snow and nealley mini maul?

disduster · Mar 9, 2009

anyone have any experiences with the snow and nealley mini maul. i have had one for years and only uses it a few times. I bought it with the kindling axe, have used that a lot over the years with much success. recently i noticed losse heads on both of them some i figured hey lets rehandle them, i have experience hanging a axe so no big deal. so i set out for the task. so to my surprise both had metal wedges as the only wedge in them,thankfully i got the handles off without damaging them. i won't go into detail about how i got them out the pics will tell that. the point to this post is the minimaul as issues, the eye is all fubared. in removing the handles i discovered what seemed like opoxy and fiberboard filling space where handle or steel should be, the shape and state of the eye is ungodly as you can see in the pics. is it just poor manufacturing? i don't know. the question is how should i go about fixing this. send it back or try to do it myself. i have some ideas myself on what i should do but i want to know any of the opinions of fellow axemen out there.

Dusty One · Mar 10, 2009

Man that is messed up. Woundering if something could be welded in there and reshaped.
Good luck...Show results later ?

Dave Costin · Mar 10, 2009

Oh wow! That really is messed up. I would try to send back first. If that didn't work then i would visit my friend at the local welding shop. I just don't have the tools to properly repair that but I think it could be done. Worst case, you could put it back together using new wedge and some epoxy. It must have worked the first time.

Smash05 · Mar 10, 2009

I would call Snow and Neally and explain the situation, see what they have to say about it. It shouldn't have left the shop like that.

disduster · Mar 10, 2009

thanks for the opinions guys, i think im going to try to fix it first. i believe i can do it. jb weld to fill then regrind eye for exact fit i will keep this thread up to date on progress. either way it will be a learning experience:thumbup:

SamuraiDave · Mar 10, 2009

Looks like they had a problem when they cast the head.

Im interested in the outcome.

rlcanon · Mar 11, 2009

Is that cast or forged? To me it almost looks like a cutting torch was used to burn out the handle and got into the head in the process.

disduster · Mar 12, 2009

the website says that its forged carbon steel, and i got the handle off with a benchvise, elbow grease and paitents. didn't even damage handle in process

Dogwood · Mar 12, 2009

Whatever you do, don't use it like that or jury rig a solution. Considering the kind of impacts a maul takes, that could be pretty dangerous (head flying off, etc.)

I would imagine Snow and Nealy would replace it as it clearly is a manufacturing defect.

Good luck!

COAL CREEK FORGE · Mar 12, 2009

disduster you don't get any satisfaction out of Snow & Nealy,just send it to me.I'll Fix it for ya and warrant my work.
Steve

markv · Mar 13, 2009

i have never seen anything like this.
epoxy is used for all sorts of handle gluing, but????
i use epoxy for certain situations.
i make most of my own handles and do fill in the small gaps with hard wood shims around the wedges ,
but ive never seen a maul eye or any other axe eye like this Snow & Neely
i would say give 'em a call and you will probably get a new maul. good pr for them
all good
buzz
thanks for posting this unusual freak

disduster · Mar 13, 2009

okay i think you all have convinced me i will shoot them a e-mail and try to get a replacement before i try to fix the old one. thanks:thumbup:

disduster · Mar 14, 2009

well i'm happy to report that snow and neally responded very quickly to my e-mail and are shipping me a new mini-maul on monday.fantastic, great service from these people. they said years ago they contracted a blacksmith to do some work and it "didn't go so well". so i'm getting a new maul and i will still have the old one fix or turn into a project of some sort. its a nice chunk of steel i believe their is a furture for it yet. i will post follow-up for sure with pics.:thumbup:

markv · Mar 16, 2009

figured Snow & Neely were stand up guys.
buzz

thefifth · Mar 18, 2009

Glad to here they fixed you up:thumbup:

I'd see about sending it off to Steve at COAL CREEK FORGE and then keep it as a back up or give it away.

I'd probably keep Steves and do what ever with the replacement.

Either way good for you.

disduster · Mar 19, 2009

i'll decide what i should do when i get the new one. i want to see what kind of construstion it has. but sending the old one off is a option floating around my head. this could turn out to be interesting.

disduster · Mar 21, 2009

well i got the new one, fast shipping always a plus. i was greeted with a new product.

as far as that goes, this mini-maul is 4 years newer then the other one.
the new one had un-even grinds and it looked like the same sort of construstion as the previous one. aluminum wedge and spacer material around handle in eye. the eye appears to be formed evenly. photos do some justice.

and now for some action!
i had some wood to buck so i took the mini-maul with me. it splits wood, better then a small hachet, not as well as something with a longer handle be it axe or maul.

after i split a few logs i noticed the opoxy? over the eye starting to come off.
revealing more of what i knew. i really don't care for this constructon. shape handle to fit thats what i say. all metal wedge, not it my book. but if the handle holds i will be pleased. i will continue to test it.

i don't want to call this min-maul a novelty but i don't want to call it practial either. i bought the snow&neally kindling gift set in my youth way before i had a clue about a lot of blade stuff. the penobscot bay kindling axe has seen use over the years some good some bad. i see some of those floating around here sometime, and it splits great too. the mini-maul is nice, but i usally use a 8 pound home depot maul. so doubt the mini-maul will gets lots of use. but it did make a great nutcracker.