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Gene W
Location: The South Of England Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Posts: 116
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 Posted: Tue 24 May, 2011 3:25 am Post subject: Source for hardwood for weapon shafts (in UK) |
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Got a day off and wanted to remake a couple of shafts.
Have just made one out of vintage ash and it just doesn't have the right 'feel'.
Any thoughts on where I can go and get some good straight grained hardwood?
And ideas on what type etc?
Only looking for sizes of about 27" long and circular thickness like a broom handle.
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Gene W
Location: The South Of England Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Posts: 116
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| Posted: Tue 24 May, 2011 4:18 am Post subject: |
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1" oak dowel at a place in exeter and the chace to go through their offcuts bin!
AFK 
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Sean Flynt
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Gene W
Location: The South Of England Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Posts: 116
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| Posted: Tue 24 May, 2011 7:40 am Post subject: |
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| Sean Flynt wrote: | Vintage ash is exactly the right thing, but to feel right it would still have to be the right length and section for the given head. It's almost impossible to know what the originals felt like...oh, unless you live in England! The Royal Armouries-Leeds are going to have a hands-on day dedicated to polearms June 25. That would answer many questions about what the real thing felt like (assuming they have hafts from their working lives).
http://www.royalarmouries.org/events/events-a...to-zahgnal
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Hi Sean,
Just got back and read your post.
I had high hopes for the ash. But it feels wrong, it's for those two axes.
I've just got back from my local 'exotic' wood dealer with two pieces of 1-1/4" sq X 40" English Elm for £3.60!
Sunny afternoons and spokeshave time now 
I'm thinking octagonal.
Best
Gene
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Sean Flynt
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M van Dongen
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| Posted: Tue 24 May, 2011 10:44 am Post subject: |
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| Sean Flynt wrote: | | I can see how ash might feel light for a shorter piece. In the U.S., most working axes are mounted on Hickory (or, these days, composite material). I don't know what the international standard is. |
Well the quality axe handle replacements you see here locally ( Netherlands ) are hickory as well.
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P. Cha
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| Posted: Tue 24 May, 2011 11:48 am Post subject: |
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Well did live in a lot of different places growing up and hickory seems to be used pretty much everywhere for axe handles. This was before composite handles were common.
In anycase, I'm not sure if using ash is bad for an axe head (and some white ash is pretty damn dense), but if the elm doesn't work out, you could try oak, dogwood, indian rosewood or teak. If you want something even tougher ligum vitae and ebony are good options.
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Gene W
Location: The South Of England Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Posts: 116
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| Posted: Tue 24 May, 2011 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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I remember Clint Eastwoods immortal line: "There's nothing like a nice piece of Hickory".
I think the Elm will be OK.
I'll post results when carved.
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James Moore
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| Posted: Tue 24 May, 2011 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Gene W wrote: |
I've just got back from my local 'exotic' wood dealer with two pieces of 1-1/4" sq X 40" English Elm for £3.60!
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Got a name/weblink for said purveyor of fine timber?
Can never have too many contacts, after all!
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Gene W
Location: The South Of England Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Posts: 116
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| Posted: Tue 24 May, 2011 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| James Moore wrote: | | Gene W wrote: |
I've just got back from my local 'exotic' wood dealer with two pieces of 1-1/4" sq X 40" English Elm for £3.60!
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Got a name/weblink for said purveyor of fine timber?
Can never have too many contacts, after all! |
Sure thing. Lots of nice pieces of very varied woods in their 'offcuts' section and even cut the bit I chose up into the right sizes for no extra charge!
Beach Bros Ltd
Western Road
St Thomas
Exeter
Devon
EX4 1EQ
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