Can you help with eye specs? Double-bit Kelly True Temper Flint edge

Z

Ziggy99

Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
106
Hi all,

Does anyone have one that can give me an idea of what replacement handle to go for? A head is wending its way Down Under and while it does it would be handy to organise a handle.

House Handles have a good rep here so I'll approach them.

The Kelly was described by the ebay seller as 10" x 4.75". Pic below.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I'm new here and thanks for adding me. Seems the bug has bitten, after innocently picking up my Australian-made Kelly 'Dandenong' and thinking the edge could do with some TLC. I'm a sometime woodturner and thankfully have lots of sharpening gear. Yes, I could turn my own handle but sourcing a hickory blank is not a cheap or easy exercise.

Cheers from Australia.

24508161541_50f9162dae_o.jpg
[/url]Kelly double bit https://www.flickr.com/photos/30283858@N07/, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
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You folks have access to some very durable types of wood down under. I wouldn't be shy about using some for a handle. Beauty of a straight haft is you can partially turn the blank too, if the lathe bed can handle longer lengths. Reason Hickory has become universal is through bountiful supply and relative low cost, not because it's 'the' very best.
 
Making your own handle from local wood would be a useful exercise. Somebody here probably has exact dimensions, or you can just eyeball it and go by feel, whichever works for you.
 
There's a company in NSW called ForestryTools (dot com dot au) that carries Council Tool brand hickory double bit handles, which might be less expensive (as well as quicker) than having one handle shipped from the US.
 
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At the present time, I have yet to find a handle maker that makes anywhere near a truly quality handle, however that is about to significantly change come August.
 
If you go with House, don't buy anything less than a hand-select premium handle. The extra few bucks you spend on it will be lost in the noise of having it shipped. And don't ask for an octagonal handle, as House is not very careful about milling (sanding?) the bevels.
 
Operator1975 said:
At the present time, I have yet to find a handle maker that makes anywhere near a truly quality handle, however that is about to significantly change come August.
Click to expand...

You've piqued my curiousity. I would love to see someone set up a lathe or pantograph (or whatever) and begin offering proper axe handles at a decent price. Whittling one by hand is especially tedious, and frustrating when you realize that the only user you can afford to do it for is yourself. I was eyeballing new Link axe handles at Princess Auto the other day and couldn't help but notice these have evolved into horribly unimaginative and oversized 'clubs'.
 
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