My first handle making thread.

crbnSteeladdict said:
I am not sure what would be fair rate of exchange (just an idea), maybe try to barter freshly cut for dry hickory.
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That's actually good idea. I may be able to save some cash that way and also get my axes hung faster.
I just got don't quartering this log up. I'll probably try to go get some more logs out of the woods tomorrow. It's been bitter cold today and too windy to fell.

Also, I read somewhere that the heartwood wasn't used in handles so I split it out of the good material. Am I right to do it that way?
 
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Really good advice has already been given! The only thing I would add, if I didn't miss it is I would leave the bark on the staves for a few months to slow the drying rate as much as possible in the early stages. After the staves lose the bulk of their moisture the bark can be removed to speed the drying up a little.

You may experiment with a couple of staves by putting them in an attic in late spring,or early summer after quite a bit of the moisture has been lost. The hickory should be plenty dry enough for a handle by next winter if you were able to do that.

Here are the staves I split out a few years ago. As you can see, I removed the heartwood from the staves before I hauled them out.
 
Thanks again for all the help. I'll find some paint tomorrow. And I'll keep splitting More up and storing them.
I may try to source some dry wood local and make a few handles. Or I may even know where a kiln is if you guys think I could dry a few that way. Here is what I have so far

http://imgur.com/a/YcD846p

Those are about 2"x6" pieces and the heart woods is up at the top of the photo. The length of them is 45 inches
 
quinton said:
Really good advice has already been given! The only thing I would add, if I didn't miss it is I would leave the bark on the staves for a few months to slow the drying rate as much as possible in the early stages. After the staves lose the bulk of their moisture the bark can be removed to speed the drying up a little.

You may experiment with a couple of staves by putting them in an attic in late spring,or early summer after quite a bit of the moisture has been lost. The hickory should be plenty dry enough for a handle by next winter if you were able to do that.

Here are the staves I split out a few years ago. As you can see, I removed the heartwood from the staves before I hauled them out.
Click to expand...
I suspect that is white glue I see there to seal the ends? It's my standard operating procedure but I get a lot more debris stuck to the ends.
 
How does watering work for this hickory I wonder? Has anyone experience? With ash I am pleased with the result but wood species not being equal some don't take to watering at all, holly, which otherwise is a great handle wood, for example will just explode.
 
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I thought about Osage orange for some handles also just for the sake of trying different things but not sure how it would work.
 
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I would use osage for short handles, under say 28". But would use only hickory for a felling, bucking, splitting axe. I use osage for mallets, mauls, chisel handles, gluts, and commanders (heads only, with a hickory haft) Osage is harder to work, especially dry, than hickory. I like osage a lot, and wish I could still source it where I live now.
 
Anthony Va. said:
Thanks again for all the help. I'll find some paint tomorrow. And I'll keep splitting More up and storing them.
I may try to source some dry wood local and make a few handles. Or I may even know where a kiln is if you guys think I could dry a few that way. Here is what I have so far

http://imgur.com/a/YcD846p

Those are about 2"x6" pieces and the heart woods is up at the top of the photo. The length of them is 45 inches
Click to expand...
Hickory is best. That goes without saying. But i really like using red oak as well. It's only just under hickory for toughness in handles. And you can get larger flat stock and even true 2x4s at your local lumber store. At least i can and I'm in the boonies.
 
Digging this back up as it's been about a year since I split my Hickory up into staves. I've also worked one down roughly into shape. I'll get some pics later this evening if I can still remember how to post them.
I've got a nice old flint edge head to hang whenever I get the first one finished.
Hoping that they have dried enough in a year
 
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