Advice Needed For Tomahawk Handle Issue

Jmboz · May 12, 2015

So, after lightly sanding the awful varnish off my CRKT Woods Chogan Tomahawk, and applying light stain and oil, I put the head back on the pole/haft and it stopped about an inch higher from where it was before. As you can see in the pictures, it's pretty much flush with the top of the pole/haft.

My question is do you guys think I should put in a wedge to keep the head from flying off for safety or just use it as-is until the handle needs replacing. For the moment, it's fairly tight, but it will probably loosen with use. I could also epoxy the head in place with 5 minute epoxy, and if I ever need to remove it, just either use heat and/or drill it out to replace the handle.

I do not intend to throw it and I will most likely use the tomahawk simply as a fancy camp axe.

Cheers!

DarthTaco123 · May 12, 2015

If your intent is that of a camp axe then wedging it should be fine, epoxy is too messy in the case of a handle break.

dingy · May 13, 2015

ESTWING SPORTSMAN hachet is cool and tough.

300Six · May 13, 2015

These are taper fit and not really designed to be wedged. You're proposing to regain the 1/16" that was sanded off. Easiest is to wrap the end with friction tape before resetting the head.

cityofthesouth · May 13, 2015

I dunno about where you are, but I can get hawk handles in my hardware store from House Handle - podunk KS. If your handle is tight, then there isn't a problem. If it's not, just get a new one. They're like a wallet busting $3.00. Might even be able to buy a sledge hammer (or pick or whatever) handle and cut it and have 2 or 3 handles .... if their circumference is great enough.

Wolf_1989 · May 13, 2015

Seems to me that handle probably didn't have enough swell at the end to begin with.

And that grain alignment! Egads.

cschol · May 13, 2015

Oops. You sanded too much. Crkt has spare handles for about $15. I have heard but have not verified that cold steel trail hawks handles work too.

DarthTaco123 · May 13, 2015

The issue with buying CRKT or CS handles is they'll display the...lovely grain orientation of the one above. You'd be best to buy a sledge hammer handle from a local hardware store so you can A. Pick your own grain, and B. Shape it to how YOU want it to feel in your hand.

Sparky415 · May 14, 2015

I would wedge it and use it,
Nice dark wood for the wedge

fishface5 · May 14, 2015

Should the grain be aligned edge-to-poll, or perpendicular to it?

DarthTaco123 · May 14, 2015

Edge to poll preferably.

300Six · May 14, 2015

Wolf_1989 said:
Seems to me that handle probably didn't have enough swell at the end to begin with.

And that grain alignment! Egads.

End grain orientation will make no appreciable difference; the handle is short and it's straight

Jmboz · Jun 16, 2015

Update: I picked up a couple of extra handles. Both fit perfect and even had desirable grain orientation. I'll use the ill fitting one as a shop whacker. :thumbup:

cityofthesouth · Jun 16, 2015

So what was the source? Might as well bring this thread full circle for the next person.

Guitarist7.62 · Jun 16, 2015

I had this problem too with mine. Didn't go as far up tho, and I just wrapped the handle with some masking tape, used it for a little,then cut off the tape that appeared above and below the head. But now the handle has been swelling back up so the tape is gone, the head is now further down then when I bought it new. Humidity changes from season to season I guess.