Where do you get your hickory handle replacements?

[cgrutt]

Have a handful of hammer heads that need new handles. What's a good source for new handles? Did a Google search and found a few companies but was curious if there was a preferred source. Also what grade and finish do you prefer?

 

[Adam.C]

My firewood pile. The grain orientation on new hammer handles is often terrible. Make your own. Cheaper better, be proud of your handy work.

 

[Spdfreak91]

Sears has Vaughn made handles with the craftsman logo here, they seem to be pretty plentiful

 

[cgrutt]

My firewood pile. The grain orientation on new hammer handles is often terrible. Make your own. Cheaper better, be proud of your handy work.

Never even considered that great idea! Assuming you rough cut with a bandsaw and finish with Spokeshave? I don't own a Spokeshave, LOL...

 

[cgrutt]

Sears has Vaughn made handles with the craftsman logo here, they seem to be pretty plentiful

Thanks.

 

[Adam.C]

Never even considered that great idea! Assuming you rough cut with a bandsaw and finish with Spokeshave? I don't own a Spokeshave, LOL...

No saw. You split it with a dull hatchet. The split follows the grain. You end up with super strong, light, splinter free handle with a springy quality you can't get any other way. Shape with a rasp if you don't have a shave. You can get a lot done if you sharpen your hatchet.

Ash, pecan, hickory, are all excellent. White oak will also work. I'd skip red oak.

 

[Rileysan]

No saw. You split it with a dull hatchet. The split follows the grain. You end up with super strong, light, splinter free handle with a springy quality you can't get any other way. Shape with a rasp if you don't have a shave. You can get a lot done if you sharpen your hatchet.

Ash, pecan, hickory, are all excellent. White oak will also work. I'd skip red oak.

Interesting idea. Thanks!

Brian

 

[four.cycle]

http://www.tennesseehickoryproducts.com/

 

[cgrutt]

No saw. You split it with a dull hatchet. The split follows the grain. You end up with super strong, light, splinter free handle with a springy quality you can't get any other way. Shape with a rasp if you don't have a shave. You can get a lot done if you sharpen your hatchet.

Ash, pecan, hickory, are all excellent. White oak will also work. I'd skip red oak.

Thanks again, great idea. Might give it a try. Unfortunately, I only have maple in the wood pile but there are a couple of ash trees in the back that need to come down (unfortunately, they succumbed to Northeastern ash borer)

 

[cgrutt]

http://www.tennesseehickoryproducts.com/

Yeah, this was one of the places that came up with Google. Couldn't figure out if they sold to individuals or were strictly a wholesaler.

 

[Larryjones]

Flea markets always seem to have somebody selling handles. Keep a list in your wallet of what you need and eye sizes for when opportunity presents itself.

 

[jumbojak]

I tend to hit as many small hardware stores as possible when I'm passing by and have the time. Handles is one section I almost always check as you never know when a good to decent hickory handle will turn up. Most you find won't be worth buying, but every once in a while a nice sapwood handle turns up. I wouldn't buy online, as you really need to have a look at a handle before using it.

 

[outdoorspace]

I exclusively use Baker Pro and Vaughan supreme replacement handles, both are very well finished with more traditional swells and tend to have correct grain orientation. Vaughan handles are hard to source locally now but Menards luckily carries Baker Pro. Link Handle, a division of Seymour Manufacturing, is subpar and overpriced.

 

[mike7]

I wouldn't buy online, as you really need to have a look at a handle before using it.

I second this. Grain orientation is key.

 

[cgrutt]

Here are the hammer heads. Large ball peen is a Blue Point. The two engineering hammers on right are Stanley's. Not sure about the others.

 

[Nick Danger]

This forum told me to go to www.househandle.com. I bought a dozen handles from them.

 

[cgrutt]

This forum told me to go to www.househandle.com. I bought a dozen handles from them.

Thanks, that was the other site Google turned up...

 

[Nick Danger]

I was a little disappointed with House Handles. The long handle for the sledgehammer was a beautiful piece of wood. The handles for the smaller handles were inconsistent. But they were a lot cheaper than buying handles from the hardware store.

 

[Davefr]

I second this. Grain orientation is key.

How do you hand pick a good handle? Do you look for diagonal grain orientation and as old growth as you can find??

 

[jumbojak]

How do you hand pick a good handle? Do you look for diagonal grain orientation and as old growth as you can find??

Sapwood makes the best handles. That's the younger growth on the outside of a given log, nearest to the bark. All wood in a tree aside from the layer directly under the bark is already dead and it's best to use the "freshest" wood you can get your hands on. Light in color and away from the heart. Grain orientation is, at least in my experience, slightly less important. Important yes, but so long as the grain is running the length of the handle with no sharp interruptions where the handle meets the eye of the hammer I have had good luck.

 

[PBCampbell]

A member here (Outlaw something or other) did a very nice write up on what to look for in a wood hammer handle. Also, if you live around an Amish or similar community, that would be a good place to look for good quality wood handles.

 

[justanengineer]

I get mine at auctions, swap meets, fleas, etc, always at least a few guys selling them for $1 each. I do the same with shovel, axe, and other handles, bigger ones are $3-7 each tho

 

[Thumper68]

Got my last 2 from McMaster.

both were good IMO for the price.

 

[cgrutt]

How about from some milled lumber? I'm pretty sure I have a few boards left over from my kitchen. I used hickory for the face frames and doors/drawer fronts. So sap wood, huh? Wouldn't have expected that.

 

[PFSard]

My firewood pile. The grain orientation on new hammer handles is often terrible. Make your own. Cheaper better, be proud of your handy work.

Great idea. Although I have no firewood pile in AZ!!! LOL. How much time do you spend on average to produce a handle from the wood pile?

 

[mikebaker1129]

I picked up some Vaughn and Bushnell handles from Zoro.

 

[mikegt4]

No experience, but another source.
http://www.seymourmidwest.com/en/engineers-hammer-handles-oval-eye
They have a "where to buy" button on their web site.

 

[Koolmoose]

My local ACE hardware store had a nice selection when I needed one awhile ago. Unstained though.
Steve

 

[Boilerhouse]

The local hardware stores had a lousy selection so, last winter, I made a bunch from dimensional ash lumber which I had kicking around. Two mini sledges, four ball peens and a couple claw hammers. Once I got a system down pat, it didn't take that long.

 

[Hammer1963]

I make my own. I have plenty of Hickory and Shagbark Hickory logs that I use. I generally rough cut them with a chainsaw and then pare them down with a sharp thin blade hatchet and follow with a rasp. Finish up with several size belt sanders and they are ready to go.

 

[jumbojak]

How about from some milled lumber? I'm pretty sure I have a few boards left over from my kitchen. I used hickory for the face frames and doors/drawer fronts. So sap wood, huh? Wouldn't have expected that.

So long as your lumber is thick enough that would work wonderfully. I'm told a belt grinder is the animal for shaping handles if you have access to one. The slack belt allows for quickly setting the curves you want, provided you want smooth curves on your handles. Some who make their own handles leave the shaft deliberately squared, often with tactile markers for direction, so they can quickly switch faces without having to worry about striking using the wrong one.

Those are blacksmiths though... so if you aren't worried about striking while the iron is hot it may not be a concern. You might like the feel though. Personally I like a larger round handle, but to each their own.

 

[BD1]

I would try a Blacksmith site. Hammer handles take a real beating. Here's my local supplier, http://www.centaurforge.com/Hammer-Handles/products/105/

The Jim Poor handles and his tools are highly respected by many Blacksmiths.
http://www.centaurforge.com/Jim-Poor-Replacement-Driving-Hammer-Handle/productinfo/JPDHH/

There are many Blacksmith suppliers that sell handles.

 

[cgrutt]

I would try a Blacksmith site. Hammer handles take a real beating. Here's my local supplier, http://www.centaurforge.com/Hammer-Handles/products/105/

The Jim Poor handles and his tools are highly respected by many Blacksmiths.
http://www.centaurforge.com/Jim-Poor-Replacement-Driving-Hammer-Handle/productinfo/JPDHH/

There are many Blacksmith suppliers that sell handles.

Thanks!

 

[cgrutt]

So long as your lumber is thick enough that would work wonderfully. I'm told a belt grinder is the animal for shaping handles if you have access to one. The slack belt allows for quickly setting the curves you want, provided you want smooth curves on your handles. Some who make their own handles leave the shaft deliberately squared, often with tactile markers for direction, so they can quickly switch faces without having to worry about striking using the wrong one.

Those are blacksmiths though... so if you aren't worried about striking while the iron is hot it may not be a concern. You might like the feel though. Personally I like a larger round handle, but to each their own.

Thanks. I think I have some 8/4 hickory boards. Have to check though. Might give it a shot, although I'm inclined to buy at least some of them pre made.

 

[Randy_che]

I used to buy from Househandle. The last one I got had a crack in it and they won't respond to my requests for a replacement after I sent them the pictures they wanted.

 

[Aura]

I used to buy from Househandle. The last one I got had a crack in it and they won't respond to my requests for a replacement after I sent them the pictures they wanted.

Try a phone call? 1-800-260-6455.
I hope that's not the way they do business. Thanks to this thread I finally got off my duff and ordered a handle for a hatchet head that I found about 10 years ago. And where did I go and order from just before I read your post?

 

[fred d]

I had the same thing, by the looks of things all most exactly

I spent just over $50 on the hickory handles pictured at my local Ace Hardware

Still working on getting them assembled

Never thought of making my own, but if I haven't had time to get them assembled, no way I'd have time to make my own handles

 

[cgrutt]

Very nice!

 

[Davefr]

Sapwood makes the best handles. That's the younger growth on the outside of a given log, nearest to the bark. All wood in a tree aside from the layer directly under the bark is already dead and it's best to use the "freshest" wood you can get your hands on. Light in color and away from the heart. Grain orientation is, at least in my experience, slightly less important. Important yes, but so long as the grain is running the length of the handle with no sharp interruptions where the handle meets the eye of the hammer I have had good luck.

Thanks!!

I guess I've been doing it all wrong. I've always looked for the tight grain heartwood vs sapwood and a pattern that would be somewhat diagonal when inserted into the head.

 

[crguy]

Think about this. How much is your time worth? Making a handle from scratch will take time that you might have spent doing something more important.
I will also point out that you can buy hammers like that at garage sales for $1. - $2. each with handles already in them.
So why buy new handles for $5. and up when you could buy a complete hammer for less?
Makes no sense to me............