Thread: River red gum hammer handles

Its funny how one mans exotic is another mans common place. I can literally drive down the road and pick up redgum off the side of the road, so long as I don't get caught .

Nice job on the handles!

Cheers Andrew

I am guessing that you don't do much actual striking with these hammers. If you do, you are going to end up with very sore hands, possibly carpel tunnel syndrome as well. Red Gum does not absorb much vibration. Seeing you are in the US, I would have chased some red Hickory, not the usual white stuff.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Thanks for the tip, Crocy. Although this is my first go around with river red gum, I am familiar with hickory handles. Very common here.

According to the wood data-base, the modulus of elasticity for river red gum is 11.80 GPa and for red (pignut) hickory it is 15.59 GPa. Bases on those data hickory should actually be a little stiffer than rrg. So I think it will be OK but I suppose the joints in my arm and hand will let me know!

Your young arms will make up for the stiffness of the river Red Gum and they look much better than Hickory.

River Red Gum grows to big trees and are popular for big Slab Tables when not used for railway sleepers. The figure can look very impressive on big table tops.
Heavy, hard and durable.

Spotted Gum is our preferred tool handle because it has similar "give" to Hickory.