How about some other wood species for re-handling

T

trailmaker

Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
506
I've been thinking about making some handles from scratch but I've got no Hickory on my property. My local wood is mostly coast live oak, Madrone, Doug Fir, and Redwood. Does anyone have any ideas or experience on how these species would perform as an axe handle?
 
If there are any Ash trees in your neck of the woods, I'd use that. I've also made tool handles out of local oak. Don't know about madrone. I'd skip the softwoods like fir and redwood.

A relevant quote about "weak" wood handles:

"...That handle is made out of a non-seasoned [birch] branch less than 3 inches diameter from a white birch tree which I had just cut for firewood...At its slimmest section it is 18mm thick, by the way....we’ve used that little ax rather extensively ever since...
The chief point of this story: A functional ax handle does not always need to be made of what is considered first class wood. The handle being discussed here has 3 major knots (seen from both sides) and 2 minor knots – a flaw that every handle-making how-to source would consider a serious no-no. In addition, white birch is considerably weaker than ash or sugar maple, never mind hickory..."
--from Peter Vido's blog http://axeconnected.blogspot.com/search/label/Handle%20wood%20type
 
Of what you listed, Oak would be best suited in my opinion. White oak more so than red oak, although red oak would likely suffice. I have used ash, sugar maple and black locust because that's what I have locally. I'm sure you can find something that will work out.
 
G-pig said:
Of what you listed, Oak would be best suited in my opinion. White oak more so than red oak, although red oak would likely suffice. I have used ash, sugar maple and black locust because that's what I have locally. I'm sure you can find something that will work out.
Click to expand...

Any pics of the black locust handle? That's a cool wood.

Matt
 
I don't have any BL handles at the moment. I have used it before a couple of times and it was suitable. I scrapped my last one because I didn't like the shape, no fault of the wood.
 
Black locust is really a great wood for axe handles since it is extremely tough. I have rehandled tomahawks with BL and they hold up great.

The wood itself has a yellowish tint to it, but darkens a lot over time, because it contains large amounts of tannic acid. In the end it will look a dark gold-brown.


Ookami
 
Thanks for all of the input. I may just try a couple of different species and see how they turn out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top