The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: chrismahon on May 19, 2012, 08:51:58 pm

Title: Dangerous tools
Post by: chrismahon on May 19, 2012, 08:51:58 pm

I've just bought a second hand sledge hammer. Handle seemed a little bit dodgy (but what do you expect for £1.50) so, being rather cautious, I decided to replace it even though it's a long job -it took me 4 hours to put a new handle on a freebe ex-NCB axe head. First thing I realised on close inspection was the handle was not secured with a wedge but with large washers hammered into position. When I finally got them out and removed the handle I discovered that it was split almost right through across the diameter just 15mm inside the head- before the retaining taper started. So the probability is that the first time I'd have used it the head would have come off and god knows what damage it would have done to me or even worse to someone nearby!
 
Anyone else had a similar experience?

Title: Re: Dangerous tools
Post by: deepinthewoods on May 20, 2012, 09:41:54 am

yup i once launched an axe head, it narrowly missed my car and ended up 20ft away in the woods, its a mistake you only make once thankfully.

Title: Re: Dangerous tools
Post by: bloomer on May 20, 2012, 09:43:12 am

never done it with a felling axe done it with a hand axe before and thats scary enough!!!

Title: Re: Dangerous tools
Post by: chrismahon on July 13, 2012, 08:51:59 pm

Just had another one. Hand axe with the head secured by resin bonding. The handle came loose after a few blows so I finished the job and removed it by heating the head to soften the resin. Turns out the handle was sawn split at the end, banged into the head and just thermosetting resin (araldite) poured into it -no wedge. Managed to reshape the handle and fit it properly. Seems a big bodge by the manufacturer when they have produced a reasonable quality head which has held it's edge very well. I do sometimes use Araldite Precision to seal any gaps that water can get into between the head and the handle/shaft, but don't rely on it for the security of fit. Need to buy some more wedges as I'm using rather a lot at the moment.

Title: Re: Dangerous tools
Post by: deepinthewoods on July 13, 2012, 09:11:05 pm

well seasoned oak makes a good wedge for ash.

Title: Re: Dangerous tools
Post by: chrismahon on July 13, 2012, 09:45:07 pm

Thanks for that Deepinthewoods. Will save me some money in the future I think. I'll still use Iron wedges for the big stuff though.