If you purchase an axe or hammer handle from McMaster-Carr...

[blasto9000]

...they will probably be LINK handles (Seymour Manufacturing Co).

At least the ones I ordered were... a 14" hatchet handle and hammer handle for 2 lb. ball pein.

Just passing it along because McMaster never tells you what brand of product you're getting!

 

[300Six]

What I don't get from this post, so far, is whether this is an endorsement or a condemnation of manufacturer LINK or distributor McMaster-Carr... Wood is wood and there are many layers/facets of competent people that have to be involved from start to finish in order to provide a simple but decent product. And the criterion for decent product has been slipping gradually over the past 40 years.

 

[blasto9000]

Neither. Just an FYI that Link is available from McMaster.

McMaster is a good, fast, reliable source for hardware. Unfortunately they don't list the brands in their catalog.

This is a discussion board isn't it? Would you rather this detail have been kept to myself?

 

[Square_peg]

Thanks for the post. Link is reputable but like every maker grain varies. Several of us have noticed that Link's cruiser and boy's axe handles tend to be a little nicer than their full size axe handles. No idea why - just passing it along.

 

[killa_concept]

Thanks for the post. Link is reputable but like every maker grain varies. Several of us have noticed that Link's cruiser and boy's axe handles tend to be a little nicer than their full size axe handles. No idea why - just passing it along.

If by nicer you mean requires less thinning down, I'm in agreement. This was the case with both the Link handles I found at a local Ace hardware as well as some Tennessee Hickory Handles I purchased online. It used to perplex me too until I saw a particular sledge handle at Ace that I had to give some thought. As it stood it was probably fine, but you can see how it could have been an issue if they lathed the handle thinner:

So yeah - it's probably a matter of liability: the thicker the handle, the less perfect the grain orientation can be for the handle to still maintain overall integrity. Or to be more specific, the thinner the handle the more likely a run-out might go all the way across a handle (where-as it might have only went halfway and straightened out on a fatter one). We have to take into account that they do churn these handles out and can't visually inspect every single one so its better to be safe than sorry. The chance of catastrophic failure is a lot more likely on a 3.5-8 lb head than it is on a 2-2.5 lb head, so they probably figure they can make their boy's axe handles nice and slim but its better to leave their full sized handles safe and fat.

Most consumers would probably leave the above handle alone and use it as is and be fine. The savvier of us would probably know to pass on the handle or to shave down more on the right side rather than the left. If they aren't and go ahead with it, then the company isn't exactly liable when it was the consumer who altered the handle...

 

[Square_peg]

Good explanation, Killa.