Hammer (handle) time

[Matt Lau]

I've started to go on a hammer buying spree after Stan opened my eyes to the beauty of a nice gennou.
I plan to buy a few heads and make handles for them.

1. Any ideals on what to look for?
Stan recommend strong, sheer resistent, dense, stable woods.
I think that he and So also recommend something this some shock absorption.

2. Any domestic recommendations?

I've seen So recommend gumi and quince.
Derek used Jarrah.
Stan had a beautiful black persimmon one.
On some japanophile websites, I've also seen hickory championed.

I'd love to hear your recommendations and rationale.
I have pear, osage orange, ebony, rosewood, oak, and maple.
I'll maybe make one with osage orange--but it's whippy and transfers energy very efficiently (why it's favored as a Brazilian Rosewood substitute in guitarmaking circles).

I was thinking of getting some quince?


Anyways, I know that I'm being a bit crazy.

[Jim Koepke]

Of what you have mentioned I would likely try hickory.

If you are buying a few heads, why not make handles of different woods for each head?

I often do this for some of my chisels so I know which is which by the wood of the handle.

jtk

[Malcolm Schweizer]

After seeing Brian's ebony handled gennou, that's what I would choose. I also like rosewood. Both woods are very durable and beautiful.

[Pat Barry]

I assume this is going to be a tappy tap type hammer - if so, use whatever you like from a visual appearance. If these are going to be hammers for serious pounding you should go hickory or ash.

[george wilson]

Agreed,hickory or ash are the traditional choices because they have the best properties for a hammer handle. The grain should run vertically in the handle.

If the hammer is for light tapping,you can use just about any hardwood. Osage orange would make a great handle.For hard or easy use. I wish I had a long piece to make a long bow.

[Derek Cohen]

After seeing Brian's ebony handled gennou, that's what I would choose. I also like rosewood. Both woods are very durable and beautiful.

Brian, I meant to ask you who made your handles - I assume that you purchased the gennous from So? And that he supplied the handles as well?

The reason I ask is that they are different from the curved handles of Stanley's and my gennous, which I consider to be more traditional ... yet So knows his oats, and if so, what did he say about the design to you?

Regards from Perth

Derek

[george wilson]

I only make straight handles myself.

[Brian Holcombe]

Brian, I meant to ask you who made your handles - I assume that you purchased the gennous from So? And that he supplied the handles as well?

The reason I ask is that they are different from the curved handles of Stanley's and my gennous, which I consider to be more traditional ... yet So knows his oats, and if so, what did he say about the design to you?

Regards from Perth

Derek

I bought them from So and he supplied the handles as well. We didn't discuss the design of the handle really, I just picked the ones I liked.

I bought the Hiroki from another vendor and he only supplied curved white oak handles, so I used that in that in instance.

Both work well, I can use either all day without my hands feeling tired, and my hands would feel it right away if they were incorrect. For most handles I know within minutes if the design not working for me.

So has curated his tool collection very well, so if I am on the fence about something I will generally just take the leap and see how it does.

[Mike Holbrook]

Matt,
I have a couple Gennou heads waiting for me at the P.O.. Apparently tried to deliver them yesterday, while I was cycling with my dogs, and needed a signature.

I talked to Brian and he suggested Japan-Tool, which may be So? Brian suggested just buying handles with the heads. The only listed gennou with handles, have ebony, which may be why he got ebony. There was a caution on the site that ordering handles might delay the order for a good while. Apparently they are so backed up they are not able to answer emails so I could not get more information. I understand they have many more items that are not listed. Rather than trying to communicate with So?, I just ordered the heads.

I have a block of Ash I got from an ash tree I took down several years ago. I plan to split some straight grained pieces from it later today. I have read that Ash absorbs more shock than Hickory. Which is why they use it for baseball bats, maybe a good thing maybe not, but it is what I have. I have many Hickory handled tools too though. Most of the hand tools I have from Sweden come with Swiss Ash handles, but I don't think they have hickory. I will have to finish the redesign of my shavehorse too.

Thanks again for the help Brian.

[Brian Holcombe]

Anytime!

Post up the result when you finish the handles.

[lowell holmes]

I would buy a replacement handle. Vaughn has several listed on Amazon. I have bought them at hardware stores that sell wood working hand tools.

[george wilson]

Replacement handles will work. But,I haven't seen any where the grain of the wood is oriented correctly. Mostly their grain is at about 45 degrees,or an assortment of odd angles.

[lowell holmes]

I haven't re-handled a hammer in years. Maybe we used to get better stock. You used to be able to go to lumber/hardware yard and get things like hammer handles and such.

[steven c newman]

Was in an ACE Hardware store the other day, not only handles for sale, but if you needed the steel wedges, they had a tray of them, too.

As for me..
handle finished1.jpg
Not sure if it is Oak, or Ash...

[george wilson]

Yes,they sell handles these days,with RANDOM grain orientation. Old saying: If you want it done right,do it yourself.