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desertjoe 
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
Points: 13693
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 Topic: An "Old-Timer's" tricks,,,,,
Posted: 01 Apr 2022 at 2:23am |
I guess I might have a facination with old hammers, picks and the sort,,,, I have picked up several hammers of all kinds and shapes and well,,,,a lot of them,,,,, Several weeks ago, I was in Carlsbad and drove by a yard sale and stopped and sure glad I done so,,,the older fellar had 5 boxes of "NEW" hammer handles that he said were Hickory,,,for,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$5.00 per box,,!! I thought he meant $5.00 each handle and he said the boxes are marked,,,,,,,,,$5.00 per box! Box was 18" long and bout 14" wide and 12" high and Plumb full of neatly stacked wood handles,,,!!So,,I handed him a fiver and he told me , Now, those are real Hickory, so,,have fun. ChiT,,I shoulda bought all 5 boxes ,,,,but me not being greedy,,,I just bought the one box,,,,,,,  SO, when I get some free time,,,I been shaping some of the handles to some of the hammers, but some of the handles do not "FILL" the end of the hammers and I figured to just fill em in with Epoxy,,,,? I remember my Dad would file fit the handles to the hammers and then soak in a bucket of water before driving in a metal wedge or some 16 box nails if no wedge available,,,,,,or do I have the process in reverse??
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TDF
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Joined: 22 Oct 2015
Location: Seward, NE
Points: 63
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Posted: 01 Apr 2022 at 4:41am |
A few years back I got into axes. Been rehanging them on new handles. Had to do a lot of research to figure out how to do it right and keep the handle tight. Do not soak in water. Wood swells when soaked. It will dry out and shrink and your handle will be loose until you soak it again. Hang the handle dry. I prefer wood wedges, make them myself so I can ensure proper fit. But metal will work. If you're saying the handles are a little short in the eye the long way a wood wedge shaped to fit can help fill that in. Drive that wedge in tight. Finish off the top with a file and sandpaper smooth. Then start applying boiled linseed oil until the handle won't take anymore. It fills in the pores of the wood, and like water makes it swell, but with BLO the oil dries into a wax that keeps the pores swelled so it stays tight. Apply a coat every year or so and you're wood will stay protected and tight.
TDF
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Thad in AR.
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Arkansas
Points: 9653
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Posted: 01 Apr 2022 at 6:38am |
I keep dry hickory in the shop and make all my own handles. I’d of been on them handles like a Biden supporter on somebody else’s supper. At the store they’d be $5.00 a piece or more. I use a wooden wedge perpendicular to the hammer head. I cut a slice the depth of the thickness of the head. I drive they wedge in tight and then put a metal wedge in cross ways to the head. With these I start a split with a chisel just deep enough to start the metal wedge. I forge my metal wedges or just grind them to shape. I made a jig to make the wooden wedges. I have a very large collection of blacksmith hammers. What can I say I love old hammers. You can buy wedge kits at the hardware store. Comes with one wooden and one metal wedge. Glue on the handle and the wedges doesn’t hurt a thing.
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steve(il)
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Joined: 01 Apr 2022
Location: Illinois
Points: 5
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Posted: 01 Apr 2022 at 9:09am |
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I make steel wedges.. Take a 3/16 inch strap 3/4 inch wide ( or cut out a plate) and about 1 inch long... I grind a sharp edge on one of the 3/4 inch sides so it looks like a small / short chisle.. I drive that in as a WEDGE... dont have teeth to grab, but they seem to work. Normally 1 is enough, but i have used two spaced 1/4 inch apart if needed. Drive them in till they wont go no more.. then cut off with a hack saw.
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
Points: 13693
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Posted: 01 Apr 2022 at 12:38pm |
OK,,,,Thanks Guys,,,I'ma check out the cost of the wedge kits but like ole Steve's idea of using the strap,,just happen to have a piece of 3/4" bout 5 foot long,,,, I'm still gonna check Walmart.com see what they got.
SO, no one uses the water soaking for swelling the wood,,,?
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DiyDave
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Gambrills, MD
Points: 54062
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Posted: 01 Apr 2022 at 8:23pm |
If you want it more secure, take a cold chisel, and make some nicks along the edges, the barbs will hold it in... 
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Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need!
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
Points: 13693
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Posted: 01 Apr 2022 at 9:31pm |
Good Idea, Dave,,,,  I did check Walmart.com and their wedge sets are one wood and two metal ones for $7.99,,, I'm gonna make my own out of the 3/4" strap I got,,,,
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JC-WI
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: wisconsin
Points: 34307
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Posted: 02 Apr 2022 at 1:59am |
Dang DJ, why didn't ye give me a call when ye seen a steal like that??? I wooda taken two boxes and gave ye a nickle extra to ship 'em to me! Got a bunch of them ol tools that need handles, anything from small hammers to 15# and to pick axes and lot of other things in between. Handles in the shop with the wood stove heating, dry out and that is when I put the handles in and drive wedges in too and then soaked the the whole tool in boiled linseed oil or neets foot oil, even used just plain oil of some kind and just wipe the main part of the handle. Use to be a place that got handles that I would pick through to find the straightest grained that I could find, but sadly they closed their doors some years back and don't find deals like that anymore.
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He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself
The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that."
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Thad in AR.
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Arkansas
Points: 9653
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Posted: 02 Apr 2022 at 5:17am |
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Joe and JC, google House handles.
They sell steel wedges by the pound or wood/steel wedge kits for $1.50
They sell every handle known to man. They have blanks and seconds as well.
And and and right up the road from me.
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Gary
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Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Location: Peterborough,On
Points: 5899
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Posted: 02 Apr 2022 at 6:01am |
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
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Posted: 02 Apr 2022 at 7:11am |
Hey Guys,,,THANKS to all of you for all that great info,,,now that I know how to properly replace and treat a new hammer handle,,,,,i'LL HAVE TO STOP USING NAILS instead of the proper wedges,,,,  ,,,,I gots a couple that am gonna have to drill all them nails out before I can fit a new handle to em,,,, BOY, that House Handle Co gots a handle for any tool ever invented don't they,,,and some pretty interesting descriptions too,,,,,,
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Les Kerf
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Joined: 08 May 2020
Location: Idaho
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Posted: 02 Apr 2022 at 8:18am |
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I recall when I was a lad one old-timer telling how he would shoot the old handle out of an axe using a 30-30. I never witnessed this though.
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LouSWPA
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Clinton, Pa
Points: 25083
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Posted: 02 Apr 2022 at 9:08am |
 Les Kerf wrote:
I recall when I was a lad one old-timer telling how he would shoot the old handle out of an axe using a 30-30. I never witnessed this though. Les, I won't say he was pulling your leg, but, I, uh........I , well....well it doesn't sound like a good plan to me! LOL
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I am still confident of this;
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27
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steve(ill)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
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Posted: 02 Apr 2022 at 9:57am |
YEP......... i will PASS... but give it a try and report back how that works ? ..... Maybe FreeGas would be up for a TESTS ??
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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desertjoe
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Location: New mexico
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Posted: 02 Apr 2022 at 10:26am |
steve(ill) wrote:
YEP......... i will PASS... but give it a try and report back how that works ? ..... Maybe FreeGas would be up for a TESTS ?? |
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Les Kerf
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Posted: 03 Apr 2022 at 3:58pm |
50+ years have passed and I still haven't gotten around to try shooting the handle out of my axes 
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jaybmiller
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
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Posted: 03 Apr 2022 at 4:27pm |
with the price of ammo, it'd be cheaper to buy a new ax !!!
BTW once in awhile 'Forged in Fire' WILL split a bullet on a knife blade...
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)
Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water
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DON G
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Joined: 14 Feb 2014
Location: Lowpoint, IL
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Posted: 04 Apr 2022 at 6:09pm |
Old sickle sections cut with a torch would have rough edges. 
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Hubert (Ga)engine7
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Location: Jackson Cnty,GA
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Posted: 05 Apr 2022 at 3:32pm |
Joe, I would have bought every box of those handles at that price. After I fit my handles to the heads I coat the end with epoxy and seat them good then after the epoxy dries good I drive in the wedges, then comes the linseed oil.
Speaking of sickle sections, I need to get a few and make some more fire rakes. My last two grew legs and walked off  . |
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Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God.
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
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Posted: 05 Apr 2022 at 11:03pm |
Well, Hubert I had been dwelling on whether to doing exactly THAT,,,!! The hammer end of all the handles were not same OD all the way out so that the wood end does not fill the hammer after filing wood to fit. The very last inch or so does not fill the hammer ID,,,,clear as mud,,?? I think that is why the fellar sold them so cheap,,,?? I was planning to file fit to the particular hammer good and tight, then cut off the excess wood end off and THEN drive in the wedge(s). THEN, use a stiff fiberglass mix to fill the void at end of handle. Do you recommend filling in with FG, then drive in the wedges,,??
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