Smaller limbs for hatchet handle?

B

Bighaze51

Joined
Dec 26, 2012
Messages
1,029
So, im thinking about making a new handle for an old LL Bean hatchet that belonged to my great grandfather and my brain wheels have been turning. I guess my question is can i use smaller limbs for the handle? I have a bunch of pecan limbs i cut from the trees in my yard that are 3 inches or so in diameter. I know most axe/hatchet handles are cut from larger billets but im wondering if these smaller limbs would work for a hatchet handle. Any reason it would be a bad idea?
 
probably good for a temporary handle, unless you cut the limb in half the grain's gonna be running the wrong way
 
Hatchets being small tools dont suffer near the stresses on their haft as bigger axes do.
I dunno much about Pecan wood, But sub-optimal wood in a hatchet is usually fine.

Perhaps stress a few pieces to point of failure & gain a feel for how it reacts. Hopefully it "cracks & pops" or in other words gives reasonable warning before failure, You dont want something that just snaps off.
 
Pecan is a type of hickory. This photo shows a homemade axe handle, 24" and made from 3" diameter birch (not as strong as the hickories), that works just fine, according to the linked article:

eric02.jpg

eric01.jpg

http://axeconnected.blogspot.com/2013/03/weak-handles-revisited.html
 
Like Lieblad said, just break a bit first to see what it's like.

I would use it, branches have been used for a very long time as tool handles! :)
 
Thanks everyone. You have pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. I've used the pecan on some knife handles and a straight razor. And I know it's tough, I doubt I could break it if I tried. I'm going to go for it. I'll report back when it's done
 
I have used Pecan from some dead fall limbs one on a U.S.A. hatchet(no date) and the other for a "M" 2 1/4# boys axe both run right down the center of the handle/haft.
The worst that can happen that it breaks but then you have had the pleasure of making a haft from scratch and there is something to be said about that!
Rick
 
Ive been reading up on the pecan and i think its going to work out. The pieces i have i think should have some nice spalting too. I also have some sweet gum i can work with. It's about to get rediculous
 
Spalting maybe OK for decorative knife scales and such but I wouldn't be seeking out fungal-infused wood (the early stages of rot!) for structural purposes.
 
A round branch will be perfectly adequate for a hatchet handle except that vertical grain will be lost for strength right at the shoulder and at the back of the eye once the shape has been rasped/filed/sanded. But then again it is a mere hatchet and wood stress will not be as profound. Round eye 'trade' axes, on the other hand, were specifically made for this purpose.
 
Well, it turns out the pecan is too far gone to make a handle from. I started carving into it and found worm holes. But i did find a hickory handle that i bought a while back and decided just to use it. After rasping and sanding the end to get a good fit for the head I used my torch to lightly blacken the handle. Ill post some pictures up when it all oiled up and ready to go
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top