Green cherry handle

It could just be the fruit trees I am familiar with so take it for what it's worth, but the trees themselves aren't strong in life, I just can't picture them being strong in death. I live in Kansas so wind is pretty much part of the deal and fruit trees don't fare well. They blow apart easily and are just generally fragile.


ETA: Not sure that would stop me from making a hatchet handle from it though. I made one from Red Bud which is worse than fruit trees I imagine.
 
Agent_H said:
Camperspecial, does the bark on this:
1sXDBoV.jpg


Looks somewhat like this?:
MGgzXZL.jpg

Minus all the lichens of course.
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Looks similar to me. I would say cherry for sure. Take a look at the heartwood on one of my pictures and compare it to yours. The tree I got was what we call "bakers cherries " meaning, I presume, not sweet cherries. Can't comment on species without further research.
 
Camperspecial said:
Looks similar to me. I would say cherry for sure. Take a look at the heartwood on one of my pictures and compare it to yours. The tree I got was what we call "bakers cherries " meaning, I presume, not sweet cherries. Can't comment on species without further research.
Click to expand...

Ok. I'm settling on Prunus serrula (birch bark cherry) for mine. If you can get the outer bark to peel off in sheets or strands that's probably what you have too. Not native to Oregon but It does well here and is common. I just looked at a picture of the bakers cherry (Prunus cerasus) and it's not quite the same.
FWIW.
Cheers.
 
Published data doesn't tell the whole story but is useful as a general guide.

Common Name(s): Pear, Swiss Pear
Scientific Name: Pyrus communis
Average Dried Weight: 43 lbs/ft3 (690 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .52, .69
Janka Hardness: 1,660 lbf (7,380 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 12,080 lbf/in2 (83.3 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,131,000 lbf/in2 (7.80 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 6,400 lbf/in2 (44.1 MPa)

Common Name(s): Black Cherry, Cherry, American Cherry
Scientific Name: Prunus serotina
Average Dried Weight: 35 lbs/ft3 (560 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .47, .56
Janka Hardness: 950 lbf (4,230 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 12,300 lbf/in2 (84.8 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,490,000 lbf/in2 (10.30 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 7,110 lbf/in2 (49.0 MPa)

Common Name(s): Shellbark Hickory
Scientific Name: Carya laciniosa
Average Dried Weight: 48 lbs/ft3 (770 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .62, .77
Janka Hardness: 1,810 lbf (8,100 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 18,100 lbf/in2 (124.8 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,890,000 lbf/in2 (13.03 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 8,000 lbf/in2 (55.2 MPa)

I believe that Hacked's pear was not sound to begin with but American axes are designed with smaller eyes with tough hickory handles in mind. Just something to consider if you are going to haft a hard use axe with lighter weight woods.
 
Here is a source more relevant to the topic of axe handles. Unfortunately pear was not included for whatever reason.

Sorted By Height In Inches Of Impact

120 (Wet) ------------- Osage Orange
106 (Wet) ------------- Beech, Blue (Hornbeam/Musclewood)
88 ----------------------- Hickory, Bigleaf Shagbark
77 ----------------------- Hickory, Mockernut
74 ----------------------- Hickory, Pignut
71 (AVG) 53 - 88 --- Hickory (Full Range)
67 ----------------------- Hickory, Shagbark
66 ----------------------- Hickory, Bitternut
59 ----------------------- Serviceberry
57 ----------------------- Locust, Black
56 ----------------------- Elm, Rock
55 ----------------------- Birch, Yellow
54 (Wet) --------------- Hickory, Nutmeg
53 ----------------------- Hickory, Water
53 ----------------------- Oak, Scarlet
49 ----------------------- Hophornbeam
49 ----------------------- Oak, Swamp Red
49 ----------------------- Oak, Swamp White
47 ----------------------- Birch, Sweet
47 ----------------------- Honeylocust
46 ----------------------- Oak, Post
45 ----------------------- Elm, Slippery
45 ----------------------- Oak, Pin
44 ----------------------- Dogwood
44 ----------------------- Oak, Water
44 ----------------------- Pecan
43 ----------------------- Apple
43 ----------------------- Ash, White
43 ----------------------- Hackberry
43 ----------------------- Oak, Red
42 ----------------------- Ash, Blue
42 (AVG) 34 - 55 --- Birch (Full Range)
42 (Wet) -------------- Black Mangrove
42 ----------------------- Oak, Willow
41 ----------------------- Beech
41 ----------------------- Gum, Blue
41 ----------------------- Oak, Black
41 ----------------------- Oak, Swamp Chestnut
40 ----------------------- Ash, Biltmore White
40 ----------------------- Birch, Alaska White
40 (Wet) --------------- Buttonwood
40 ----------------------- Laurel, Mountain
40 ----------------------- Maple, Black
40 ----------------------- Oak, Chestnut
40 (Wet) --------------- Pigeon-plum
40 (Wet) --------------- Witchhazel
39 ----------------------- Elm, American
39 ----------------------- Maple, Sugar
39 ----------------------- Oak, Laurel
38 (AVG) 16 - 53 --- Oak (Full Range)
38 ----------------------- Sourwood
37 ----------------------- Oak, Canyon Live
37 ----------------------- Oak, White
37 ----------------------- Persimmon
36 (AVG) 24 - 43 --- Ash (Full Range)
36 ----------------------- Sugarberry
36 ----------------------- Pine, Slash
35 ----------------------- Ash, Black
35 ----------------------- Birch, Gray
35 ----------------------- Magnolia, Cucumber
35 ----------------------- Pine, Jack
34 ----------------------- Birch, Paper
34 ----------------------- Dogwood, Pacific
34 ----------------------- Stopper, Red
34 ----------------------- Walnut, Black
34 ----------------------- Pine, Longleaf
33 ----------------------- Ash, Oregon
33 ----------------------- Elder, Blueberry
33 ----------------------- Holly
33 ----------------------- Oak, Live
33 ----------------------- Sassafras
33 ----------------------- Pine, Shortleaf
32 ----------------------- Ash, Green
32 ----------------------- Gum, Red
32 ----------------------- Mangrove
32 ----------------------- Maple, Red
32 (AVG) 25 - 40 ---- Maple (Full Range)
32 ----------------------- Hemlock, Mountain
32 ----------------------- Larch, Western
31 ----------------------- Cherry, Pin
31 ----------------------- Laurel, California
31 ----------------------- Willow, Western Black
31 ----------------------- Pine, Pitch
31 ----------------------- Yew, Pacific
30 ----------------------- Chinquapin, Golden
30 ----------------------- Douglas Fir (Coastal)
30 ----------------------- Pine, Loblolly
29 ----------------------- Cherry, Black
29 ----------------------- Magnolia, Evergreen
29 ----------------------- Oak, Bur
29 ----------------------- Oak, Oregon White
29 ----------------------- Cedar, Alaska
29 ----------------------- Pine, Mountain
28 ----------------------- Inkwood
28 ----------------------- Maple, Bigleaf
28 ----------------------- Cedar, Port Orford
28 ----------------------- Fir, Lowland White
28 ----------------------- Pine, Pond
27 ----------------------- Catalpa, Hardy
27 ----------------------- Magnolia, Mountain
27 ----------------------- Maple, Striped
27 ----------------------- Douglas Fir (Intermediate)
27 ----------------------- Pine, Jeffery
26 ----------------------- Bustic
26 ----------------------- Cascara
26 ----------------------- Oak, Southern Red
26 ----------------------- Sycamore
26 ----------------------- Douglas Fir (Mountain)
26 ----------------------- Hemlock, Western
26 (AVG) 17 - 36 --- Pine (Full Range)
25 (AVG) 9 - 41 ----- Gum (Full Range)
25 ----------------------- Maple, Silver
25 ----------------------- Pine, Norway
25 ----------------------- Spruce, Red
25 ----------------------- Spruce, Sitka
24 ----------------------- Ash, Pumpkin
24 ----------------------- Butternut
24 ----------------------- Mastic
24 ----------------------- Silverbell
24 ----------------------- Cypress, Southern
24 ----------------------- Fir, Silver
23 ----------------------- Gum, Tupelo
23 ----------------------- Madrono, Pacific
23 ----------------------- Oak, Rocky Mountain White
23 ----------------------- Fir, Noble
23 ----------------------- Fir, California Red
23 ----------------------- Pine, Western White
23 ----------------------- Spruce, Black
23 ----------------------- Tamarack
22 ----------------------- Aspen, Largetooth
22 ----------------------- Cottonwood, Northern Black
22 ----------------------- Gum, Black
22 ----------------------- Cedar, Eastern Red
22 (AVG) 15 - 25 ---- Spruce (Full Range)
21 ----------------------- Aspen
21 (AVG) 13 - 28 --- Fir (Full Range)
21 ----------------------- Walnut, Little
21 ----------------------- Hemlock, Eastern
20 ----------------------- Alder, Red
20 ----------------------- Cottonwood, Eastern
20 ----------------------- Poplar, Yellow
20 ----------------------- Willow, Black
20 ----------------------- Fir, Balsam
20 ----------------------- Pine, Lodgepole
20 ----------------------- Spruce, White
19 (AVG) 12 - 29 --- Cedar (Full Range)
19 ----------------------- Chestnut
19 ----------------------- Rhododendron, Great
19 ----------------------- Pine, Limber
19 ----------------------- Pine, Northern White
19 ----------------------- Pine, Sand
19 ----------------------- Redwood (Virgin)
18 ----------------------- Pine, Sugar
17 ----------------------- Cedar, Incense
17 ----------------------- Cedar, Southern Red
17 ----------------------- Cedar, Western Red
17 ----------------------- Fir, White
17 ----------------------- Pine, Ponderossa
16 ----------------------- Basswood
16 ----------------------- Buckeye, Yellow
16 ----------------------- Oak, California Black
16 ----------------------- Palmetto, Cabbage
16 ----------------------- Fir, Alpine
16 ----------------------- Redwood (Second Growth Dense)
15 (Wet) -------------- Poisonwood
15 ----------------------- Spruce, Engelmann
14 ----------------------- Ironwood, Black
14 ----------------------- Poplar, Balsam
13 ----------------------- Cedar, Southern White
13 ----------------------- Fir, Corkbark
12 ----------------------- Cedar, Northern White
12 ----------------------- Juniper, Alligator
12 ----------------------- Pinon
11 ----------------------- Redwood (Second Growth Open)
9 ----------------------- Gum, Limbo
7 ----------------------- Paradise Tree

 
I've had some fruit woods hold up well, plumb, apple, cherry. I have a plumb peavey handle that has held up for years even though it's checked pretty bad. Might be the climate the fruit wood was grown in.
 
Camperspecial said:
Took out a cherry tree locally and got a lot of nice straight-grained pieces to save for tool handles.
There is nothing long enough for a 36" handle but plenty of house/boys handle candidates, and lots for other tools.

I thought I'd try making my first long tool handle from tree to axe. Here are a couple of photos of the blank. Side grain is nice and flat and there is a growth ring running right up the center on the back. Being green is carves like butter.
My question is, if I finish it green how can I help it stay straight and not warp sideways.
I've read that some spoon makers boil their green spoons and let them dry. This breaks down some of the "connective tissue" and keeps them from warping.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this.

I've also added a couple of pics of the cache of rounds I kept for the future. All of the unpainted stuff in the second picture is already cut into staves and stashed in my basement.

Thanks for any advice.

Rob

K9W1BqF.jpg


0o1Bmu6.jpg


JulllHb.jpg


H69NbNZ.jpg
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Looking at your first photo it looks like there may be the beginning of some spalting in that wood. That could explain its failure.
 
Bummer! What happened to the pear handle is not even remotely typical, usual or normal. I've seen this before with handles that have sat face down (in heads) on damp floors for 20+ years but that's all. Whatever you do don't give up though.
 
Hacked said:
I sincerely hope that you have better luck than me. I won't be using any fruit woods for handles in the future.

Broken Pear Handle by MJGEGB, on Flickr
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That is more or less what I would expect of a cherry wood axe handle. I once made a hammer handle from teak - lasted 1 day before breaking in normal use, in the exact same place and the exact same pattern. There was nothing wrong with that wood, cherry simply does not have the shear strength for an axe handle.

Not all species are destined to be handles - some have other great attributes - rot resistance with teak, beauty with cherry - but those attributes do not a suitable handle make. Other species, like alder, have virtually no redeeming characteristics.
 
Alder at least splits exceptionally easy. In fact, if you simply show it an axe it falls in half all by itself. This is why it is almost always the featured wood in any wood splitting video. Who doesn't look like a master splitter when they're splitting alder? I could baton a butter knife through our local red alder.
 
I'm due to finish one. I'm halfway through forming a 24" hand riven and hewn hickory handle, but I put it aside months ago and the remaining forming is going to be real work. I'm not looking forward to it but its a super piece of air dried wood with both colors and perfect grain. I already have a nice old 2lb R. King head lined up for it. So many hours, can't ever sell this one. Next time I'm getting it closer to shape while green.
 
Square_peg said:
Alder at least splits exceptionally easy. In fact, if you simply show it an axe it falls in half all by itself. This is why it is almost always the featured wood in any wood splitting video. Who doesn't look like a master splitter when they're splitting alder? I could baton a butter knife through our local red alder.
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Haha! I hadn't thought of that, fair enough!

I've mostly run across the stuff as a cheap furniture wood... horrible stuff to work, though it can finish nicely.
 
Alder mills were a staple around the Southern/Mid Oregon coast for quite a while.
 
It's fast growing and grows in nitrogen poor soil thanks to its symbiotic relationship with Frankia alni, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium. It was a common pulpwood before they started farmimg poplar for pulp. It's still harvested for pulp.
 
jblyttle said:
I'm due to finish one. I'm halfway through forming a 24" hand riven and hewn hickory handle, but I put it aside months ago and the remaining forming is going to be real work. I'm not looking forward to it but its a super piece of air dried wood with both colors and perfect grain. I already have a nice old 2lb R. King head lined up for it. So many hours, can't ever sell this one. Next time I'm getting it closer to shape while green.
Click to expand...

Got a spokeshave?

Handle shaping by MJGEGB, on Flickr

You have to be careful with Hickory with the grain direction as it loves to tear out, but with a bit of practice a spokeshave can speed up the process drastically. The above handle started off as a club so big I couldn't even wrap my hands around it. Link 36" wax finish in case anyone is wondering. Might as well have been a handle blank.
 
Hacked said:
Got a spokeshave?

Handle shaping by MJGEGB, on Flickr

You have to be careful with Hickory with the grain direction as it loves to tear out, but with a bit of practice a spokeshave can speed up the process drastically. The above handle started off as a club so big I couldn't even wrap my hands around it. Link 36" wax finish in case anyone is wondering. Might as well have been a handle blank.
Click to expand...
Yes, and I have run into the tear out problem. I think that I need to sharpen and fine tune the spokeshave.
 
You get grain shift in hickory. Keep the spoke shave set shallow and keep it exceptionally sharp. Stop immediately when you feel it grab and reverse direction into that spot. You have to be careful but the spokeshave will yield great results in hickory.
 
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