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Sledge Handle Photo

D

Dellbertt

Member
The maul/sledge has a new handle thanks to all your great tips and advice.
I sanded and filed it a bit and then drove it flush by striking the butt of the handle on the concrete basement floor. The slot in the handle was pinched closed so I opened it with a chisel and then hammered the wooden wedge in as far as possible. I centered the metal circle wedge and pounded it in flush. It isn’t pretty but it held up solid as a rock while I split about a rick of a 20in hardwood log.
I noticed a “12” stamped on the head, with the new handle it weighs in at 15 lbs.
Thanks,
Dell
c3449.jpg

c3448.jpg
 
The 12 refers to the weight of the head, which is how they are
rated. I have a couple of 8# sledges which are nice for things where
moderate force is needed and maybe the space is limited, and I
have a 16# that I love for splitting wood and breaking up concrete,
etc. I haven't had a 12# for a while, but I would think it might be a
nice compromise.
Zach
 
You guys must be tough slinging 12 and 16 lb. sledge hammers. A 9 lb. hammer killed John Henry or so the song says. I was around when railroad gangs drove spikes with hammers, 2 men driving same spike and alternating blows, and they used 9 lb. hammers.
 
To finish it cleanly, use a punch to drive the metal wedge down to the metal surface (below the level of the wood) then sand or file off the wood sticking out. Apply a coat of clear lacquer or acrylic to the exposed wood.
A chunk of bicycle tire about 6 inches long can be hose clamped to the handle at the head to reduce the damage from overstrikes. Jim
 
NDS,
I learned a long time ago to "let the hammer do the work".
I never put downward muscle into a swing, I get the sledge over my head then just "steer it to the wedge". And, I have found that it goes deeper than when I try to muscle it. And unlike John Henry, I can take a break when I feel like it.

Jim,
Overstrike? What's that? JK, I use a 4" piece of 1/2" thick chorded red rubber hose. I will clean it up and the sealant is a good idea.

Dell
 
When I was a kid we had a 22 lb post maul with and iron handle. Yep. it was a man killer but it would sink a fence post. I wonder what ever happened to it? The story was that grand dad found a chunk of pig iron that had fallen off a train and had a piece sawed off and a hole drilled in it. Dad never could keep a wood handle in it so one day I welded an old gun barrel in it. That held.
 
I remember our splitting maul, I could barely carry it back when it got used. I would like to know what happened to it, too.
 
Neither you nor I have ever allowed the head of a hammer to extend beyond the target compromising the handle integrity, but those ---others--- that help sure underestimate the length of that stick of wood. Jim
 
Last time I used a maul with a wedge (when my would splitter engine went breasts up on me) I ended up with a piece of the wedge in my leg. Lost a lot of blood over that one until help could arrive. Be careful out there and keep the wedges trimmed up. I had mine trimmed, but it still splintered and got me.
 
Most of the “modern” wedges at stores around here have 2-2 ½ in. blades. I use a very old splitting maul for a wedge and it has a 6in. blade that I keep very sharp. Even with large logs I can usually pop them apart wedging one side.
The last load I did I thought was Walnut. It had a dark center but it was light and faded. I know it was hardwood but it was real stringy inside. It would pop apart but had stringers holding it together which took more time and effort. I’ll put in a photo maybe someone will have an idea what kind it is. It was a tall straight 18in.tree with heavy bark that was going bad so I took it down.
If you look in the bottom right corner you will see the stringers.

c3451.jpg
 
Dellbertt; I gotta" ask, what does the term rick mean? 1/2 cord and full cord or cord is familiar, but not your term. Thanks and be careful on the swing. I"ll have to go back and read your first post now.
 
A rick is 1/3 of a chord.
A chord is 3 stacks of 16in. wood 4ft high and 8ft long.
A rick is 1(one) stack of 16in. wood 4ft. high by 8ft. long.
Dell
 
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