Where to buy wood for handle making

A

Aerosmith101

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Oct 28, 2018
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I've been trying to find ash or hickory to make an axe handle but my local lumber yards didn't have what I need so I was wondering if anyone knows of a reliable seller online to purchase some from?
 
House Handle Co. sells rough-cut 2x4x36 boards, though they're heavy as heck so the shipping costs a lot, and to get the per-unit cost down to something reasonable you basically need to order about a dozen of them. You'll pay more in shipping than you will for the boards. Getting actual 36" handles out of them is a gamble because they often have checked ends, but as long as you want 34"-32" handles or less, you're golden.
 
It also doesn't hurt to widen your google search parameters for your local area. Some specialty wood shops don't show up on searches for "lumber" but will appear when you search for "exotic wood." Ash or Hickory isn't really exotic, but you are looking for non-construction size materials, and I have seen them show up in the same place. Rockler used to carry a lot more wood, they probably won't have what you want in stock, but if you have one locally it is worth calling them up and asking them if they know anyone in the neighborhood.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
House Handle Co. sells rough-cut 2x4x36 boards, though they're heavy as heck so the shipping costs a lot, and to get the per-unit cost down to something reasonable you basically need to order about a dozen of them. You'll pay more in shipping than you will for the boards. Getting actual 36" handles out of them is a gamble because they often have checked ends, but as long as you want 34"-32" handles or less, you're golden.
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How much do they cost per unit?
 
I've been buying baseball bat blanks lately. Not super reasonable at $20 a pop by the time you have them shipped, but they are round so you pick your grain orientation and they are supposed to be graded by the MLB runout standards (probably depends on who you order from) so the grain has so far been pretty straight for me. For me $20 is a cheap hobby - I try not to look at it as the cost of a handle when my local hardware store sells House handles for like $8 or something - I just look at it as the cost of an afternoon project. In that case, it's pretty cheap.
 
I am re evaluating my hobby. I went to three Ace Hardware stores today and the only thing I could find that might make a good axe handle was a large pick handle. Over 1/2 of it will end up on the floor. All they had was Truper brand and most were so bad they should be burned.

If I keep doing this, I guess will go back to HH and see if I can get some first pass handles.

Bill
 
BitingSarcasm said:
It also doesn't hurt to widen your google search parameters for your local area. Some specialty wood shops don't show up on searches for "lumber" but will appear when you search for "exotic wood." Ash or Hickory isn't really exotic, but you are looking for non-construction size materials, and I have seen them show up in the same place. Rockler used to carry a lot more wood, they probably won't have what you want in stock, but if you have one locally it is worth calling them up and asking them if they know anyone in the neighborhood.
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We have a store that specializes in hardwood and it's not like we have a huge population out here, so I would think most folks are probably in driving distance of what they need. Even stores like woodcraft carry lumber. Price might not pencil out though...
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
House Handle Co. sells rough-cut 2x4x36 boards, though they're heavy as heck so the shipping costs a lot, and to get the per-unit cost down to something reasonable you basically need to order about a dozen of them. You'll pay more in shipping than you will for the boards. Getting actual 36" handles out of them is a gamble because they often have checked ends, but as long as you want 34"-32" handles or less, you're golden.
Click to expand...

I have never bought lumber from them but I just ordered 9 different handles from House Handle Co. I love that they will do an octagon for you and leave them unfinished. Great customer service and fast shipping. They are awesome and polar opposites in terms of quality, service, and shipping from the awful Beaver Tooth Handle Co. IMHO.
 
Broaden your variety of woods is one option. Do you live where there are no trees at all? You can try ANY wood at all that is growing around you. I just made a black cherry handle for a single-bit and am going to try maple, which baseball bats are currently made of. Try anything at all, there is nothing to lose.
 
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