Replacing handles and other tips.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by bower

I know what you mean about dirilling a hole that far... no easy task.
You would probably have to make yourself a custom bit to get 1 1/2 ft from either end. As you say, splitting and gluing back together would be the faster approach, even if you made yourself a monster drill press.
Maybe the long drill setup could be done by adapting a wood lathe?

Making or acquiring the tools for that job would be well worth it if you were planning to make lamps as an ongoing thing. I've thought about it myself, as a lamp could be a nice, high end product if it's done right.

One thing I've noticed, root wood is incredibly hard and fine grained. It's the highest density wood part of any tree, afaict. So whatever you do with it, it will likely be super stable and strong.

I have a monster drill press.

This is the base and will sit as it stands on the table.
The part I would need a hole through would be the 6 foot pole if I dont make it easy on myself and use copper pipe.
I think I might have just enough 1 inch to do the job.

I just looked I have about 8 feet of solid 1 inch copper pipe plus some 3/4 and 1/2 plus fittings.

If I did use copper I would polish it and color it with a torch.

All of the cracks I will fill with colored risen.

Electric blue I think.
Maybe gold brass powder, I can make that.

I just now realized I have spent about 3 or 4 hours on the thing outside with a big grinder/sander.

Worth

[Zana]

Can't wait to see what you end up with, Worth.

[bower]

Colouring copper with a torch is a lot of fun. Good times, Worth!

[Misfit]

Cutting board, is my vote.

-Jimmy

[Hellmanns]

I was running low on seasoned handle staves, so I cut a shagbark hickory a few weeks ago and split it into staves for replacement tool handles, mainly axes, hatchets, and mauls.

[Worth1]

We dont have a lot of Hickory trees in my area but I have ran across a few here and there.

Worth

[PhilaGardener]

Looks nice!

[Worth1]

Hellmanns who makes your axe and hatchet heads?
You as well as I know the ones they sell now are junk for one reason or another.
Some of the steel is so hard it will ruin a file.
Others are just ground wrong.
I am in the process of reshaping a hatchet right now to better suit my needs.
I also dont want to pay 200 dollars for an axe.
I was also looking at axe handles and none of them were worth a darn.
Sort of like the gun stocks they have now with the grain running the wrong way at the grip.
I wish I still had my old Plumb hatchet I had when I was a kid.

Worth

[Hellmanns]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Hellmanns who makes your axe and hatchet heads?
You as well as I know the ones they sell now are junk for one reason or another.
Some of the steel is so hard it will ruin a file.
Others are just ground wrong.
I am in the process of reshaping a hatchet right now to better suit my needs.
I also dont want to pay 200 dollars for an axe.
I was also looking at axe handles and none of them were worth a darn.
Sort of like the gun stocks they have now with the grain running the wrong way at the grip.
I wish I still had my old Plumb hatchet I had when I was a kid.

Worth

All I have are vintage axes and hatchets from the heydays. That old steel, and american craftsmanship are still unequaled today in my honest opinion.

I love the old Plumbs, and own several. My favorite Plumb pattern is the "cedar pattern", I have several of these in various weights. Here is Plumb boyscout hatchet in the cedar pattern. I just made the handle for it a few months ago.


Here is another cedar pattern Plumb from around the 1920's or 30's. The pattern was actually invented in Kerrville, Texas in the 20's to eradicate cedar.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Hellmanns

All I have are vintage axes and hatchets from the heydays. That old steel, and american craftsmanship are still unequaled today in my honest opinion.

I love the old Plumbs, and own several. My favorite Plumb pattern is the "cedar pattern", I have several of these in various weights. Here is Plumb boyscout hatchet in the cedar pattern. I just made the handle for it a few months ago.


Here is another cedar pattern Plumb from around the 1920's or 30's. The pattern was actually invented in Kerrville, Texas in the 20's to eradicate cedar.

A preacher gave me the hatchet during my short stent in the Boy Scouts.
I loved it and by the time I was 12 years old I could put a razor sharp edge on just about anything.
This is the reason I left the Scouts.
I found it to be more suited for city kids.
When it came time for the wood chopping and rope contest's everyone wanted me on their team.
I'm going to start looking around for some of this old stuff before it is gone forever.

Worth

[Hellmanns]

Originally Posted by Worth1

A preacher gave me the hatchet during my short stent in the Boy Scouts.
I loved it and by the time I was 12 years old I could put a razor sharp edge on just about anything.
This is the reason I left the Scouts.
I found it to be more suited for city kids.
When it came time for the wood chopping and rope contest's everyone wanted me on their team.
I'm going to start looking around for some of this old stuff before it is gone forever.

Worth

I have collected good vintage tools for years, and still pick bargains up as I come across them. These days though I only bother with nearly mint condition tools. Last fall I came across this fine old Collins Legitimous at a flea market for $12. They were marketed as being the best ever produced.

Good vintage axes can be found on eBay, but good ones tend to go for a fortune!

[Worth1]

I have came to the conclusion if it is new enough to say "Wear Safety Goggles" it isn't worth a hoot.
I wish I had my dads old post maul.

It looked like this one it was a beast.

Our splitting maul looked like this one.

[Hellmanns]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I have came to the conclusion if it is new enough to say "Wear Safety Goggles" it isn't worth a hoot.
I wish I had my dads old post maul.

It looked like this one it was a beast.

Our splitting maul looked like this one.

You're right, it went down hill with those 3 words! I'm thinking they came about in the late 70's.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Hellmanns

You're right, it went down hill with those 3 words! I'm thinking they came about in the late 70's.

Right after OSHA.
You cannot believe how fast I took that stupid saw guard off of my table saw.
What a worthless piece of junk.
On a job site doing landscaping they jumped out me and this other old farmer for drinking out of the same water cup.
OSHA requirements they said.
Worth

[Hellmanns]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Right after OSHA.
You cannot believe how fast I took that stupid saw guard off of my table saw.
What a worthless piece of junk.
On a job site doing landscaping they jumped out me and this other old farmer for drinking out of the same water cup.
OSHA requirements they said.
Worth

I've never had dealings with OSHA, but my GAWD the stories I've heard over the years!