What did you rehang today?

COS,, $20 does seem a little high but not by much. I was actually looking at a sledge hammer handle last night at Tractor Supply. Truper Branded, $11.95, I wasn't terribly impressed with the quality so I left it sitting. I have been looking for a single bit straight handle for a Kelly TT Hoosier pattern. I looked at our local lumber yard a couple weeks ago. Their display was way in the back of one of the warehouses. Just happened to run on to it. $16.95 for the single bit handle. I gently eased it back so I wouldn't disturb the dust accumulation. Ran into the exact style a week later at a hardware store, $16.95. I am only guessing that replacement handles don't fly off the shelves anymore and they price them accordingly. The amount of tool heads that end up in the garbage or at the scrap yard bear this out. I guess Vendor's/Peddler's malls are nationwide. The ones around here always have a garbage can full of "cull" handles for $6. The shovel and sledge handles are always useable. The axe handles are usually terrible with giant knots and terrible run out or warpage. Occasionally I do find useable axe handles in these places and I hoard them up. They all require some love but that is the part we have all come to love.
 
AaronGP said:
Agreed with everything you said about Hardwicks. Shame you didn't include a picture of their selection of axe handles ;)
Click to expand...
I took my kid there today. Snapped a ton of shots of the store I’ll put in a discussion thread later. But here are some handles. Bent broad axe handles, adze handles, froe handles, peavey handles etc.
They had a very thick 36” sb and a more slender 36” sb. The hatchet handles are heavy and the 18” hatchet handle felt like a mule’s leg.
B1-FC9-CDA-C945-420-B-BF49-44-BCD33-F39-EF.jpg

55-D24-CBE-09-C0-4-AEE-8-DF8-A8-CF197-A0806.jpg

499-ED0-E0-5-FBD-40-EF-9109-3-A5-BD2-E179-F8.jpg

D31-C8-F53-8-E6-B-4006-9-B89-DC580-EE870-A7.jpg

0-C1-D2374-02-CE-4209-A72-C-60-B2-A63-C7-C00.jpg
 
ithinkverydeeply said:
I took my kid there today. Snapped a ton of shots of the store I’ll put in a discussion thread later. But here are some handles. Bent broad axe handles, adze handles, froe handles, peavey handles etc.
They had a very thick 36” sb and a more slender 36” sb. The hatchet handles are heavy and the 18” hatchet handle felt like a mule’s leg.
B1-FC9-CDA-C945-420-B-BF49-44-BCD33-F39-EF.jpg

55-D24-CBE-09-C0-4-AEE-8-DF8-A8-CF197-A0806.jpg

499-ED0-E0-5-FBD-40-EF-9109-3-A5-BD2-E179-F8.jpg

D31-C8-F53-8-E6-B-4006-9-B89-DC580-EE870-A7.jpg

0-C1-D2374-02-CE-4209-A72-C-60-B2-A63-C7-C00.jpg
Click to expand...

There it is. That's the handle porn we were waiting for ;)
 
 
Last edited:
ithinkverydeeply said:
I took my kid there today. Snapped a ton of shots of the store I’ll put in a discussion thread later. But here are some handles. Bent broad axe handles, adze handles, froe handles, peavey handles etc.
They had a very thick 36” sb and a more slender 36” sb. The hatchet handles are heavy and the 18” hatchet handle felt like a mule’s leg.
B1-FC9-CDA-C945-420-B-BF49-44-BCD33-F39-EF.jpg

55-D24-CBE-09-C0-4-AEE-8-DF8-A8-CF197-A0806.jpg

499-ED0-E0-5-FBD-40-EF-9109-3-A5-BD2-E179-F8.jpg

D31-C8-F53-8-E6-B-4006-9-B89-DC580-EE870-A7.jpg

0-C1-D2374-02-CE-4209-A72-C-60-B2-A63-C7-C00.jpg
Click to expand...

Those are really great pics of the handles thank you.
Just to confirm, are the yellow tags indicating the price per that handle?
If so...those prices beat the hardware Link prices around here by $10 easy in each example I see I'd say. And the Tennessee, albeit thick, a better handle I think than the link...in my general, limited comparison.
No Tennessee sold in stores I have found or happened upon as of yet around here.
 
Square_peg said:
I hung this old Craftsman single oval. I've been using his little brother for several years. I like the shape of these and how they cut. The steel is excellent. It's hand filed and honed. The haft is a 32" octagon from Tennessee Hickory. 50/50 tung/citrus oil finish.
1.jpg

2.jpg

3.jpg
Click to expand...

Where did you find that particular Tennessee Hickory haft, if I may ask?
 
Miller '72 said:
Those are really great pics of the handles thank you.
Just to confirm, are the yellow tags indicating the price per that handle?
If so...those prices beat the hardware Link prices around here by $10 easy in each example I see I'd say. And the Tennessee, albeit thick, a better handle I think than the link...in my general, limited comparison.
No Tennessee sold in stores I have found or happened upon as of yet around here.
Click to expand...
Yeah. About $10 for and axe handle and $5 for a hatchet or hammer.
 
Here's the little Keen Kutter on haft out of that veneer quality board. Fresh it had beautiful pink tones, it's a real pretty piece of wood. Anyway, only put BLO on this one so far. Wanted to leave her "fur collar" on as I have been sometimes doing, but I knocked it off by accident. Nice athletic look to this one, as aforementioned this is going to be a camp hatchet. Head is 1.25lbs.

20190811_110929-939x1831.jpg
 
Miller '72 said:
Those are fantastic prices and in my opinion where the price point should be coast to coast for todays mass produced handle replacements.

Thanks again for sharing the pics of that great iconic store!
Click to expand...

No doubt. There's some obscenity in pricing. I found a store with link handles, they actually had a few boys axe size but wanted 35/per and none had near proper grain.

A minute ago I was looking at a company i won't name so as not to embarrass them, but they're selling blanks. I thought, "great, that should be a cheap option to save me some time." Ahaaaha haha no. $45 for a 28" x 1.25" blank? $35 for 1" thick. Give me a freaking break, what a joke.
 
Just some general hardware store thoughts,

1. Your average hardware store sells new axes, sledges, small hammers for a profit.
2. They normally don't purchase premium replacement handles but sell them at a premium price for a profit.
3. If they sell premium handles then average consumers might not buy their new tools for a profit.
*Profit was in all three.

I've had better luck going to specialty wood stores and buying quarter sawn lumber - Hickory or Ash. It's not cheap but you get more control and can make handles to fit axes that require shapes that aren't offered in my location (that being the US lol).
Of course the convenience is gone and there are stipulations on minimum length purchased and how much gets left.
Maybe that's why you don't see too many short pieces at those places.
 
Last edited:
Agent_H said:
Just some general hardware store thoughts,

1. Your average hardware store sells new axes, sledges, small hammers for a profit.
2. They normally don't purchase premium replacement handles but sell them at a premium price for a profit.
3. If they sell premium handles then average consumers might not buy their new tools for a profit.
*Profit was in all three.

I've had better luck going to specialty wood stores and buying quarter sawn lumber - Hickory or Ash. It's not cheap but you get more control and can make handles to fit axes that require shapes that aren't offered in my location (that being the US lol).
Of course the convenience is gone and there are stipulations on minimum length purchased and how much gets left.
Maybe that's why you don't see too many short pieces at those places.
Click to expand...

Cant agree more. I prefer to buy local and will continue when the one in a million gem is available...The link I have come across in three stores in the past 8 months has been horrid. I just wish the places around me would stock Tennessee Handles, give me another off the shelf option to Link.
I have more mattock handles and some worthy heads for the effort of getting comfortable with carving.
Then, I know a couple places I think I will find some Hickory and Ash suitable when the time comes.

Thanks guys
 
This question may have been asked and answered somewhere between pages 180 and 293 of this thread (the part I haven’t read yet), so forgive me if I’m duplicating.

I was trying to put a banana grind on an axe a couple of days ago and met with great frustration at the lack of results. It occurs to me that I probably don’t have the right find of file. I’ve got a Nicholson file that did a great job removing mushrooming from the non-hardened poll, but just slid along the hardened edge. Can anyone recommend the right kind of file to me for getting a good grind on the edge of the axe? Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top