[TheForge] What handle to put on hot cutter?

[Jerry Frost]

It'll take a standard hammer handle. When you get it, 
just take it to the local hardware store, building 
supply, etc. and find one that fits. A bit oversize is 
best so you can rasp or grind it to fit. Try not to fit 
it too tightly, the wedges are to tighten it up. You 
don't want it sloppy but you don't want to have to 
drive it in either.

Another route I'm going to try is rectangular handles 
made by ripping 3/4" hickory lumber and rasping or 
grinding to fit the eye. The advantage of using a slab 
handle is feel. It's easy to align the head straight up 
and down or at whatever angle you're using it. This of 
course requires you set the handle properly.

A few weeks ago I visited a local smith and we made a 
couple hammer heads from truck axel. (HIS truck 
unfortunately) He made an angle pein and I made a 
squarish rounding hammer. We drifted the eyes for 
rectangular/slab handles and when I've finished mine, 
it's just too damned -15f cold to work in the unheated 
connex, I'll have something to try out. I'd slab out 
some local hardwood and make my own but we don't have 
particularly good handle wood growing here; Birch, 
alder, willow and cottonwood with a little mountain ash 
that's mostly too small.

Hockey sticks. <Sound me slapping my forehead> I keep 
hearing about people using hockey sticks and I keep 
forgetting to ask at the local high school or sports 
arena for a broken one or two. I think I'll skip the 
drive to the hardwood specialty guy and look for a 
broken stick instead.

I made the head a rounded square in cross section so I 
can work tapers close to or on the edge without hitting 
the anvil. The axel is 4140 (so I'm told, I don't know) 
and when hardened still won't damage my Sodorfors but 
there's a chance of chips and the Trenton may ding.

The dome shape pein might have an interesting 
shape/look when I get it dressed. Forging the pein 
mushroomed on the flats getting it deep enough to reach 
the rounded corners.

Outside of a little drive and a piece of hickory or 
hockery stickery it won't cost me any Bread at all. 
<grin>

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

http://www.artmetalradio.com/

From: "Harry" <iowaharry at fastmail.net>


> Hi all,
>
>  I have just purchesed a hot cutter via ebay Item 
> number: 330086220630.
>  As well, am I correct in assuming this is a hot cut 
> hammer? I was
>  wondering what type of handle to put on it. If I am 
> just going to hold
>  it in place and whack it with another hammer it 
> doesn't need much of a
>  handle, does it? It is big enough that it would need 
> a sledge size
>  handle. Not the length, but diameter.
>
> No bread recipes,
> no opinion on the ABANA debacle.
> Oof dah!
>
> Thanks for any comments/suggestions.
> Harry
> -- 
>  Harry
>  iowaharry at fastmail.net
>