Performance Wood

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
Messages
5,403
Some may contend that performance and wood are mutually exclusive.

And for many applications I would tend to agree.

But, I am going to have an axe made, and it will need a high quality tough wood handle.

So I am trying to decide if I should choose good old hickory or if I should consider other woods.

And while we are at it, let's talk about wood for knife handles, what it good? Ironwood, Ebony, Cocobolo? What wood has that requisite toughness to grace our handles?

Osage Orange

Maple, curly, fiddleback, tiger?

Lignum Vitae?

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Talonite Information and Resource Page, including other cobalt materials.

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
MDP,
For an axe handle that is going to be used,I would reccomend Hickory. Or as a fancy alternative, any of the woods used in makeing traditional bows would be great. An issue of Traditional Archery Magazine will put you in touch with suppliers of these woods.
As far as knife handles, 99% of what I use now is stabilized wood from mild to WILD
smile.gif

Neil

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Blackwood Knives
More knives in stock soon!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html
 
MDP.. the last battle axe I made had a handle of purple heart. It was a real bear to work but it came out looking great and stronger then hell. I have a piece in my shop that is 40 X 1.5 X 1 and I can put it across two concrete blocks and stand on it. The stuff is really tough. When you scorch it prior to final polishing it becomes a deep purple color that looks really good. Oh by the way, that axe head weighed 3 pounds and could split logs.

Jake

 
MDP..I made that battle axe to match a guys tattoo. It was a double bearded axe of 3/8" D2 (what HE wanted) with a brass skull mounted in the center. The purple heart handle was hex shaped to match a brass end cap that he provided. I put a machine turned
swirled finish on it, again, not my choice. The axe took six months of my spare time to produce as it was my first ever. I wish I had a photo of it, but it is long gone as it was stolen along with a 5 year collection of my work when that clients house was burgled.
This axe was all stock removal and not forged. I think what you have in mind needs to be forged and I'm not set up for that.
Also, I think you shuld consider doing a leather washer type handle on an axe like that. I have that on several Estwing tools I own and think its perfect.

Jake
 
Eye,
My favorite is Osage Orange (known as hedge in my neck of the woods). I've used it for bowie slabs and replacement handle for hand axes' when hickory handles were available. works fine, doesn't stain well, but totally durable.
 
I'd vote for Osage Orange. It is even tougher than Hickory and that's saying something. Given that many people make bows out of it with pulls up in the 70+ pound range, I'd say it's a good bet for most applications. I have what looks like a frail little hatchet with an Osage Orange handle made by Lee Reeves (great knifemaker, BTW), and it is virtually indestructable. A friend of mine has one also, and used his to chop some oak, which he said it did with ease. For a 12" long hatchet that's impressive, and the handle is only 1/2" thick at the neck.

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Jerry Hossom
knifemaker
www.hossom.com




[This message has been edited by GaKnife (edited 02-10-2000).]
 
Hmmm. As a woodcarver, I have played around with a great many woods. Its true that purple heart, lingam vitae, ironwood, etc. are Very dense. But the grain is not always straight. That is what gives them character and beauty, but will also decrease their flexibility for use as an axe handle.

I think what you need here is a medium density, straight grained wood. This will afford maximal torsional and longitudinal strength, and still retain some flexibility (a good thing in moderation). Hickory is a great choice. White oak would be my suggestion. Osange Orange if you can find it might work as well. I have my doubts about the strength of highly figured maple woods (curly, tiger, etc) and would not suggest them for serious working axes (especially large ones). I know that many moderns makers of tomahawks like to use tiger maple for handles. It's really gorgeous. Might be worth a try.

Paracelsus, wood knut
 
For impact tools, something with a straight grain. Hickory has worked for a long time.

For first-rate knife handles - Desert Ironwood! (Though in the northwest of the "old world" they swear by curly birch).


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Clint Eastwood said it best. "Ain't nothing like a good piece of hickory."
 
Would laminated wood like Diamondwood (sp?) work? I know Texas Knifemaker Supplies sells it in long lengths, up to 4 feet I belive.

Ryan

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23


 
Performance Woods? I thought this was going to be a thread about golf clubs. I guess you could swing that axe to hit some golf balls...and I'm sure people would let you play through.
smile.gif


~Mitch

p.s. sorry if that wasn't funny
smile.gif
it was supposed to be
smile.gif
 
For a knife handle, I like Desert Ironwood and Cocobolo. They are both dense and tough, and heavy. They don't seem to dry out very easily either and I've yet to see any warping on them.
I have a big respect for the woods that the Scandinavian people use on their knives as they have many centuries of experience to draw on and being a knife culture living in a relatively harsh and cold land(from what I've seen and read about. Never been there myself), it stands to reason that they have weeded out what doesn't work and stuck with what works. There's too much riding on their tools to use second rate materials on them, I would think.

Osage Orange, eh?
Think I need to check this stuff out.



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If it's stupid but works, then it isn't stupid!
 
Hickory is traditioal, but I haven't used any natural wood tougher then osage orange.
I used to use it for a drift to remove and seat sprockets on Xerox machines. It worked better then aluminum and didn't damage the sprockets.

I have a 1X6 board that's been sitting around for 15 years. It should be well seasoned. Sanding it is a bitch. The yellow dust sticks to everything and can stain your clothes.





[This message has been edited by UffDa (edited 02-11-2000).]
 
i dont know about axe handles but a lumber yard here has purpleheart up to 2x6x about 8 feet! big shipment of redheart too and this is the nicest figured wood i have seen in years. wish i used wood still. i could scan a piece if anyone is interested.

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Tim Herman
visit Herman Knives at:
Herman Knives

 
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