Seymour handles - thin

D

dongotto

Joined
Nov 27, 2015
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I like handles to be on the thin side. Lately I've been finding Seymour brand from Indiana and they are a lot thinner and feel nicer in the hand then other Handles in my area including house. So if you like thinner handles and come across the Seymour made in Indiana give them a look.
 
My prior experience with the Seymour/O.P. Link handles has been that they were pretty thick, but perhaps they've changed things. Quality of the wood was always top notch, though, and I'd rather have too much wood than not enough.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
My prior experience with the Seymour/O.P. Link handles has been that they were pretty thick, but perhaps they've changed things. Quality of the wood was always top notch, though, and I'd rather have too much wood than not enough.
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I also find most link handles to be thick, but I like that because the classic shapes are lost and fat handles give me room to reshape them.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I also find most link handles to be thick, but I like that because the classic shapes are lost and fat handles give me room to reshape them.
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Exactly! Gives you more three-dimensional space to tweak the form to your liking that way.
 
My experience has been the opposite. Of all the commonly available brands- House, Link, Truper, Ames, Do It Best etc, the Link handles always seem to be the slimmest.
 
Here in the NW I find a surprisingly high number of nice Link handles for boy's axes and cruisers. The full size stuff is just mediocre. But it seems there's always a few gems amongst the smaller stock.
 
It may be a matter of the grade, too. The ones I've gotten have always been their code "02" grade, which is "government A grade" hickory with a waxed finish.
 
The handle I got for my 14oz ball peen feels fine and not too fat, but that's the only one.
I've heard about the different grades ( I think they're distinguished by label color ) but I've never seen anything other than the blue labels that I buy.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
It may be a matter of the grade, too. The ones I've gotten have always been their code "02" grade, which is "government A grade" hickory with a waxed finish.
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Just to follow that up:
28324406254_78b02fee60_b.jpg


There is further description of the grades, but no mention of thickness.

From catalog: https://www.toolsandsuppliesforless.net/media/catalogs/Link_Catalog.pdf#page=004

Bob
 
This arrived today, it was less than $11 shipped. Grain orientation will be a roll of the dice, but I have to say that it is MUCH slimmer than it's House equivalent, and more importantly, these are consistently and symmetrically shaped.

 
Picked up these at the local ACE Hardware, boys was 12$ and the other 2 were 6$ each.

 
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jblyttle said:
This arrived today, it was less than $11 shipped. Grain orientation will be a roll of the dice, but I have to say that it is MUCH slimmer than it's House equivalent, and more importantly, these are consistently and symmetrically shaped.
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Your loyalty to HH products is beginning to wane, I take it? I just picked up a Link maul handle that is 'thick as a brick'.
 
300Six said:
Your loyalty to HH products is beginning to wane, I take it? I just picked up a Link maul handle that is 'thick as a brick'.
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It was never loyalty, I purchased 3-4 times and always just wanted them to get it right. I like the prices and variety, they had my business guaranteed if they could only complete an order without shipping defects. I wanted them to succeed, I really did. I tried to give them more than enough chances, and they just drove me away. I tried.
 
Try baker pro tool handles. Got it at Menards, it is just like an original handle and needed no shaping what so ever. I mean none. No shaping. At. All. Just sanded to remove the lacquer and the grain was good to. Other then that, we got O.P Link handles locally and they are misshaped warped baseball bats not axe handles.
 
I like those Baker handles too. I wish Menards would stock other sizes instead of just 36 inch handles.
 
Just for reference the boy's axe haft in pic #11 is 13/16 X 1 5/16" at the label. IMHO this feels good to me.
 
I have one got it from ACE Hardware for a hatchet.
Mine is thin but I had to search through everyone before I found one with good grain.
 
I've picked up a couple Link boy's axe handles, and they seem better shaped than the full sized ones.

I am convinced that good grain orientation is entirely accidental with all the major suppliers, like they don't intend to let any leave the factory. I generally try to buy any good handles I see to keep on hand for future projects. I've looked through hundreds of handles in dozens of stores, and I have ONE at home now.
 
I picked up a red label link full size single bit yesterday at ace hardware. They only had one but it was very nice sap wood with almost perfect grain orientation and a really good thickness. I told the check out guy this was the last one and he said yes we only carry one or two at time and just replace them as needed. I said that's to bad cause people can't look through them to pick out what works best for them.
 
the possum said:
. . .
I am convinced that good grain orientation is entirely accidental with all the major suppliers, like they don't intend to let any leave the factory. . .
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I think they may try to start with straight grained logs, but once the manufacturing starts the end product is basically as you say accidental,

Here is an example of one factory. It's Beaver-Tooth handle Co (http://beaver-tooth.com/). Hickory Handle Store on ebay.
29081199322_d6f1d97e0f_c.jpg


Here they are cutting the logs into boards. They, of course, want to get the most out of each log as they can. Notice the board just cut on the right. The width, grain orientation, knots, etc. of the handles is now determined.
28565272354_33631bca01_c.jpg


Here they will cut the boards into handle blanks.
29081197712_db6dc7a9ef_c.jpg


Next they mount the blanks on the lathe.
28565270794_2589e1c735_c.jpg

The whole video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy-sY1a5L0k

The handles are sold by grade:

Handle Grades

The Beaver Tooth Handle Co. has our own unique grading system for Hickory, Ash, and Oak tool handles. We base our grades on the absence of defects in the wood and in some cases the color of the wood when dealing with hickory. Hickory Sap wood is generally white and hart wood is reddish brown. Grades are not based on the grain orientation in any species of wood with a couple of exceptions. If a handle is listed as "select" then it will have grain running parallel to the cutting edge, not to differ more than 45 degrees by visual inspection. (long axe handles only). These are only available on a limited bases and are the most expensive handles offered. The best handles demand the highest prices, while lower grades sell for a discount. We generally try to send the best grain we can but it is limited and we can not guarantee grades other than our "select".Our grades are as follows

AAW, AW, White Hickory Sapwood handle of second growth. Can allow for tips to have some red wood. Free of defects. Can allow small amount of streaking. Wax or plain finish will be listed. (Our "Select" grade are taken from these handles).

BR, This can be a handle with small defects including bird peaks, solid closed knots, some streaking etc. The wood and can be white, mixed red and white, or all red. Finish can be waxed, lacquered or plain depending on stock.

Flame or Fire Finish hickory is darker in color (flame hardened) and has a lacquer finish.

#2 Grade handles can be any color of wood and will have some sort of blemish. It can be a bow, twist, chip, crack, knot, bug hole etc. These are considered to a good usable handle, but of course have some sort of blem. and are sold at a discount. No choice of finish. No sorting for grain direction whatsoever.

#3 Grade handles are the lowest grade we have and all have some sort of defect that could render the handle not serviceable for intended use or limited use. No choice of finish.

Ash handles are generally a white to creamy white wood waxed or plain finish.

Oak, can be red or white.

Any type of wood can have some grayish mineral staining or spotting from time to time. This fairly uncommon most of the time.

Finish abbreviations. Waxed = WX. Finish Sanded = PL. Lacquered = Lq. Fire Finish = FF

Disclaimers: The video is only for information. I have never used or seen any of their handles.

Bob

House Handle Axe Handles on Klotz Lathe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB8pKR2Nnb4
 
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