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What is the correct wood for tool handles?

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question tool handle wood
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8.6K views 14 replies 11 participants last post by  bondogaposis  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
By tools I mean hammers, chisels, screwdrivers, handsaws and so forth.

The question is three fold:

  1. What was the classic/vintage preference for the tools handle?
  2. What is a good/acceptable modern replacement?
  3. What can use found in very northern Michigan forest? (Western upper peninsula)

For example, I would think the answer for Saws is (1) Apple, (2) Apple, beech, cheery, walnut although I think I have seen other choices; (3) apple, I have enough of it drying. Is it Ash for chisels?

Specifically I need to make some tool handles for three hammers, two ball-peen, one claw. The vintage hammers I have look oak to me, but I understand oak is not a good handle choice. So I wonder what was traditionally used.

I have not found Hickory around here but I am sure it exits. We are zone 4.

Yes its another of my odd little questions. Thanks for trying to answer it.
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
English quartersawn beech was the wood traditionally used for saw handles back in the day. Some makers also offered ebony and mahogany at a premium price, but I've yet to see any of those turn up on the secondhand market. Beech is an excellent wood for saw handles IMO because it is strong, durable, easily worked with hand tools, finishes well and ages well. Nowadays, most beech comes from Europe though rather than England.

For chisels typical woods are beech, hornbeam, ash, box, rosewood and more recently bubinga.

Screwdrivers can be any hardwood you like really since you aren't (or shouldn't be) pounding on them.

Hammers are more often than not hornbeam or ash.
 
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#3 ·
Thanks, Andy. I have (or will have when it dries) plenty of hornbeam, apple and ash. So that good news for me. Beech of course I would have to import.
 
R
#4 ·
You are lucky if you have a good supply of hornbeam and apple. I have a short section of apple that is slatted for a couple replacement saw handles but the stuff is just really hard to find around here for some reason. I think the smoke chips industry pretty much eats up any supply there is.
 
#5 ·
Hickory is the traditional wood for American hammer handles. If you can't get hickory, I would use tight grain ash. Orient the grain so it is vertical when in the hammering position.
 
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#7 ·
You are lucky if you have a good supply of hornbeam and apple. I have a short section of apple that is slatted for a couple replacement saw handles but the stuff is just really hard to find around here for some reason. I think the smoke chips industry pretty much eats up any supply there is.

- Richard H
Click to expand...
I agree I am lucky.

Last year I was given a 10-11 inch diameter log of Hornbeam which I have had sawn 8/4 I have another small 6" inch diameter log too. My sawyer happened to have an apple tree sawn in to 8/4 slabs last year. I bought most of it.
 
#9 ·
Don, if you want to pay for shipping I've got a lot 2"+ ( most around 2 1/2") hickory a bit under 3' long. I could rip off a square for you it you like.
Jim
 
#12 ·
Well if its a new hammer I try to use any kind of hardwood that I can find in the forest.
The spring in the handle will go away as its in your shop. Why? because its the loss of moisture
in the wood, So I used linseed oil or a nice hard finish even beeswax! My apprenticeship to a blacksmith told
me to never throw away a broken handle and keep your grain inline with your tool.
I have handmade handles that are over a hundred years old and in great shape!
 
P
#14 ·
The folks I worked with thirty-some years ago advocated oak sapwood from the bottom of the tree to get the sweep for an adz handle. Spring was the reason for the choice. They said that the handle would not last as long as heart wood, but that it would have more spring. I haven't gotten my lipped adz down in a long while, but it still has the same handle.
 
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