Axe Handle

[35Remington]

The bush axe I bought and used for land clearing in Africa has finally busted. If I was smart, I would have bought a couple spare handles while I was there.

I'm not impressed with what I saw at Home Depot. The one "local" hardware store offering was a hair skinny.

Any suggestions? Anything hardwood is fine. I'm thinking a nice cedar post might be the ticket.

 

[TXARGUY]

Bois d' arc.

Never worry about it again.

 

[35Remington]

Bois d' arc.

Never worry about it again.

What is that?

 

[35Remington]

 

[TXARGUY]

What is that?

Bois d' arc is to wood as diamonds are to rocks.

Have you ever seen a horse apple? They grow on Bois d' arc trees (pronounced 'bow dark').

They grow everywhere here in North Texas. I've got fence posts made of Bois d' arc that were placed well over 100 years ago that are still stronger than the steel t posts we use today.

 

[kyletxria1911a1]

good info thanks

 

[35Remington]

Bois d' arc is to wood as diamonds are to rocks.

Wow, I had no idea. Are those the same as "crab apples"? Surely have seen them before. What chance do I have of paying you to send me a suitable limb?

 

[TXARGUY]

Wow, I had no idea. Are those the same as "crab apples"? Surely have seen them before. What chance do I have of paying you to send me a suitable limb?

No charge. PM me and we'll get it figured out.

 

[single stack]

I've only known that tree as an Osage Orange.

I'm happy to learn that it is so strong.

It can be discouraging to see one when clearing land.
Ironwood (hop hornbeam) and American Hawthorne are real tough too.

 

[deemus]

Bois D Arc wood is really cool in a fire place. I like to put a log in oak wood fire and watch it spark up. It throws out different colors. Pretty cool. I heard they burn too hot to have all the logs Bois D Arc. Supposedly bad for the fire place.

 

[CanTex]

Cedar would most certainly not work.

 

[TXARGUY]

Bois D Arc wood is really cool in a fire place. I like to put a log in oak wood fire and watch it spark up. It throws out different colors. Pretty cool. I heard they burn too hot to have all the logs Bois D Arc. Supposedly bad for the fire place.

You can smelt iron over a Bois d, arc fire.

 

[35Remington]

Ok, reopening this thread. The limb TXARGUY sent me is beautiful, but just too short to use as a felling axe, which is what I need. I'm planning to make it into an awesome camp axe, though.

It's Sunday night, so I haven't called around town yet to see who has what. I found a really cool guide online for choosing handles, but I'd like to put my hands on something before ordering. http://tennesseehickory.com/images/catalog_lr.pdf

If anyone has seen a good assortment of axe handles around San Antonio, Austin, or the surrounding, please let me know.

 

[stdreb27]

Ok, reopening this thread. The limb TXARGUY sent me is beautiful, but just too short to use as a felling axe, which is what I need. I'm planning to make it into an awesome camp axe, though.

It's Sunday night, so I haven't called around town yet to see who has what. I found a really cool guide online for choosing handles, but I'd like to put my hands on something before ordering. http://tennesseehickory.com/images/catalog_lr.pdf

If anyone has seen a good assortment of axe handles around San Antonio, Austin, or the surrounding, please let me know.

I have one of their handles. They're good stuff.

 

[Watchdog]

Tag for interest, as I just got my grandfather's old single bit Plumb axe. It needs a new handle, I would love to make it out of Bois D Arc, is it hard to work with? I would have to try to find a piece and make it.

Where would be a good place to get a decent sized piece of Orange Osage or Bois D arc wood? I would like to give it a go a making my own handle.

 

[Vaquero]

On a fence line, along a gravel county road.