coat of beeswax and boiled linseed oil for the handle.