Handle Material Idea, and What's that plant called?

Grease

Grease

Joined
May 10, 2012
Messages
1,812
I've been toying around with a handle idea for the past few days. I have these old shrubs in my back yard that are attempting to become trees. I've noticed that when they get to be about the right size for use as an axe/hawk handle, they are almost impossible to break. And if you do somehow find a way to break it, they don't just snap - they splinter and hold on for dear life, which would be a much safer way to break an axe than having it snap off and go flying.

Anyone recognize this thing, or know the name of it? I can't for the life of me remember what it's called.

2012-06-29-15-55-37.jpg


The wood is extremely hard, and if cut properly and allowed to season it becomes virtually unbreakable. I've used a 1.5" thick piece as a bat, I've whacked it on the edge of concrete, etc. It refuses to break in any way. You can cut 75% of the way through it and it'll fight you to the bitter end as you try to snap it in half. I'm thinking it would be great for a handle material.

It's also a nice cream/white color when debarked, and feels nice and smooth.
 
Last edited:
It has some of the attributes that a handle needs to be good. How large (diameter) does it get? How much flex does it have? Does the wood have chemicals that irritate the skin? Does it vibrate when you hit something with it? A good handle material needs to transmit the energy to the head of the ax (efficiency) and dampen the vibration of the strike (usability). It also needs to be large enough to hang an ax head on. I'd guess I'm missing something. Because of the size, I'd guess your wood might be better for making a primitive bow with.
 
Last edited:
Bo T said:
It has some of the attributes that a handle needs to be good. How large (diameter) does it get? How much flex does it have? Does the wood have chemicals that irritate the skin? Does it vibrate when you hit something with it? A good handle material needs to transmit the energy to the head of the ax (efficiency) and dampen the vibration of the strike (usability). It also needs to be large enough to hang an ax head on. I'd guess I'm missing something. Because of the size, I'd guess your wood might be better for making a primitive bow with.
Click to expand...

The stuff in my back yard was pushing 30 feet tall and 4 inches thick when I moved in. We chopped it back, but it's still huge. It can definitely get big enough for an axe handle. Little to no flex when thicker, and doesn't vibrate much when struck on hard surfaces. I've handled it a ton and haven't noticed anything resembling chemical irritation. Obviously what I need to do is just chop a piece off, and make a handle out of it so I can actually test it...

And it does make decent bowstaff material ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top