axe handle

[difflock]

Am I correct in thinking that the Hickory used for shafts, is actually the Sapwood, the heartwood being less suitable/unsuitable for this use.

Cos Kinda wondering is this why the Ash sapling/branch also works, being all sapwood?

m

[se7enthdevil]

that's quite possibly the case as i've seen them using hickory for sporting equipment and they were harvesting trees no bigger than 12-15" diameter.

 

i believe the heartwood can be used for spade handles or other items where strength is not so important.

[difflock]

that's quite possibly the case as i've seen them using hickory for sporting equipment and they were harvesting trees no bigger than 12-15" diameter.

 

i believe the heartwood can be used for spade handles or other items where strength is not so important.

 

JHC!

 

As a farmers Son, (if never a Navvy), a spade shaft is the ABSOLUTE:001_rolleyes: test for any timber/wood.

The bending moment (to sound all technical) or leverage, where the wood meets the steel, is extreme in this application.

Probably and routinely the most extreme application I can think of, within the constraints of correct tool useage.

OK

A "Peavy" would be equally stressed for the same reasons, BUT they tend to use much thicker section timber, at the point of max bending moment.

m

[spiral]

Pink Heart of hickory is as good if not better than sap hickory.

 

Smashed many brand new ash shafts on spades..... Ash left too long in round before planking ..... wood can still look ok but goes brittle... Think my dad used to call it "Brashy ash failure"? {He was a buyer & manger for CF Andersons timber firm in Islington, many decades ago... Its where I first started to learn about timber, as a little kid....}

 

spiral

[peatff]

I made one from Beech for my stick chopper and it's lasted well. The wood came out of an old sofa so it was well seasoned.

[ArthurBottlesworth]

JHC!

 

As a farmers Son, (if never a Navvy), a spade shaft is the ABSOLUTE:001_rolleyes: test for any timber/wood.

The bending moment (to sound all technical) or leverage, where the wood meets the steel, is extreme in this application.

Probably and routinely the most extreme application I can think of, within the constraints of correct tool useage.

OK

A "Peavy" would be equally stressed for the same reasons, BUT they tend to use much thicker section timber, at the point of max bending moment.

m

 

Doesn't this break the first rule of farming!

 

NEVER BUY A TOOL WITH A HANDLE

[difflock]

Doesn't this break the first rule of farming!

 

NEVER BUY A TOOL WITH A HANDLE

 

Or one that canny be fixed with a 9" angle grinder an a welder!

[spiral]

I made one from Beech for my stick chopper and it's lasted well. The wood came out of an old sofa so it was well seasoned.

 

Ahhh mine was on the 7lb Elwell, guess the leverage & shock was a bit heavier on that.

 

For kindling, Id guess most things would do...

 

Spiral

[se7enthdevil]

think i'll make my little chopper out of something i've just got lying around then but i'll hold out for either robinia or ash for the 5lb splitter...

[se7enthdevil]

well after nepia's delivery of robinia i've cleaved myself some bits of wood for the handles, roughly hewn them to shape and am now letting them dry.

 

i'll get a snap up later.