Student - Senior Studio
2019
HYAX is an interchangeable axe system, heads and handles that mix and match depending on the task. One person can carry two handles for the same head, a longer one for felling, a shorter one for hatchet work, or swap heads entirely for homesteading tasks like driving with a hammer head. The same modularity extends to commercial use: a firefighter could carry an axe or breaching head, and if the handle breaks, only the handle needs replacing, not the whole tool.
I looked at several head-retention mechanisms, some based on traditional axe-head wedges, but opted for an over-center latch for its rapid deployment in the field
The head connector works on the same principle as a tapered spindle on a lathe or mill, the head pulls tight against an elongated tapered section, transferring load directly into the handle. An over-center latch holds it there, backed by a secondary spring-loaded locking button for security. A urethane rubber bumper pads the interface, absorbing any extra tolerance in the stack-up.
I made a Kydex sheath to protect the edge during transportation, and an orange blank keeps the other handle secure when not in use
The whole project wrapped in just under 8 weeks. I machined two handles from American ash in-house, and had two sets of D2 tool steel head and connector parts machined overseas. The over-center latches are 3D-printed titanium, chosen specifically for titanium's natural spring properties.
The next step for this project would have been to explore a fiberglass handle for more trades-oriented customers, along with a few more multipurpose heads to round out the system fully
Boston, MA