I had the opportunity to spend a little bit of time with Woosiie, the man behind some of the most creative, boldly-designed axe handles (and axe heads) available today. After he graciously offered to set me up with his own LAV mics, we talked about his process for making axes, his opinions on the sport as a whole (having come over from WATL to IATF), and whatever else came to mind, really. I gotta say, out of all the interviews I've done, this is the one that struck me most as a true conversation: sprawling, comfortable, and informative. So here's my axe maker interview:
HOW LONG HAVE YOU THROWN, COMPETITIVELY, AND WHERE?
In IATF or WATL? 4 years, total, and I'm throwing out of College Station, Texas.
WOW - SO YOU'RE HERE (URBAN OPEN 2024, BALTIMORE) JUST FOR THIS?
Yes.
OH, HOLY SHIT. HOW LONG DID THAT TAKE YOU (me, forgetting that planes exist)?
Well. I flew here.
OH. YEAH OF COURSE, OF COURSE.
SO YOU MAKE AXE HANDLES, AND AXES, CORRECT? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THAT SORT OF WORK?
Yes, I make axe handles and axes, and every once and a while, I forge. Not all the time, but maybe once or twice a year. I've been making axes for two or three years.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN I'VE SEEN YOUR AXES IN THE WILD, BUT I'VE HEARD AMAZING THINGS ABOUT THEM. WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES PEOPLE SPEAK SO HIGHLY OF YOUR AXES?
Well, first off, I think - I believe every axe and axe handle, when combined, has a personality. So it has to work with the personality of the thrower. If an axe thrower can feel themselves in an axe or axe handle when they throw it, I know that they'll feel more confident. So no matter the color or shape, I can make it happen. Whatever they want and whatever they're working with, you know?
When I make axes for me, it's a little different. Because I picture in my mind things I haven't seen before, and I'll create those colors, those shapes, those things to whatever I want to work on.
DO YOU FIND - I THINK A LOT OF AXE MAKERS HAVE A SIGNATURE STYLE. DO YOU FIND THAT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO MAINTAIN THAT, OR ARE YOU MORE FOCUSED ON MAKING THINGS THAT ARE AS CLOSE TO WHAT AN AXE THROWER IMAGINES WHEN THEY COMMISSION AN AXE FROM YOU?
I think it's a combination of both. You’re (a maker) going to have elements of a signature style. I have a certain shape and colors - I love colors - but you also have to be open to whatever the customer requires. This person really wants this color because his mamma loves this color, whatever - you gotta give customers what they want, because it's sentimental for that customer. And I like that. I like challenges.
THE PRICES OF THROWING-SPECIFIC AXES HAVE BEEN GOING UP. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS, AND DO YOU THINK THERE'S A CAP TO THAT?
That brings me to the reason I started making axe handles. When I started throwing, I couldn't afford these beautiful handles I was seeing everywhere. So I knew I had to learn how to do this thing. I used to do carpentry so I had the patience with woodworking.
So the reason I started making handles was because people like me, who wanted something custom but also affordable. I will work with any customer. I don't have a price minimum - I'll always work within what people can afford. If they can afford multi-colored handles or multiple-wood handles, or something like that, I'll work with that. If they just want a good handle without all of that, I'll work with that.
This is my side hustle, my hobby. I'm not trying to make myself rich. Obviously if it's something super specific with material prices that are out of my hands, I have to charge a bit more, and I think other makers are facing down that same challenge. If it weren't for my signature style in my handles, I'd probably have quit doing this a long time ago.
SO, SOMETHING I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT WITH MAKERS: WHERE ARE YOU SOURCING YOUR MATERIAL FROM TO MAKE THE HANDLES, THE HEADS, STUFF LIKE THAT? ARE YOU FINDING THINGS ON FB MARKETPLACE, OR JUST GOING TO GARAGE SALES? WHERE ARE YOU FINDING THAT STUFF, AND HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE THINGS YOU NEED?
That's funny - that's a really great question.
So when I first started doing this, getting into the makers' game, basically I was going to yard sales and estate sales, flea markets, trying to look for these axes. Then there was this one axe, a Craftsman hatchet, and I wanted that axe, but I wanted to turn it into a big axe.
I asked myself, 'how can I make this into a big axe?' So I started drawing, recreating the same pattern as these vintage axes, but increased the eye and the blade coverage, and I designed this axe that I wanted. Then I bought that vintage axe and cut it down.
After that point, that project, I realized 'hey, I can grind these down, I can make my own head. I can make my own axes.' After that point, I started designing my own axes, and here we are.
Every time I design an axe, I send it over to Pakistan (now), Sabiha Industries - they are huge right now - he's a really great dude to work with - and he makes axes based on my designs.
As a matter of fact, he's gonna send me these axes that I requested, in gold. And with that arrangement they are affordable, and I can make a profit off of it.
But I also forge. So I forge about twice a year, and I like to forge. But forging is very, very expensive. Fun and time consuming, too. In the time it takes for me to forge one axe, I could make ten handles.
So I prefer to design my own axes, and send them oversees.
THE WOOD FOR YOUR HANDLES, HOW ARE YOU SOURCING THAT?
It depends on what the customer wants. Some customers want heavy handles, so I need to think about what kind of solid wood to use. Because, you know, sometimes very hard handles are also brittle, and can break. So sometimes I buy online, sometimes I go to a good, local friend who woodworks for rich people - so he always has nice wood scraps.
But if it's something specific, I just go online and buy from there.
ARE YOU SEEING ANY TRENDS IN WHAT KIND OF AXES PEOPLE WANT RIGHT NOW, OR IS IT ALL OVER THE PLACE?
I'll speak from my own experience, transitioning from the other league [WATL] to the IATF. So in the other league, I have a specific axe and specific handle.
In IATF, stepping is essential. Most of the IATF throwers love heavy axes - I'm the opposite. My throw is more like a dart. It's like I'm throwing air. It's very complex, and I think it comes down, more than anything, to what individuals want.
AS A MAKER, HOW CLOSELY DO YOU PAY ATTENTION TO RULE CHANGES? WHENEVER A GOVERNING BODY CHANGES SPEC REQUIREMENTS AND SO FORTH - DOES THAT AFFECT YOU AT ALL? OR, BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING AXES TO CUSTOMER REQUEST, DOES THAT NOT AFFECT YOU VERY MUCH?
I mean, going from WATL to IATF changes the price a little bit for big axes, as the amount of wood I'm using and can use. So that's the only real change that impacted me. Otherwise, I just make what people want.
YOU'VE REFERENCED MOVING FROM WATL TO IATF A FEW TIMES NOW, WHY DID YOU MAKE THE SWITCH?
I'll be honest, and I try to be an open person. When I started axe throwing in...2019, I thought it was just a fun activity. But I also did dart leagues, and I realized my competitive side could happen in axes, too.
So I started with WATL, and recently there have been some changes. And I believe that any changes should be for the better, not for worse. So whoever [reads] this from WATL, I just want to be honest, and they know what I'm saying. I hate drama and I hate controversy, and I hate people trying to take advantage of people. I hate bullies.
So I think the changes that are happening [in WATL] aren't going the direction that it was years ago, and the new rules just aren't for me. It's like going back to college, trying to understand the structure of the new rules. And it's like, dude, I don't wanna go back to college again! I don't want to learn all of this.
WHERE CAN PEOPLE LEARN MORE ABOUT WOOSIIE AXES ONLINE?
I have a Facebook page, Woosiie Axe Handles, you can find me right there - shoot me a message. Or you can ask the people who have one of my axes of course. Sometimes I'm busy, so if I don't message back right away, just give me a little time!
ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
I'm really thankful for the IATF and the community embracing me, welcoming me to the sport. I feel really lucky being here - I know there is always a difference between two leagues, but moving from WATL to here, it feels more like my environment. I'm a wild guy, and this feels like the right place for that!
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