Wife breaks new Spike Hawk!

TwoRavens

TwoRavens

Joined
Oct 24, 2000
Messages
37
(Well Only the Handle... but still..)

Finally got to try out my two new Ranger Spikes on Sunday... set up three rounds against a tree and was doing fine (About 40%sticks for my first time throwing) until the wife decides to have go.

First throw sticks... :D

Five or six throws later she says:
"Have you tried throwing two at once yet?" and proceeds to launch both 'hawks at the same time...

One 'hawk manages to partially split the others handle about 2/3rds of the way down :( .

So... any idea where I can get some rawhide from to bind round the bottom of the handle and info on how to wrap it?

TwoRavens.
 
And I bet your heart broke along with the hawk!!!:confused:

I would be in such shock, I'd probably :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: !!!!!!!!!!
 
I probably will, but I'd like to make the originals last a little longer before replaceing them...
 
Been there, did that -- just this past weekend too, in fact. I had been alternating throws between 3 hawks & got lazy. "What are the chances of one hitting another?", I thought. Well, my long-standing acquaintance with Murphy should have given me the answer but didn't.

The first hawk hits the block & sticks. The second hawk hits the first one's handle & partially splits it. The third hawk -- yes, I was dumb enough to believe it would never happen again & kept going :o -- hits the poll on the first, leaving a gash & taking a small chip out of the third's edge.
 
TR one way of having then last longer is to not let your wife touch them.;)
 
This post started the plaque moving in my heart!!! Glad to see it was just the handle from a "Robin Hood"!!!

Wrap the part of the handle that is split with some paracord.....I have done that and it works great and lasts a lot longer than you would think for a cracked handle.

Glad you are enjoying your Hawks!!! Thanks for your business.
 
Just thought I clear up something:

The wife did not throw one axe, then throw the other so that it hit the first one while it was embedded in the block..

No, she threw both at the same time, one with her left hand and the other with her right.
 
DANG! Video tape it and see if she can do it again!;)
 
Originally posted by UffDa
DANG! Video tape it and see if she can do it again!;)
Click to expand...

Yeeeaaaahhhh............I'd like to see that too!!!:D

--The Raptor--
 
I break'em, split'em, and chip'em all the time. It's gotten to the point where I have to repair the handles or all my time would be makin' them and not throwing them.

Andy is correct about laminated handles, they definitely outlast one piecers. The best is at least 3 lams of hard-springy-hard type woods such as maple-hickory or ash-maple. Use epoxy to lam, check the web you can get 1 pint or so kits from several makers. Also get the filler/thickener (actually powdered walnut shells) to stiffen the epoxy so it doesn't run all over the place (usually as thick as smooth peanut butter). It is quite expensive, but worth its weight in gold.

To repair a split, crack or chip, just smear the thickened epoxy on both pieces or in the crack and tape in place to hold (do not use major clamping). Let cure for at least 24 hours, 48 to 72 is better and file and sand to shape.

I guarantee that some other part of the handle will fail before the epoxy joint does.

This also works wonders for slightly lose heads on an otherwise good handle. Just give a light coat of epoxy to the head area, sand or file the bumps down and fit the head back on.

I have a 5 lam hard rock maple handle (cheap Home Depot lumber) that has lasted a year and a half of throwing 1 to 3 turns. You know at 3 turns the handle has hit everything but air on a good stick.
 
TwoRavens;

You can get some rawhide at your nearest pet supply store, like PetSmart or Petco. Go to the isle that has the doggy chews...rawhide....look for the ones that are not oily feeling or looking. I have used the ones that are white in color....soak them in water until soft and then sew on while still wet and then let it dry. They dry tight and tough
 
I bet this would be one time those pacawood rods would come in handy. It is tough stuff, just have to avoid the weird colors.
 
some guys take their wives or girlfriends to throw darts.....nah....lob somethin' REAL honey!

Paracord is available at most sporting goods retailers who sell camping supplies. I think even Wal Mart sells it in little packages. I buy mine in bulk from Brigade Quartermasters or Sportsmans Guide. It's expensive but very useful for just about anything.

It is a pleasure to know people are throwing and getting the family involved!

Toss on!

Out.
 
Laminates for handles:
If I am using thickened epoxy then any table saw will do cut laminates as thick or thin as you want (I wouldn't go thinner than 1/8 inch, too much work). The thickened epoxy will fill any gaps etc. so you do not need to be "perfectly" flat on mating surfaces.
 
OK, here's a practical application of the epoxy fix:

When in Creede CO. this past week for a MountainMan knife and hawk competition I forgot they throw a 2 turn hawk event. I couldn't remember my pace-off distance so I stepped off 11 paces and threw. Bad guess as this was actually a 2.6 turn distance for me and I should have been at 9 paces which I found out real quick.

Anyway my really nice Osage Orange handle snapped off 3 inches above the end of the handle running with the grain (clean break, two pieces). The head is still securely mounted.

Tonight I mixed up the epoxy, globbed it on thick enough to get some ooze when the pieces were taped together. I will sand smooth in 2 days and report on how it holds up as soon as I throw the fixed handle.
 
Fixed handle results:

Last night I filed and sanded the two piece epoxied handle smooth to the touch. The two pieces did not fit exactly with a small gap on one side. Not to worry though the thickened epoxy filled the gap and sanded smooth as the baby's you know what. As I'm going for function and not appearance it doesn't matter.

I took the fixed hawk out tonight and threw some 1 and 1.5 turns and had quite a few bouncers...

It's still in one piece and throws like new. If anyone is interested I can post a pic of the finished fix.

By the way, I will use this hawk in competition this Sunday in NJ.
 
It came in handy. I had a neighbor stop by last weekend who wanted to try hawk tossing. It didn't go too well. :rolleyes: The result was a handle split from just below the head to within about 4 inches of the end. I wedged the split open, applied a generous coating of epoxy, and taped it back together. I'll report back next week on how well it holds up.

Lessons learned:
  • Some people do not take direction very well.
  • Some people cannot throw without using full force.
  • Some people cannot throw without applying wrist action.
  • Some people cannot grasp the concept of follow-through.
  • Use a beater, not your favorite throwing hawk, when teaching someone to throw.
  • Don't spend too much time prettying up a throwing handle unless you can easily reconcile yourself to the fact that it will eventually be destroyed. :(
 
Frankly, I was initially a bit skeptical about the durability of the repaired handle. I first sanded it just enough to remove the surface epoxy & fit the head back in place. I then threw it dozens of times, including a few dramatic misses, and the handle held up just fine. I later finished sanding it & restored the original finish. The epoxy line is now virtually indistinguishable from the other grain lines. Following is a close-up of one section of the repair. (Hint: The split had run into the first shallow finger groove.)

hawk%20handle%20repair.jpg


I must have thrown at least a hundred times with the restored handle, and had my normal share of misses, but the repair held up just great. Thanks again for your advice.
 
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