Thread: Wooden handled hammers? Australia hates them...

I have to admit I am a purist when it comes to hammer handles. Granddad was a carpenter, dad was a blacksmith and I have all their tools. Just rehandled the 15lb sledge hammer because I let an idiot use it and it was the last Hickory handle left in town. I have tried spotty gum, but found it still rattled my fingers. I had run out of Club, Claw and Ballpein handles, searched the web, none available in Aus. So I went to a handle factory in Tennessee and bought a box of all the types I needed. Well bugger me, after I had paid for them and was leaving, she asked why did I not buy them in Aus and she then gave me their agents name. Well at least the customs lady had a good laugh at my expense.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Murphy at it again.

So who's the agent Old Croc?

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Krugers here prob has the best range of replacement handles, in hickory and hardwood.

Originally Posted by rsser

Murphy at it again.

So who's the agent Old Croc?

----

Krugers here prob has the best range of replacement handles, in hickory and hardwood.

Ern, I had another look at Krugers site and found the Hickory hidden in the fine print, they are pushing hardwood in each section, that's why I missed it.
Tennessee Hickory Products are sold here by Ayrford Agencies, Lindsay St, Dennington, Vic. They have a website.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Originally Posted by rsser

Krugers here prob has the best range of replacement handles, in hickory and hardwood.

Yep. They're my go-to. (For reference: Hickory Handles - Krugers since 1911)

I'm another who has always preferred timber handles... in my youth I couldn't justify the extra expense of metal/fibreglass and nowadays if I pick one up it feels 'wrong.' Not sure why; it's not weight or balance as I can pick up almost any wooden handled hammer and feel comfortable using it.

On a side note, when I started at the Joinery everyone had steel handled Estwings or clones thereof. Me, I turned up with a variety of wooden handled ones, from tacks through peens to claw. Late last year I semi-retired and now am on call for commissions and... "non-square" jobs. So I packed up my workbench all nice'n'neat, although I gave the apprentice permission to use my tools as needed. (He has the calling and has his head on straight. )

Dropped back in a bit later and my hammers were spread throughout the shop. Seems like they finally realised Estys aren't appropriate for the finesse work.

I bought a Chinese claw hammer decades ago. $3.50. It's still clean and tight despite doing duty for years in hammering in tent pegs. You think it's only a cheapie, it can be replaced, but it's never needed to.

That’s interesting re the hickory handles available here in Oz.
I brought back a bit of hickory from the states a few years ago to make handles.
They are for a mates metal shaping/panelbeating hammers.
He likes the ogtagonal shape so there’s a bit of spokeshaving to do.
I fit a wooden wedge then cross it with one of those Al ones.
I have used cut down wriggle nails on his smaller hammers more silversmithing size.
H.

Yes, some woodchoppers like the octagonal shape too.

It used to be thought that the best hickory was the white sapwood but someone did the tests and found that boardwood was just as good.

Replacement hickory handles from the US can be a mixed bunch (here too for that matter). I've had reasonable results ordering in batches the A grade uncoated handles from House Handle Company, using a US shipping agent to get them here.

Whatever you do watch the grain. I recall when I sold tools back in the day you would occasionally get a handle with angled grain and they would split off. Really annoying to get the handle fitted only to find it split open.

I have to agree with Rustynail. Any framing and site work I'd always prefer my 24oz Estwing. All my other hammers like a lump, scutch or brickies hammer are all wooden handled. Same as any of my brickies trowels etc.

Stewie

Originally Posted by Stewie D

I have to agree with Rustynail. Any framing and site work I'd always prefer my 24oz Estwing. All my other hammers like a lump, scutch or brickies hammer are all wooden handled. Same as any of my brickies trowels etc.

Stewie

I know they are the defacto, but I just hate estwings.

Yes they are near unbreakable, BUT they ring like a tuning fork and send shock into your hand.

Tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome hurt far more than replacing hammers every now and again...

Originally Posted by 44Ronin

I know they are the defacto, but I just hate estwings.

Yes they are near unbreakable, BUT they ring like a tuning fork and send shock into your hand.

Tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome hurt far more than replacing hammers every now and again...

The new ones yes, the old ones no. Very different steel. One of my apprentices kept trying to swap his Estwing for mine. When I tried his, I can't say I blamed him.
I think carpel tunnel and tennis elbow are the only two injuries I haven't succumbed to. Maybe physic has something to do with it.
I remember knocking up a hardwood frame in Liverpool mid February using a Cheney ball and claw.
Lovely old hammer for sticking up fascia when you are short of an extra pair of hands. But when it came to a hot dry day and some serious flogging, off came the head and took out the bottom crate of a pile of soft drinks stacked against the clients fence ready for his next day deliveries! If you think "Old Faithful" can put on a bit of a squirt, you aint seen nothin yet. I still have the offending head, but have never bothered to re handle it, as shortly after this incident nailing guns became the norm and lo and behold, there was that extra hand I had always wanted.

Originally Posted by tony_A

I've a couple of old hammers that heed handles, what local wood would you recommend to make hammer handles?

Tony

Horizontal, Tony. Beats every thing else, and looks good.

you might have difficulty finding spotted gum in Tas. Old growth blue gum is similar.



Graeme

Not sure if this bloke has a hickory or hardwood handle but he seems to be going the distance:

https://youtu.be/q7tA4s7W5Ec

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Horizontal, Tony. Beats every thing else, and looks good.

you might have difficulty finding spotted gum in Tas. Old growth blue gum is similar.



Graeme

+1.