Link handles

RedFury

RedFury

Joined
Jun 17, 2015
Messages
325
Is anybody else struggling to get Link handles? I have purchased before with no difficulty but now several attempts via the web site have failed. I also tried by phone and they didn't seem thrilled to get a call and shunted me off to somebody's voice mail.

Is there a way to get this excellent product line ?

thanks
 
I can't remember where I saw it, so take it with a grain of salt, but I believe that I did see that Link is struggling. That could be a direct result of being dropped by Ace, I don't know.

But I think it's pretty clear that the Trupers will sell even less than the Links did, and then there won't be any axe handles at all at Ace. I haven't walked into a tractor supply with replacement axe handles for years.

That said, it seems there's a small cottage industry popping up of small handle makers. Had Link been making their handles consistently well that mightn't have happened. Because now they're fighting a war on two fronts, and I doubt they'll come out on top. House handle and Tennessee hickory should probably pay attention.
 
The specific handles i needed were on Amazon. Yes, Link handles on Amazon. We shall see what arrives in a day or two.

Meanwhile, I stumbled onto BeaverTooth handles. That looks to be my kind of place so I will try them when the urge hits me.

I have some nice pitchforks and cant hooks that need handles. BTW I never figured why a cant hook is called that until today.

I have a load of cypress logs out in the field which I neglected for too long. I still don't have time to mill it and don't have a specific project that needs it anyway (although my wife just bought 5 more cows and thinks i need to rebuild the working chute)
So as a stop gap measure I'm throwing them on the mill and getting rid of the sap wood leaving me with a 6X6 or 8X8 to store under cover until needed. Guess what those square timbers are called???? CANTS. What do you flip them with??? A CANT HOOK.
 
Our local tractor supply still carries link. 2 of the three lumber stores still carry link and one has switched to truper. Not to mention HD with the 36" Ames. But way up here at the northeast end of the country we're the last to catch the paradigm shifts. So I'm glad I've got you guys in the civilized parts to let me know what's coming. Haha.
I just wish one of them would stock hickory. I'd just go ape shit once I'm healed up n make a few dozen.
 
RedFury said:
The specific handles i needed were on Amazon. Yes, Link handles on Amazon. We shall see what arrives in a day or two.

Meanwhile, I stumbled onto BeaverTooth handles. That looks to be my kind of place so I will try them when the urge hits me.

I have some nice pitchforks and cant hooks that need handles. BTW I never figured why a cant hook is called that until today.

I have a load of cypress logs out in the field which I neglected for too long. I still don't have time to mill it and don't have a specific project that needs it anyway (although my wife just bought 5 more cows and thinks i need to rebuild the working chute)
So as a stop gap measure I'm throwing them on the mill and getting rid of the sap wood leaving me with a 6X6 or 8X8 to store under cover until needed. Guess what those square timbers are called???? CANTS. What do you flip them with??? A CANT HOOK.
Click to expand...
;););)
 
I've really only had good luck with Link handles as far as being able to reliably find good shaped handles. Luckily my local ace carries 32" handles, though I would prefer 30".

I've not had good luck ordering handles. I ordered a bunch from House when I was getting started with axes - based on lots of recommendations, but even when you pay for hand picked at least half are twisted or bent and hard to impossible to get the head to align straight with the shaft. Definitely never pay for house to give your handle the octagon treatment. they seem to always cut the flats with a twist. also, the house handles don't have much of a flare at the knob - and also constrict way too much at the throat before the knob. here is a pic of one I got from them. of the last batch of 6 I got I had maybe one that was usable.


I've looked at the beaver tooth website, but the selection seems limited, and for some reason they like to keep handles listed that have been out of stock for years, which for some reason if very annoying to me.

also, someone here was a big fan of Tennessee hickory handle - and there is one online seller that carries them. I tried to order about 6 handles form them last year. I placed the order online. Waited maybe a month or two. nothing. I think I called or emailed - can't remember now - but I remember thinking that I wasn't going to get any handles from them. Then about a month later, a box showed up with two handles. I had ordered at least 6. received 2. and only one of those was a handle that I had actually ordered. I didn't even bother calling. Figured it wasn't worth my time. The two handles were absolute clubs - which is exactly what the member here to likes them said about them - lots of material - and to consider them a blank to finish yourself - which is about right. but the quality of the wood seemed good.

anyways, I've been burned too many times on ordering handles. hit or miss. mostly miss. hopefully ace will keep stocking the 32" link handles because they are actually pretty nice. good shape, great swell at the knob. a little thinning and you have a really good handle. Their 36" handles are HUGE. SO fat. but the 28" boys axe handles are pretty nice though.

oh, and I've gotten a couple of really nice handles at the local DO IT BEST - not sure who they get their handles from, but they are pretty nice, especially the 28" handles - very slim.
 
Yup the handle came from Amazon and it bears the Link sticker but it aint like the last link handle. I have Campbell axes with handles like this. Looks like it was sawn from a 2x4 and sanded down. Flat sides don’t feel good in hand. No more Link from Amazon
 
Fmont said:
I can't remember where I saw it, so take it with a grain of salt, but I believe that I did see that Link is struggling. That could be a direct result of being dropped by Ace, I don't know.

But I think it's pretty clear that the Trupers will sell even less than the Links did, and then there won't be any axe handles at all at Ace. I haven't walked into a tractor supply with replacement axe handles for years.

That said, it seems there's a small cottage industry popping up of small handle makers. Had Link been making their handles consistently well that mightn't have happened. Because now they're fighting a war on two fronts, and I doubt they'll come out on top. House handle and Tennessee hickory should probably pay attention.
Click to expand...

Man i fully agree and you stated this perfectly



RedFury said:
Yup the handle came from Amazon and it bears the Link sticker but it aint like the last link handle. I have Campbell axes with handles like this. Looks like it was sawn from a 2x4 and sanded down. Flat sides don’t feel good in hand. No more Link from Amazon
Click to expand...

Hi guys...just wanted to make mention what i have been experiencing here with the Link handles in my true value hardwares. They have been 1X2 blanks basically with full runout, perpendicular grain alignment and since i have stopped buying the axe handles from my two local...it seems the same bad handles are hanging there, still a year later. I could order thru my favorite mom and pop, but i would feel obligated to buy it no matter its condition due to the nice relationship i have there.
My lumber yard just over the line in MA. Sell Link, and i have had luck there. Perhaps its time i go grab a slab of dark walnut and or some birch for wedges, check out the Link rack.
 
I know Square Peg basically told one of the co.'s how to stay in business when he tried to have B&O spec (if I recall correctly) handles made and they said no. Maybe they're worried about dimensional stability. I don't know. But I know the demand is there for a decent handle, otherwise there wouldn't be Whiskey River, or Beavertooth, or a line of Hoffman handles, etc.

I'd pay more for a Link if they were consistently well made. Am I alone? I doubt it. As they reduce in production volume maybe they can increase quality and keep the doors open.
 
I had to pick up something from my local ACE hardware store today, so I figured I'd check out the axe handle situation.

THE HORROR!!!

:eek::eek::eek::(:(:(:(:mad::mad::mad::mad:

It wasn't pretty!

ALL of the axe and other tool handles have been switched over to the trooper crap - except the 32" full size and the 28" curiser axe handles. Those trooper handles are horrid. They had I think 5, 32" link handles, of which two were pretty good. I'll have to go back after Christmas and pick up those two for safe keeping.

Does anyone know the difference in the label colors for the Link handles? the 32" handles are Green, while the cruiser handles have red labels. They are asking $22.something for the 32" handles. A few months ago I think they were in the $15-$18 range (can't remember exactly). I think the price changed at the same time they started switching to the Trooper handles.

This is all very concerning :(
 
Fmont said:
I know Square Peg basically told one of the co.'s how to stay in business when he tried to have B&O spec (if I recall correctly) handles made and they said no. Maybe they're worried about dimensional stability.
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Steve Tall and I were gonna split ten dozen, bring in a few other forum members.

I gave them specs and paid to have a couple 32” prototypes cut. They weren’t to spec - more like their stock product and they were unwilling to attempt to do better.
 
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