Restore Cracked Machete Handle With Rubber Bands

I use a Bill-hooked machete in our home garden for various activities like pruning trees, trim unwanted branches, husking coconut, split wood and all. Unfortunately the wooden handle of the machete got cracked and it became unusable. With the price quoted by skilled persons to restore the handle, you could easily buy a new one.

I tried to restore the handle with duct tape but it did not help as there was no proper grip. It has been left unused for a long time, so thought of restoring the handle by using rubber bands. To my surprise, this turned out nice with good grip and ease of use. I spent just a fraction of the cost of new one. The rubber banded handle also provided a good protection for the palm from injury by wood splinters in the cracks.

What do you need for the restoration of the handle...? Of course a packet of Rubber Bands, that's all...!!!

• Take a piece of rubber band and twist it around the handle as many rounds as possible, so that it does not have any slack.
• Slide down the twisted band down to the lower end with your fingers.
• Continue adding twists of rubber bands and compact them as close as possible with fingers. You can use alternating colors of bands to make it more attractive
• Cover the entire length of the handle with rubber bands

There are two raised ridges on the handle where the machete is inserted. The twisted rubber bands could not stay there due to the tension and continuously slipped down. So I left the ridges uncovered, which do not make any difference while holding the machete.

The restored machete handle has a very good grip and I do not think I need to replace the handle or buy a new machete.

I have tried the restored machete to trim lower-most branch of a coconut tree. It works well and the grip feels excellent.

About half a packet of rubber bands helped me restore a completely damaged handle of the machete and made it usable again. My palm is also protected from injury by wood splinters from the damaged handle. The cost of restoration..? Less than Ten Indian Rupees...