I would like some feed back on what kind of wedges everyone uses. Do most of you make your own? Have a local source? Or order on line? I seem to have depleted my local supply and it does not appear they have any intention of restocking. I am interested in learning all the different variations that that each of you favor.
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Wood Wedges
- Thread starter Meek1
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There's a bunch of different woods that are good. But I can only recommend ones I've had good results from. My favorite is yellow birch. Paper(white) birch works well too. The birch while up there in hardness on the janka scale still conforms and compresses extremely well. Filling those voids. Even the tiny ones very well. And it doesn't split easy at all when driving it in.
Here's a few examples of the conformity of yellow birch. 1st up is on a red oak haft;
Here's one in hickory;
And here's a paper birch in hickory;
I show those because birch is high in hardness but it still compresses and conforms very well. While I know there's others that work well this is abundant around here so I've found my wedge wood! I have to make them myself though.
Right on, thank you!
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Can you source birch where you are? They usually sell good kiln dried stuff at lumber stores. I've been fortunate to have had plenty of dry birch firewood for the cause.
I am definitely going to look into it. I have been trying my best to reuse old handles. So having a wedge that would fill gaps would be very beneficial to me. That is great feed back, thanks again!
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Birch gets traditionally used for scythe nib grips specifically for that reason because they're constantly under compression when tightened.
Square_peg
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The wedges supplied with replacement handles are usually poplar for the same reasons Josh outlined, being a hardwood with good compressability. Poplar also has a coarse grain which may help it to take bite in the kerf.
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I make my own using a belt sander. Dad is an amateur woodworker and a professional hoarder so I have a lot of material to work with. We tore my Grandmothers house down and Dad saved everything that could be saved. The house we tore down was built in the early 50's but being poor they had reused some materials from the "old" house that my mother was raised in. The studs were almost exclusively poplar lumber. I just go to the woodshed and grab a reclaimed poplar 2x4 when I need more wedge material. I have also used walnut with good results. I have used what we call "wild" cherry and didn't have any problems but it is probably too hard. It seems axe eyes can and do burst out if put under too much pressure. What I like about making my own is that I can custom cut it to be perfect (which I rarely get anything perfect). Early in my addiction I agonized over my wedging. I wanted perfect looking hangs. I still have some come out looking great but I don't agonize over it. The part I don't like about making my own in the sawdust from the sander. I know OSHA would freak out but I rarely wear a mask. I have found if I point the giant shop fan towards the sander I don't breathe near as much saw dust as in the past. Good luck
I often make my own out of fatwood, and it works great. The poplar ones that are supplied, have been no trouble to me. But I dont always have one when I want and hate to buy them when these work so good and are easy to make. I just carve them out with a hatchet, only takes a few minutes time.
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MM77, good thing you pound plastic felling wedges, one spark and your kerf wedge would spontaneously ignite. I am gonna try the fat wood wedges, the problem being pieces of fatwood that are suitable for wedging aren't real common here. I actually have several pieces that would work but I am greedy with my quality fatwood. I bet they stick in the kerf really well.
This is all good info, thank you for the detailed breakdown. I tried a piece of Walnut last night. I found it to be very brittle. I thought the contrast would be good. But I definitely needed something softer to fill the eye better. Thank you again.
Noted, great point on the grain. Thank you!
Ha, I imagine you have an unlimited supply being a sawyer. All great info, thank you for the reply and pics!I often make my own out of fatwood, and it works great. The poplar ones that are supplied, have been no trouble to me. But I dont always have one when I want and hate to buy them when these work so good and are easy to make. I just carve them out with a hatchet, only takes a few minutes time.
I found a chunk of birch and a chunk of Walnut. Thank you again for the direction, it was most helpful!
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Meek1, this might have been mentioned and you may already know, I don’t want to sound preachy but when making your own wedges the grain orientation has to be “up and down” versus “sideways”. The wedge will snap right off at a growth ring if the orientation of the grain is horizontal. Just some thoughts I thought I would share. I went through a spell where I wasn’t removing enough wood from the handle and that makes wedging much harder. I like a real loose fit from handle to head. Everyone works their own system out, it is like skinning beaver, the first 100 are the hardest. Much luck.
Copy that, not preachy at all. I asked because I was looking for as much info as possible, from as many points of view as possible. Thank you for all your replies!
I've mostly used the poplar wedges that come with handles, but have also used basswood because I had some around, and it seemed to work fine.
once I tried eastern red cedar because I have a ton of that, but will not do that again. its pretty hard for a "softwood" and very brittle. the wedge broke off before I could really pound on it good.
once I tried eastern red cedar because I have a ton of that, but will not do that again. its pretty hard for a "softwood" and very brittle. the wedge broke off before I could really pound on it good.
Copy that, thank you!
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I haven't made my own yet but if I did, I would use my local hickory most likely (cuz I got tons of it). I generally use the wedge that comes with the hafts I buy. Usually poplar. But the Hoffman haft I used recently came with a lovely walnut wedge which is a pretty nice touch on top of a nice haft.
I really like the contrast the walnut offers. I think I just need a lot more practice before I use it again. The softer stuff seems to be a little more forgiving until I get better at all this. Great looking hang you got there!!!! Thank you for sharing!I haven't made my own yet but if I did, I would use my local hickory most likely (cuz I got tons of it). I generally use the wedge that comes with the hafts I buy. Usually poplar. But the Hoffman haft I used recently came with a lovely walnut wedge which is a pretty nice touch on top of a nice haft.