Where do you get your hickory handle replacements?

[Davefr]

So why buy new handles for $5. and up when you could buy a complete hammer for less?
Makes no sense to me............

For the pride that comes from saving a great old USA made hammer and giving it a new lease on life.

I probably wouldn't bother saving a generic Chinese claw hammer but there are some really nice high quality hammers at g-sales that sell for next to nothing and most of the time all they need is a new handle. (this is especially the case with brass hammers, lead faced hammers, machinist ball piens, cool old hatchets, specialty hammers, etc).

I guess not everyone understands, but a high quality USA tool that's saved is twice as sweet as going to Home Crapo and buying a new Chinese hammer.

 

[crguy]

For the pride that comes from saving a great old USA made hammer and giving it a new lease on life.

I probably wouldn't bother saving a generic Chinese claw hammer but there are some really nice high quality hammers at g-sales that sell for next to nothing and most of the time all they need is a new handle. (this is especially the case with brass hammers, lead faced hammers, machinist ball piens, cool old hatchets, specialty hammers, etc).

I guess not everyone understands, but a high quality USA tool that's saved is twice as sweet as going to Home Crapo and buying a new Chinese hammer.

I never said anything about buying a New hammer. I'm talking about buying good old US made hammers in good condition, with good handles, for just a few dollars at garage sales. Cheaper than buying, or making a new handle to put in an old head.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Time is still spent going and finding those hammers so that's a bad argument.

Handles at Harry Epsteins are cheap enough to stock up on.

 

[Jon_E]

Easy to make your own handles. Use a resilient wood - think baseball bats! Ash, hickory, even elm will work. Locust and hop hornbeam also good for tool handles. Tight and straight grain very important. Orient the grain so that the growth rings are parallel to the head of the hammer. Use a single growth ring as a reference line, which should be the centerline of the handle from end to end.

 

[Rileysan]

For the pride that comes from saving a great old USA made hammer and giving it a new lease on life.

I agree with this statement, but it comes with an exception. I love cleaning up and restoring old tools - esp old hammers. But if it's something I need right away (in terms of hammers, that is unlikely), I would rather buy something that's ready to use.

Brian

 

[Davefr]

I never said anything about buying a New hammer. I'm talking about buying good old US made hammers in good condition, with good handles, for just a few dollars at garage sales. Cheaper than buying, or making a new handle to put in an old head.

Yes, I'll buy old hammers with good handles and also buy great old hammers with bad handles that need replaced. I guess it's a disease.

But it's not always easy to find old ones with "good" handles. They're usually loose, cracked, chipped or have a nail instead of a proper wedge.

 

[ozyborn]

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

Then you are missing tools. You had better got out to a few auctions and get them. Quick.

My wife irrational claims I must have at least one of every known tool. I think she is nuts. I do not have near enough room yet in the garage for that.

 

[jumbojak]

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............

Garage sale and junk store hammers with good handles are something I rarely see, and I buy a lot of hammers! You also have to consider how the hammer is to be used and who it is going to be used by; a ball peen in your home garage is just something to knock things one way or the other from time to time while the Jim Poor rounding hammer posted earlier in this thread is a specialized instrument that is used very heavily. The same could perhaps be said of the cross peens the OP is planning on handling.

I've heard of people buying a Jim Poor hammer - a very expensive hammer - and having to rehandle it to suit their needs and comfort. A hammer handle is (or can be) a very personal thing. Some people don't swing one enough to care one way or the other, but when you comfort for hours of hammering the handle can make a big difference. Some hammer makers ship without handles for this very reason. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[mikegt4]

I have a collection of old handle-less hammers similar to the OP.
Outside of taking them to a hardware store to size up new handles is there a way to order handles and get the proper size and shape? Are there standards that the industry follows?

 

[cgrutt]

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............

With the exception of one of the ball peens, these hammers were essentially free to me. They were included with a bunch of other tools in a tool box I had picked up. I also enjoy restoring old tools. I'll wind up putting new handles on them and they'll probably sit in the box with many others. One day they'll be passed on to my son. Hopefully I'll find a use for them before then. Can't put a price tag on that.

As an aside, when I need a hammer, I generally reach for a Snap On. Old habits die hard, LOL...

 

[cgrutt]

Then you are missing tools. You had better got out to a few auctions and get them. Quick.

My wife irrational claims I must have at least one of every known tool. I think she is nuts. I do not have near enough room yet in the garage for that.

LOL... Yeah, I guess I am missing some tools. Funny thing is I have a really nice collection of hand planes so there's no reason not to have a spokeshave. Just one of those things I've not got around to yet...

 

[crackit]

I have a collection of old handle-less hammers similar to the OP.
Outside of taking them to a hardware store to size up new handles is there a way to order handles and get the proper size and shape? Are there standards that the industry follows?

Yes, handles are designated by style (claw, ball-pein, tinner's, etc.) and then by the hammer's head weight in oz. Some hand fitting may still be required.

But ordering handles can be iffy. I recently bought some from House Handle, and the grain runs the wrong way in all of them. I'll probably be returning them.

 

[Vinko]

Tennessee hickory website is down.

Anyone have any other sources? I'll take a look at the other links, but about 6-7 years ago someone suggested another link. I can't find it in the posting archives but the hickory handles were great. I need one for a pick now.

 

[IndyGarage]

My local Menards has quite a selection.

I've replaced a couple in the past couple years with no problems. I would be tempted to try out my woodpile based on the comments here.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Harry J Epsteins has a selection of handles.

 

[metaldad]

My local Menards has quite a selection.

I've replaced a couple in the past couple years with no problems. I would be tempted to try out my woodpile based on the comments here.

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