How to Make an Ice Axe

Use a real ice axe as visual inspiration.

Making a craft version of an ice axe is a creative way to demonstrate your passion for the mountains. Ice axes are essential tools for climbers to brave the steep and slippery peeks of ice and snow covered mountains. The trick to making a model of an ice axe is to give it a rugged and bulky body. Once the craft is complete, display it on a mantel or end table to act as a conversation starter for family, friends and climbing enthusiasts.

Things You'll Need

• Work gloves
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• 1 inch-wide PVC pipe
• Hack saw
• Flat metal scraper
• Cardboard
• 1/4 inch-thick high-density urethane foam
• 1/16 inch-thick polyethylene plastic sheet (2)
• Permanent epoxy
• 5 cups water
• 1 cup flour
• Pot
• Medium-size bowl
• Newspaper strips
• White paper towel strips
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush

Instructions

1. Slide on work gloves to protect your hands.

2. Measure and cut a 1 inch-wide PVC pipe to a length of 10 inches. Shave any plastic burrs off of the sawed end of the pipe with a flat metal scraper. The pipe acts as the axe handle. Place the handle aside for use in later steps.

3. Measure and cut a 5 inch-by-3 inch faux blade from a piece of cardboard. Design the blade in the shape of a half circle. Repeat this step to make two cardboard blades.

4. Repeat Step 3 three times to make one foam and two polyethylene plastic blades, respectively.

5. Lubricate one side of the foam blade with permanent epoxy. Fit and place a cardboard blade atop the foam. Press and hold the cardboard into place to 60 seconds to secure the bond.

6. Lubricate the top side of the cardboard blade you just attached with permanent epoxy. Fit and place one polyethylene blade atop the cardboard. Press and hold the polyethylene into place to 60 seconds to secure the bond.

7. Flip the foam over so the underside is exposed. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to complete construction of the axe blade.

8. Lubricate one of the PVC handle rims with permanent epoxy. Center the flat edge of the blade atop the tacky rim. Press and hold the blade into place to secure the bond.

9. Pour the water and flour into a pot to make a paper mache mix. Boil the mix for three minutes. Remove the mix from the heat and allow it to cool for four to five minutes. Pour the mix into a medium-size bowl.

10. Submerge a strip of newspaper into the mix. Press the wet strip onto the body of the ice axe. Repeat until the entire axe handle and blade is covered in one layer of paper mache.

11. Repeat Step 10 with white paper towels. White paper towel mache provides an ideal surface for acrylic paint. Allow three to four hours for the craft to dry.

12. Paint the ice axe craft with acrylic paint. Allow two to three hours for the paint to dry before displaying or handling.

References

• DLTK Kids: How to Paper Mache

Resources

• Backpacking Light: ULA Helix Ice Axe -- Example