Norlund, purpleheart haft (WIP)

C

CedarEater

Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Messages
390
Bringing this Norlund from the "It followed me home" thread.

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I removed the haft. I didn't like what I found. I am pretty sure its not the original haft anyway.

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I located a hunk of nice looking purpleheart that looked like it would work nicely for a haft.

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Why purple heart you might ask? Well, because I have it and I think it will look cool with this pattern.
Besides, if I don't like it when its done I can make a new one out of something else.
Anyway, I cut it out with the bandsaw and belt sander and rough fit the haft blank to the head.

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Until next time...
 
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awesome! How long is this going to be, overall?
And how long do you expect it to take your purpleheart to purple-up? I have used some OLD purpleheart on a knife handle and it was purple all the way through. But I got some newer stuff, and it's only purple on the surface and turns color slowly over time.

-Daizee
 
daizee said:
awesome! How long is this going to be, overall?
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It will be 18" overall. However, I am thinking about abandoning the purple heart and stretching out the template to 24". I did a brief search last night and found that the Norlund "Tomahawk Axe" came with a 24" haft and looked like this one. I borrowed this pic from another forum, hope they don't mind.

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Who am I kidding? I will be finishing the purple heart and see how it feels. Then maybe I will think about doing a 24". That will probably be a project for after my boys (7 and 9) destroy the purple heart haft.

daizee said:
And how long do you expect it to take your purpleheart to purple-up? I have used some OLD purpleheart on a knife handle and it was purple all the way through. But I got some newer stuff, and it's only purple on the surface and turns color slowly over time.
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I am pretty sure its as purple as it is going to get. It has been kicking around the shop for idk how many years and was the same color all the way through. What you are seeing is mostly rough sawn with the bandsaw and burn marks from where I hit it lightly with a very dull table belt sander belt. I gave up on smoothing out the blank with the belt sander because the belt is so wasted.

What do you suggest using to seal the purple heart? I was going to go with BLO but if there is something else that would work better to show off the color I am open to suggestions.

Please feel free to post up a pic of that knife here, I would like to see your finished knife handle.
 
CedarEater said:
What do you suggest using to seal the purple heart? I was going to go with BLO but if there is something else that would work better to show off the color I am open to suggestions.

Please feel free to post up a pic of that knife here, I would like to see your finished knife handle.
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I used Tru-Oil, but that might leave too slick a surface for a swinging tool. It shows off the color nicely and can be re-applied when it wears without doing a full finish tear-down.

That little knife isn't gallery-worthy. ;-)

This was very early in my knifemaking career. It's a tiny O1 utility knife. Not sure if this is before or after Tru-oil.

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-Daizee
 
CedarEater said:
What do you suggest using to seal the purple heart? I was going to go with BLO but if there is something else that would work better to show off the color I am open to suggestions.
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I'm liking Tung oil really well these days. 4-6 coats builds up a nice protective finish and brings out the color. Some of my stuff is getting 3 coats of BLO followed by 3 coats of Tung. In fact, that system would have that old handle you removed as good as new. The BLO absorbs deep and restores/revives/preserves old dried out wood. Then coat it with tung for looks, protection and grip.
 
Figured I should get going on this one.

My woman snuck up on me and got this action photo of me shaping this haft. Here I am putting the final touches on it with the cabinet scraper before sanding.
I have a feeling a vise would make life so much easier.

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Implements of destruction and the finished haft. Well, mostly finished anyway. Still need to fit it properly and then I can hang it.

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Don't worry Pegs I have plans for the old haft. It will get used.
 
it's looking great, but you need a vise and a workbench in the worst way!
Sunday is flea market day. :D
 
looks great, and I think purple heart is a great wood for a axe handle. Careful; I have heard purple heart dust is not very good for you.
 
Square_peg said:
You sure do nice work.
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Thank you. Patience and interest is all that it is.

Now, its off to the shop to fit and hang it then the oiling will begin. The shop has work benches and tables and everything I need at my disposal but sometimes I like to pull up a chair in the enclosed porch, leave the door open and be around my family when doing the more tedious work.
 
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I clamped a couple boards to the haft to hold it stable and square to the table. Used the drill press to drill a hole where I wanted the kerf to end. Then I cut the kerf with the bandsaw. This really made the kerf work much easier than trying to hold the haft by hand.

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Next I needed to fine tune the fit of the haft to the eye. Pretty straight forward.

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Wedged it with hard rock maple.

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I like being able to choose the grain orientation

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Looks accetable.

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Feels good.

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She is done.

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And ready for a bath.

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Not sure what I will use her for. Took a few swings after I hung it and she chops quite nice, clean deep cuts.
I am pleased with her so far. Will post up more pics when her finish is done.
 
Nice work man! Thanks for showing the progression too. That was neat. The one thing I've never done is carve out my own handle. It always looks like a fun project and seeing threads like this makes me want to try it. That wood turned out nice and definitely gave a unique look to it.
 
Thanks for the WIP man, looks like she turned out great. Nice grain orientation.

Do you find the purple heart to be noticeably heavier than a traditional hickory handle?
 
gregorio said:
Do you find the purple heart to be noticeably heavier than a traditional hickory handle?
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I thought it would be heavier since the chunks of purpleheart seemed to be noticeably heavier than the hard rock maple of similar size. Once I got all the fat shaved off though it didn't seem akwardly heavy or anything. In fact, I completely forgot that weight had been one of my concerns. I didn't really compare the weights of the finished haft with the old hikory one but since I always had the hickory one around while shaping the new one I am thinking they weigh pretty similar.

It feels good and the balance point is about in line with the heel of the bit.
 
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