What's the best epoxy to reattach an axe head to a fiberglass handle?

I have an axe that I really like but after several years the head is starting to come loose. It's kind of a hybrid axe/maul and I think it weighs 3 lbs.

 

this is pretty good stuff

G/Flex 650 Toughened Epoxy • Permanant, Waterproof - WEST SYSTEM

 

I've been very happy with the standard JB Weld, but that West System stuff is probably better.

I used West System on my ski boat when I gutted the boat down to a hull with stringers and rebuilt everything. 20 years later that's all solid.

 

Thanks for the replies. The west system epoxy sounds good but unfortunately it seems to cost more than I paid for the axe itself. Maybe its time to go see if I can find another similar axe. Or maybe a wood handle would last longer?

 

Jb weld. It's cheap and IMHO, anytime that does any of their own repairs should have it in the cabinet. It's under $5.

 

I have the gorilla glue stuff that seems to work pretty well. I bet any 2 part plastic epoxy will do the job.

 

I have always had good luck with JB Weld.
Once fixed a leak on a copper steam pre heat coil on large supply air fan in one of our buildings.
3 psi of steam pressure on that coil and held up for a long time

 

I once fixed a coolant tank in a semi truck with jb weld and that was holding 15psi and 200 degrees. Lasted at least a year then the truck was sold.

The difference I'm concerned with is the shock and whether it can handle that.

Now I'm wondering if I should wait until the head comes off and clean it all up and jb weld it or should I try to get it packed down in there before the existing epoxy is totally gone?

 

If I was going to do it I would lean more toward taking it apart and clean both sides well before mating them together.

 

If I were doing it, I wouldn't do it. I think you will quickly find out that no epoxy will take that abuse.

 

If I were doing it, I would pack that sucker up with the lowest cost epoxy I had on hand. When it finally breaks, I would probably do the same thing again. As long as the product functions safely, i am not worried about semantics. Just get it done.

 

That's what I would do as well.

 

I got around to attempting a repair today. I warmed both my axe and a sledgehammer with a loose head next to the woodstove. Then I mixed a big batch of epoxy and flooded the tops of both. The epoxy is super cheap from harbor freight. After 24 hours the testing will begin.

 

Looks great. Let us know how they perform.