Hewing Hatchet Handled... and Rehandled

Hewing Hatchet Handled... and Rehandled - Printable Version

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Hewing Hatchet Handled... and Rehandled - Bibliophile 13 - 12-18-2018

You folks will appreciate this little hand tool saga.
Big Grin

So I have this hewing hatchet, which I use quite a lot when I'm cutting up logs to saw up into boards on the bandsaw. (Got to have a relatively flat face to sit on the bandsaw table, after all.)

It's a nice tool and takes a keen edge.

When I got it some years ago, it had a short handle, and it was mounted on the handle such that the bevel was on the wrong side for the work I was going to use it for.

Here it is next to the original handle--for comparison. I made the new handle you see above, and I used it for a few years. It was the right length, but the more I used it, the more I realized I had shaved it too thin. My hand cramped every time I used it for more than a few minutes.

This winter, I decided it was time to redo my old work and make a new, thicker handle for this hatchet.

I selected what I thought was a very nice piece of pecan--straight grained and bone dry.

I meticulously laid out the handle shape, planed the blank to thickness, and started shaping the contours with a spokeshave. I worked slowly and meticulously, trying to get everything shaped just right for my hand.

As I was shaping the part that goes into the head (there's probably a technical term for it--one of you can enlighten me), I thought the wood was shaving off a little too easily for pecan. Oh well, I thought, I may as well get the handle fitted since I've come this far.

I was nearly through driving the head home when this happened:

Yep, the handle broke right off!
Mad

I'm not sure what went wrong, but this piece of pecan turned out to be too brittle for this application. I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that the growth rings are so close together, or perhaps it just stayed wet a little too long before drying out. In any event, I had to start over (on handle #3).

Back to the wood pile. I found a straight piece of pecan from a different tree.

I worked faster this time, since I already had a good idea of how I wanted the handle to feel in my hand. It still took me another hour or so before the handle was exactly as I wanted it.

I started to tap the handle into the new head when I realized that I was putting it on upside down!

I drove the head back off the handle in disgust.
Upset

Ah, well, I found a spot where I could shave it down a little more in order to make the head go on a little more easily.

So ONCE MORE I tapped the head on.

And this time, everything went together properly. Finally!

A little Danish oil to bring out the color and give a bit of protection from moisture, and this hatchet is ready for some cutting action.

RE: Hewing Hatchet Handled... and Rehandled - Stwood_ - 12-18-2018

Ah, so the third time was a charm. Looks good.

Did you use a wedge on the top end? If so wood or metal wedge?

RE: Hewing Hatchet Handled... and Rehandled - C. in Indy - 12-19-2018

I feel somewhat better now... This past summer I re-hafted a hatchet, and I also put the head on upside-down
Sad

In my case, it will have to stay that way! Will pursue another one another time
Smile

Chris

RE: Hewing Hatchet Handled... and Rehandled - Admiral - 12-19-2018

BTDT in slightly different circumstances............................ Good job on the handle.

RE: Hewing Hatchet Handled... and Rehandled - Bibliophile 13 - 12-19-2018

Stwood: Both, actually. After the wooden wedge was in, there was s slight gap on each side, so I put in a metal wedge to finally secure everything.

RE: Hewing Hatchet Handled... and Rehandled - Arlin Eastman - 12-24-2018

(12-19-2018, 01:43 PM)Bibliophile 13 Wrote: Stwood: Both, actually. After the wooden wedge was in, there was s slight gap on each side, so I put in a metal wedge to finally secure everything.

Good thing you did not put the head on the wrong side like a carving hatchet with only one side.