Where can I find straight grain Hickory wood for handles?

J

JonathanCharles

Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
77
I live in Maine and all the lumber companies, hardware stores, and even specialty wood stores (Fat Andy's) don't seem to sell the wood I'm looking for in any reasonably small quantity. The axe I'm rehanging has a peculiar axe-eye to axe-handle ratio so I have to make my own handle. I made a mock handle out of pine to get the feel for it but I'm no where nearer finding seasoned Hickory wood. Any suggestions or helpful ideas?

Thank you,

Jonny
 
Your best bet around here is maple or elm. Ask about for people selling log sized (or even by the foot) chunks of wood. I just got done doing 8 cord of maple, I'd have saved a chunk for you if I'd have known.

Anyways your best bet is to ask around and see who's selling firewood and pick your own if you want to make your own, or call in to House Handles and give them eye dimensions/length and see what they can do for you. If I by chance run into any more maple or elm large enough to have a straight grain I'll give you a hollar.
 
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Try calling House Handle . com. They do special orders all the time. Ask them if they would and how much if they will ship to you.
Can't hurt to ask.

Tom
 
White Ash and Sugar/Rock/Hard Maple are just as good and grow locally and abundantly. I don't know where to find kiln dried anything, for any purposes, because I've never used it. All my handles were made from rivened wood I cut myself.
 
As mentioned here earlier House Handle ought to be able to fix you up. Make sure to tell them you are a member of this forum and that you want a premium haft with no varnish coating. I don't know about "custom one offs" but they will send you handles that are shaped/sanded to whatever degree of completeness you want.
 
House Handle has sold hickory blanks upon request:

killa_concept said:
... I ended up turning to my previous supplier of tool handles, House Handles. I sent them an email about possibly buying blanks to make my own handles and they shot me back with the dimensions (1 ½” x 3 ¼” x 36” though most are closer to 38-40") and a very reasonable cost (I'd state it here, but since its not an item they openly sell I'll just suggest you email them for a price quote if you're interested). I also opted to pay $2 extra per blank to get premium, hand selected grain orientation. I ended up getting 7, of which I've already used 1 and a half (the 31" for the Keen Kutter and a 21" for the Plumb). While the price is great, do remember that the blanks are large in dimension as well as being quite heavy. The shipping did end up stinging just a tad...

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Click to expand...
 
G-pig said:
White Ash and Sugar/Rock/Hard Maple are just as good and grow locally and abundantly. I don't know where to find kiln dried anything, for any purposes, because I've never used it. All my handles were made from rivened wood I cut myself.
Click to expand...

G-Pig do you ever take people to see your shop? I'm just beginning to learn about the intricacies of tool restoration and up keep and I live only about forty minutes from you. Anyway, thank you for responding to both my threads over the past months.
 
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