Axe Handles

[TazzieRob]

So i mentioned in this post about my fun time sifting through the axe handle options at three hardware stores

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,73647.0.html

I thought I'd post a pic of those I found. It wasn't my intention to buy all of these, but since the selection was a bit rubbish, I figured I'd just grab the best of what was there so in the future if I broke a handle or found a good head to bang on a handle I'd have it.

From Top to bottom, 800mm Hickory (Full size), 700mm Spotted Gum (3/4 size), 600mm Spotted Gum (1/2 size), 380mm Spotted gum Hatchet, Chinese "hardwood" hatchet handle, which I'll use on the larger of the Chinese heads on the left.



The Hickory I can use for the 4.5lb Hytest Craftsman head I have. I need to find a good 3/4 size head, about 2.25lb to put on the 700mm handle. The 1/2 axe handle is a good replacement option for an existing axe or if I find a head for it. The hatchet handle will be saved for a decent head if I find one down the track.

All of the Aussie ones are from the same manufacturer, Krugers. There is a lot of variation in these, some have a slightly better shape than others, some have a bit better grain. My selections had the best grain and straightness I could find, though one doesn't have quite as nice a swell on the end, it's a bit thin there.

I bought the 800mm and 600mm at one place, the 700mm and Hatchet at another (my local), and the Chinese handle at the big box hardware outlet, which I won't bother going to for tool handles now. I'd already bought the Hickory handle at the first place I went to, so didn't look very much at the different Hickory options at my local shop, as I was keen to get a Spotted Gum instead.

Anyhoo, thought this might be of interest to some here

[Sparky415]

 

You are just teasing me now 
Can't see the picture

[TazzieRob]

Have you got a google account?

[Sparky415]

Um yes 

[TazzieRob]

I don't really understand. Nothing with Google photos seems to be consistent. I uploaded the pics, added them to my shared album I've been using to post pics here, and sometimes people can see them, other times not. If photobucket weren't a bunch of smurfs...

Can you see this one?



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Q2KirSx13bKmA_KEg9Zj3Ct_9zhRU8etfS6XP_K2DoBB6QfXMGz16iyixsDYAW32LZFFWO96OFaMX36RVkm8seQEvG1jaziROwN9UbIBlM0GiM-vjpGzI1guso1e6rCAKuuT5WfCYan8rB3aUGvj8_nP66G0f1LlsHMZMBVDmcGIfLPsYrMvyP9gZck2SnQERgVKF8nCV9EjiyM230iYOAam-EblmMy4-zWHxPATsHmkoojkGcVYMZXaSqAp5eF04XgANkSjnIYXKRY8MB75aeaUgM9_DPLFqK_UMhmfGZe8s977xaNUVrEDrLMsx4ZLE7FlJKcVLxXNLM3b-TAUXRGB4r71uQM75fXsCFpsW_PvVJs_EyIi2TiOLW6IIMX-O669lU3YQ5cc7nJWa8Af-ExHhtCQq3cikkee1va2sgR4y4UO6M7yEIDd8FTlDuGLuTBDsOJMiXNNxeDTmHoO08BXmUKHSlR6q9hWEr6DjxwwzE5513OiFULOKGwGIP_Tr-T98Ecet90P_G-ig9_hXqHfoiFc0lYtI4Kt-ufRtTogvO3lvenpRO05_GhilrhtGGzncF7YkUl5IZGcPiQp5xsJOgHGfuDGeq7ecwMxMnHxNJQ2XdK-Xbj8FQJ3e0fSiIo3unXiYzzu2H6458cFuIObSZCd8fnqkPj1=w1567-h881-no

[Sparky415]

Oh yes   

[styx]

yup. sharpie, axe heads and handles, altoids, knife, can of something green, wires or very small diameter rubber hoses, axe puck, 2 blue cans, brush, 2 unopened packages, a rag...

[TazzieRob]

yup. sharpie, axe heads and handles, altoids, knife, can of something green, wires or very small diameter rubber hoses, axe puck, 2 blue cans, brush, 2 unopened packages, a rag...

  could you see the first, second or both? They're the same pic, should be the same link....

[styx]

only the second. wait are those wooden clothes pins?

[Sparky415]

Only the second

Wait a minute you have removed something from the table since this morning
Mmm now what was there this morning 
something orange 

 

[TazzieRob]

Only the second

Wait a minute you have removed something from the table since this morning
Mmm now what was there this morning 
something orange 

 

I had to make room so they'd fit on the bench easier!
I think the orange thing was a mint tin

[Sparky415]

Only the second

Wait a minute you have removed something from the table since this morning
Mmm now what was there this morning 
something orange 

 

I had to make room so they'd fit on the bench easier!
I think the orange thing was a mint tin

I thought you were testing me
They have tests like that here before they put you in an old peoples home   
(Then they take away your axes    )

[styx]

Only the second

Wait a minute you have removed something from the table since this morning
Mmm now what was there this morning 
something orange 

 

I had to make room so they'd fit on the bench easier!
I think the orange thing was a mint tin

I thought you were testing me
They have tests like that here before they put you in an old peoples home   
(Then they take away your axes    )

but you're not even close to that age

[Sparky415]

        

[TazzieRob]

Only the second

Wait a minute you have removed something from the table since this morning
Mmm now what was there this morning 
something orange 

 

I had to make room so they'd fit on the bench easier!
I think the orange thing was a mint tin

I thought you were testing me
They have tests like that here before they put you in an old peoples home   
(Then they take away your axes    )

If you don't know you're being tested, it's probably all over!

[TazzieRob]

Comparison between two Hickory handles (I picked up a different hickory handle at the weekend) and one Spotted Gum handle



Not very obvious, but the Hickory handles are both thicker in this dimension.

In the other dimension, things are a lot clearer:



At the thinnest point, the Spotted Gum handle is 22mm, the middle handle it 24, and the other Hickory is 26mm. Things get thicker from there but a lot more for the Hickory options. The middle handle has a much nicer palm swell than the other one, about equivalent to the gum handle.

[styx]

What are the benefits of gum handles?

[TazzieRob]

What are the benefits of gum handles?

They are a popular tool handle choice in Australia. The wood is quite dense and sturdy, so possibly a little tougher than Hickory, I don't know.
Biggest benefit is the cost - 2/3 to 1/2 the price of the Hickory handles. Other than a bit of sanding, the gum handle is as manufactured for thickness, which I quite like. A fair bit would need trimming off the hickory to bring it down to the same dimensions, so less work to get it from the log thickness to handle thickness desired by myself, but that's just down to preference. Easier to provide a fat handle and let the buyer take material off if desired, than go too thin.

[styx]

What are the benefits of gum handles?

They are a popular tool handle choice in Australia. The wood is quite dense and sturdy, so possibly a little tougher than Hickory, I don't know.
Biggest benefit is the cost - 2/3 to 1/2 the price of the Hickory handles. Other than a bit of sanding, the gum handle is as manufactured for thickness, which I quite like. A fair bit would need trimming off the hickory to bring it down to the same dimensions, so less work to get it from the log thickness to handle thickness desired by myself, but that's just down to preference. Easier to provide a fat handle and let the buyer take material off if desired, than go too thin.

although many customers cringe when someone does thin out the handle

[TazzieRob]

What are the benefits of gum handles?

They are a popular tool handle choice in Australia. The wood is quite dense and sturdy, so possibly a little tougher than Hickory, I don't know.
Biggest benefit is the cost - 2/3 to 1/2 the price of the Hickory handles. Other than a bit of sanding, the gum handle is as manufactured for thickness, which I quite like. A fair bit would need trimming off the hickory to bring it down to the same dimensions, so less work to get it from the log thickness to handle thickness desired by myself, but that's just down to preference. Easier to provide a fat handle and let the buyer take material off if desired, than go too thin.

although many customers cringe when someone does thin out the handle

Why so? The axe needs to be comfortable for the user to use. An axe that isn't used will never break

[styx]

What are the benefits of gum handles?

They are a popular tool handle choice in Australia. The wood is quite dense and sturdy, so possibly a little tougher than Hickory, I don't know.
Biggest benefit is the cost - 2/3 to 1/2 the price of the Hickory handles. Other than a bit of sanding, the gum handle is as manufactured for thickness, which I quite like. A fair bit would need trimming off the hickory to bring it down to the same dimensions, so less work to get it from the log thickness to handle thickness desired by myself, but that's just down to preference. Easier to provide a fat handle and let the buyer take material off if desired, than go too thin.

although many customers cringe when someone does thin out the handle

Why so? The axe needs to be comfortable for the user to use. An axe that isn't used will never break

Probably because they think that a thick handle is superior in terms of toughness and durability. But it does go to the point if or how much use will that axe see. For instance, I should not be the one to complain about thickness when any axe I get won't see that much use unless something drastically changes in my life (job that requires more time spent in rural areas, moving out of the city, etc.)

[TazzieRob]

What are the benefits of gum handles?

They are a popular tool handle choice in Australia. The wood is quite dense and sturdy, so possibly a little tougher than Hickory, I don't know.
Biggest benefit is the cost - 2/3 to 1/2 the price of the Hickory handles. Other than a bit of sanding, the gum handle is as manufactured for thickness, which I quite like. A fair bit would need trimming off the hickory to bring it down to the same dimensions, so less work to get it from the log thickness to handle thickness desired by myself, but that's just down to preference. Easier to provide a fat handle and let the buyer take material off if desired, than go too thin.

although many customers cringe when someone does thin out the handle

Why so? The axe needs to be comfortable for the user to use. An axe that isn't used will never break

Probably because they think that a thick handle is superior in terms of toughness and durability. But it does go to the point if or how much use will that axe see. For instance, I should not be the one to complain about thickness when any axe I get won't see that much use unless something drastically changes in my life (job that requires more time spent in rural areas, moving out of the city, etc.)

I'm no expert. When I used my old Hytest to split wood whilst living in a house with a wood heater, I know I over struck many times. Whether the old handle was more sturdy than modern handles I don't know. I know I didn't break the handle off, but did take some chunks out of it, and it held together ok. I can't say I have had any real experience using an axe with a hickory handle. I don't know how they stand up to over strike. Sure, a thinner handle should be more susceptible to breaking than a thicker one, and a handle manufacturer can possibly get away with a wider range of quality without getting inexperienced users breaking handles and having to replace them under warranty as often, which increases profit, maybe. Seems to me, that a thicker, less springy handle is more likely to transfer shock back to the user. As I was growing up as a kid on the farm, my Dad's block splitter had a probably 1 - 1.5 inch steel pipe handle welded to it. I can't remember using it much, I probably just selected wood from the pile that was already split small enough. But over strike on that thing  

[styx]

What are the benefits of gum handles?

They are a popular tool handle choice in Australia. The wood is quite dense and sturdy, so possibly a little tougher than Hickory, I don't know.
Biggest benefit is the cost - 2/3 to 1/2 the price of the Hickory handles. Other than a bit of sanding, the gum handle is as manufactured for thickness, which I quite like. A fair bit would need trimming off the hickory to bring it down to the same dimensions, so less work to get it from the log thickness to handle thickness desired by myself, but that's just down to preference. Easier to provide a fat handle and let the buyer take material off if desired, than go too thin.

although many customers cringe when someone does thin out the handle

Why so? The axe needs to be comfortable for the user to use. An axe that isn't used will never break

Probably because they think that a thick handle is superior in terms of toughness and durability. But it does go to the point if or how much use will that axe see. For instance, I should not be the one to complain about thickness when any axe I get won't see that much use unless something drastically changes in my life (job that requires more time spent in rural areas, moving out of the city, etc.)

I'm no expert. When I used my old Hytest to split wood whilst living in a house with a wood heater, I know I over struck many times. Whether the old handle was more sturdy than modern handles I don't know. I know I didn't break the handle off, but did take some chunks out of it, and it held together ok. I can't say I have had any real experience using an axe with a hickory handle. I don't know how they stand up to over strike. Sure, a thinner handle should be more susceptible to breaking than a thicker one, and a handle manufacturer can possibly get away with a wider range of quality without getting inexperienced users breaking handles and having to replace them under warranty as often, which increases profit, maybe. Seems to me, that a thicker, less springy handle is more likely to transfer shock back to the user. As I was growing up as a kid on the farm, my Dad's block splitter had a probably 1 - 1.5 inch steel pipe handle welded to it. I can't remember using it much, I probably just selected wood from the pile that was already split small enough. But over strike on that thing  

That's my line of thought too. Although since I'm eyeballing a Fiskars, maybe I shouldn't concern myself with such things

[gregozedobe]

Although since I'm eyeballing a Fiskars, maybe I shouldn't concern myself with such things

I was happier with both my Fiskars splitting axes compared to the conventional splitting maul (block buster) I was using previously.  I started out with the larger X27 (I'm a big bloke with a fairly powerful swing), but found the slightly smaller X25 was easier to swing, more accurate and capable of splitting 90% of what I wanted to deal with.  Of course now I use my kinetic log splitter and it is more effective than any of these axes/mauls   

[styx]

well your back is also a big factor

[TazzieRob]

It looks like Fiskars has discontinued it's chopping axes above the X10 (now only X5, 7, and 10) all the longer axes are splitting axes from the X11, 21, 25 and 27

[gregozedobe]

well your back is also a big factor

True.  Being able to move without pain the next day does help 

[TazzieRob]

well your back is also a big factor

True.  Being able to move without pain the next day does help 

No point busting up your body to stay warm.

This video is interesting from Fiskars for sizing. Py attention though to the slow motion of the axe in operation for splitting right in the first few seconds, and see the handle flex

https://youtu.be/TOxKdtZwHMM

[TazzieRob]

It looks like Fiskars has discontinued it's chopping axes above the X10 (now only X5, 7, and 10) all the longer axes are splitting axes from the X11, 21, 25 and 27

Scratch that, the X10 has been discontinued, and there's an X17 splitting axe

[styx]

Well it doesn't seem too stiff. With my needs the X7 will be perfectly fine so I can throw that handle length out the window for now