Broken handles pictures

[Woodcraft]

Broken handles on Axes, hammers all striking tools. Post what you have, what you can find. Preference for pictures where you can make out the fine detail.
Stories, experience with broken handles how they happened.
Pictures of broken handles purchased to get the head.
Go for it.

 

[Moonw]

This will give me nightmares.

 

[Moonw]

...as well as it will evolve into some highly opinionated debate sooneror later .

 

[Woodcraft]

This will give me nightmares.

I am attempting to make a hatchet handle out of some apple wood I dried. The first "nightmare" may be my own

 

[Moonw]

I am attempting to make a hatchet handle out of some apple wood I dried. The first "nightmare" may be my own

Will there be a video?

 

[Woodcraft]

Will there be a video?

Be lucky if there is a handle.

 

[garry3]

Be lucky if there is a handle.

I would bet on success. As long as it was healthy when you cut. Dead standing of other and all bets are off.

 

[garry3]

This thread got me thinking of the surviving vintage axes that I have. To be honest it is much more skewed than I remember regarding grain orientation. Besides some axes that have led a privileged and pampered life I have only one axe that has survived hard use with the grain running contrary to conventional wisdom. Its a pulaski with a straight haft.

 

[rjdankert]

This will give me nightmares.

...as well as it will evolve into some highly opinionated debate sooneror later .

My two cents, but using a common set of terms describing grain might help.

Otherwise:




Bob

 

[Woodcraft]

 

[rjdankert]

. . .

. . .

This is the best illustration I have seen to visualize slope, runout, and sawing vs riving. The "angled grain" drawing (left) clearly shows runout in the bat blank. That blank was cut parallel to the outside edge of a log. The blank on the right has no runout. It could be sawn that way, but I don't think anyone doing production would stay is business very long doing it. The other option is riving, also probability not the best business model.


Bob

 

[garry3]

My two cents, but using a common set of terms describing grain might help.

Otherwise:




Bob

Growth ring and grain are two different things that are not necessarily interchangeable. But they are used as if they are. I long ago gave up on this topic, so I just go with the flow and this is the last I have to say about it in this thread.
I am out of here.

 

[300Six]

I am attempting to make a hatchet handle out of some apple wood I dried. The first "nightmare" may be my own

Apple ought to be pretty good material for a hatchet handle. It is hard and strong and develops a lovely colour over time. The most difficult part is finding a straight and knot-free piece.

 

[Square_peg]

Many fruitwoods will make acceptable handle material with the qualification that 300 made - finding straight pieces. You're more likely to find that wood in wild fruit trees that aren't kept pruned. I've found some pretty good wild plum in my area. Agent H found some good choke cherry or bitter cherry. I've seen some good wild apple around here but haven't ever taken home a handle sized piece.

 

[Square_peg]

Some info on apple wood. It's quite dense and fairly strong.
http://www.csudh.edu/oliver/chemdata/woods.htm

 

[Woodcraft]

I just pruned some large branches a while back. One of the bigger pieces checked down the center and is now to small for a hatchet handle. I still have a couple of pieces dried that I can use whole.

 

[Whiskey_Jim]

 

[Woodcraft]

W Whiskey_Jim , how exactly did that happen?

 

[garry3]

W Whiskey_Jim , how exactly did that happen?

I think that is what them bush crafters call a feather stick.

 

[Woodcraft]

I think that is what them bush crafters call a feather stick.

That's what I imagine a handle would look like if you stuffed it in a granite drill hole and gave it all you had.