Modifying fiskars hatchet handle?

[The Zieg]

OP, use sandpaper. Not heat or water. You won't really reshape it to your liking without removing material. And don't use power tools to remove handle material unless you're very good at it. You'll likely take too much off. But a rasp would work well if you need to be aggressive. Good luck and keep us posted here.

Zieg

 

[oldmanron]

I would not want to change one thing about my Fiskars X7.

Other than a sheath that has a much smaller footprint. Or ... better yet ... simultaneously offering a mass-produced minimalist Kydex jobbie (for the fast-and-light-crowd) for another $3.

- the complete X7 package (with the clunky but idiot-proof sheath) is a huge deal almost everywhere in Canada ... less than $30 at Canadian Tires's frequent 20%-off sales. $30! With a lifetime in-store replacement guarantee ...

- the wedge shape makes it a flying scalpel ... basic physics ...

- it arrives hair-shaving sharp, and can be kept that 99% that way with the cheesy little proprietary $10 Fiskars carbide sharpener ... five minutes and no talent needed. Add a small stone, and in three minutes you're shaving again.

- Design? It could/should be in the MOMO in NYC.

An unreal bargain that some folks "sniff at" because it just seems too good to be true. It's actually true.

Don't cut yourself.

 

[thebrain]

I have not modded a fiskars. I know what you mean about the new model handle end being huge and uncomfortable . I had to find the old model for my spare just to be sure of my future comfort. I would bet boiling water and gloves could fix your problem. I'm not sure what these other posters are guessing and crap talking for ;the hollow handles are not really stock removal mod-able, but they are strong and durable.

 

[Lieblad]

Given the long time between the OP and now. I wonder what became of that modification?
Fwiw, Its been a while since I played with a Fiskars, dunno what type of plastic it is. If its a thermoplastic, I seriously doubt boiling water is hot enough. I think about 375°f quite possibly higher. If thermoset plastic, its not gonna soften.

 

[Shotgun]

I like that analogy! Every rent-a-cop and bona-fide cop in n. America now carries a Glock and these can be emptied at targets almost akin to working a machine gun but I'll bet 'dying art' traditional armourers never see them. Police and security firm budgets likely toss these out and buy new every 5,000 rounds or 5 years (or so) rather than being bothered trying to maintain or fix them.
Some of the old police issue Webleys, Colts and Smith & Wesson revolvers I have seen over the years look to have reliably served for the lifetime career of the officer to which it had been issued. Unlikely anyone will ever be able to say that about a hi-tech polymer plastic pistol.

We get it. You like old stuff. Just note that modern polymers are different then the crap plastic from the 70's. I feel that they're superior to metal frame pistols. And I believe that a fiskars will do as you say and be serviceable when he finally hangs up his axe swinging.

 

[Steve Tall]

...Its been a while since I played with a Fiskars, dunno what type of plastic it is. If its a thermoplastic, I seriously doubt boiling water is hot enough. I think about 375°f quite possibly higher. If thermoset plastic, its not gonna soften.

According to the linked report in the Fiskars Axe Production Details thread, the Fiskars axe handles are "Polyamide 6 with 30% glass fiber".

Polyamide 6 is also called Nylon 6 which is a thermoplastic and (according to Wikipedia),
"The 428 °F (220 °C) melting point of nylon 6 is lower than the 509 °F (265 °C) melting point of nylon 66."

 

[Hickory n steel]

Well this thread has been dead for quite a while!

Has anyone here ever seen a cartoon called back at the barnyard on nickelodeon ? It was based on the animated movie called barnyard and has been off the air since about 2010. ( yes I always have and always will watch cartoons )
Anyways I bring this up because in one episode an axe is shown, but the funny part is that the axe was literally a fiskars but the handle looks like wood.
I know this is totally off topic, but it's not like the fiskars axes are worth modifying anyways