tomahawk handle is loose

[grizzy adams]

i got a tomahawk bought it last year , and now the handle is lose , tried soaking the handle in water for a few days , dat was a quick fix , but lasted 3 days and handle can loose again , what do all of ya use to soak your tomahawk handles so they stay on tight .

 

[trodgers]

Soaking is a temporary fix that makes the problem worse in the long run...

Have you thought about putting in a wedge?

Tom

 

[ameling]

When you soak a wood handle, it swells up the wood fibers to tighten it up in the steel head. But it also crushes some of the fibers in the wood. So when it dries back out, it will be a little looser.

A lot of people will make a leather gasket out of deerhide for their handle. Just slip it inside the tomahawk eye, and carefully slip in the wood handle. Then tap it tight. You might need to leave the leather gasket sticking up a bit - to be pulled down into the eye when the handle is tapped in tight.

The other option is to use a wood or steel wedge in the end of the handle. A steel wedge can be tapped into the end of the wood handle as-is. But a wood wedge would need you to first saw a split in the end of your handle for an inch or so. Stick your wood wedge loosely in that split, put the handle down in the eye, and then hammer that wedge in tight.

Or just pick up a new handle - another option.

Just a few thoughts to share. Take them as such.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

 

[blacksmithman64]

Might try soaking it in some radiator anti-freeze. I have the same problem and I'm going to try the deerskin gasket like Mike said.

 

[Strawstalker/NM]

Hello the camp! I just drill a 3/16"x2" hole in the center of the handle and drive in a 2" concrete nail until it is flush with the head. You can also purchase axe handle wedges at the local hardware store. Be sure to cut a notch across the handle about 1/2" deep and pound the wedge until it is flush with the head. Hope this helps. The Strawstalker/CO

 

[boar]

Just slip a strip of Duct tape around the handle under tomahawk head, works ever time. :thumbsup: Dilly

 

Depending on what you think your time is worth, why not just buy a handle that fits. They're not expensive and a properly fitted, hardwood handle should not come loose, even over time.

 

[Black Hand]

i got a tomahawk bought it last year , and now the handle is lose , tried soaking the handle in water for a few days , dat was a quick fix , but lasted 3 days and handle can loose again , what do all of ya use to soak your tomahawk handles so they stay on tight .

The tapered design of the tomahawk eye makes the need to soak or wedge the head an unnecessary action. Buy a new handle that fits, especially if the hawk is used for throwing, as handle replacements are frequently necessary.

 

[Robby]

If you are throwing the hawk, a snug fit is better than one that is wedged tight. With a snug fit, if the hawk impacts badly, the ability of the head to slide down or separate somewhat, bleeds of the energy, saving the handle from breaking.

 

If you are throwing the hawk, a snug fit is better than one that is wedged tight. With a snug fit, if the hawk impacts badly, the ability of the head to slide down or separate somewhat, bleeds of the energy, saving the handle from breaking.

Huh? I suggest that you are over-thinking the physics of the whole process.

Make sure your handle is tight and practice. Period. Learn to judge your distance (or pace it off) and once you learn to throw, your hawk will not hit "badly", it will stick every time - Assuming you are throwing at a standard target and there are no others "forces" at work.

 

[Robby]

Carl, My mistake, If your going to pace off and throw repeatedly from known distances over and over again, then you may be right.
My approach was from a more historically practical approach. Know your tool from all ranges and develop the touch to know how much energy at any given range, to ensure it impacts blade first, with bad intentions. Even with a snug fit, learning the hafting trade would be an asset.
Robby

 

[Black Hand]

My approach was from a more historically practical approach.

Never throw away a perfectly good weapon! It may have happened on rare occasions, but a thrown hawk is a lost hawk.....

Friendly competitions are a different story.

 

[ameling]

One big concept seems to have been forgotten. If you use any iron/steel tool with a wood handle, that handle will loosen up over time and use. The more you use the tool, and the harder you use the tool, the faster that wood handle will loosen up.

It's just a fact of life. If you use your hawk, the handle can and eventually will loosen up. Plus the amount of moisture it is exposed to in the air will also affect how tight or loose that handle is. One of the big reasons for that tapered eye on a hawk is so that the handle can wedge-fit tight. If it is loose, a couple quick taps will tighten it back up. It's also a reason not to cut off the excess handle sticking above your hawk. WHEN it loosens up, you then have more handle to tap down into the eye to tighten the handle up.

And YES, shock does travel through the hawk head to the handle in use. Throwing a hawk in competition sends a lot of shock throughout the whole hawk/handle.

Wood tool handles are the ... consumable ... part of the tool. They just don't last forever in use.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

 

[Robby]

Blackhand, Off the top of my head (or off with the top of my head :hmm: ) I don't remember exact publications, but in reading about Revolutionary war histories on the New york and Ohio Valley frontiers, it is not common, but not uncommon to come across references of people being dispatched with a thrown hawk.
When the fighting is up close and personal you will grab, throw, hit, smash, with anything handy at that moment. A thrown hawk is not lost if you win.
You should do whatever suits you.

 

Carl, My mistake, If your going to pace off and throw repeatedly from known distances over and over again, then you may be right.
My approach was from a more historically practical approach.

Hawk throwing is a sport and we do throw it over and over from a known distance.

I don't think there is any "historic" aspect. Sure, there's cases of people throwing their hawk out of desperation, but I don't believe it was a battlefield "tactic", as some would like to fantasize.

 

[Twice boom]

If it was me I would do as Mike Ameling suggested until I learned to throw it to my liking. Then order an exact copy fitted with a proper handle.Simple..
Twice.

 

[Robby]

Read a little history Carl, It wasn't an uncommon practice in our earliest history, and before that, and before that.

 

Read a little history Carl, It wasn't an uncommon practice in our earliest history, and before that, and before that.

Who's history? The history of the metal "tomahawk" in the western hemisphere or are you saying that the natives here used to throw away their stone axes prior to the arrival of the Europeans?

Sure, people threw tomahawks at one time or another, but going into battle and throwing away your best melee weapon, as a tactic, makes little sense. Same with your knife.

Too many movies kids. :grin:

 

[Robby]

Read a little history Carl, It wasn't an uncommon practice in our earliest history, and before that, and before that.

Who's history? The history of the metal "tomahawk" in the western hemisphere or are you saying that the natives here used to throw away their stone axes prior to the arrival of the Europeans?

Sure, people threw tomahawks at one time or another, but going into battle and throwing away your best melee weapon, as a tactic, makes little sense. Same with your knife.

Too many movies kids. :grin:

Well, Grizzly, I'm sorry your desire for information has come down to this, but I really think I gave some sound advise. Use it or not , your choice.
Carl, I don't know what your real problem is, but you have to stoop to cheap shots and insults to get your point across? I'm serious read some history. As for throwing, anything, as a tactic, absolutely! What better way to break up a human wave assault. You seem to have a very narrow and stunted view of mans capabilities. I'm at a point in life where you might say, I'm in the shadow of the mountain, oh there may be a few ridges and mogeles on the desent, but for the most part, its down hill. I have done and experienced many interesting things, and hope to do more. I have been a warrior, I could correlate to you how my views on this subject can relate directly to our past, but honestly, I don't think you would understand.
"Too many movies"?" fantasy"? Those are your points of reference, not mine. I have lived my life fully and with great enthusiasm. Please Carl, if you see a post by me just ignore it, and I will extend you the same courtesy. I have no need for ankle biters in my life.
With that being said, I would like to paraphrase Chief Joseph: I will post no more on this subject, forever.

 

Read a little history Carl, It wasn't an uncommon practice in our earliest history, and before that, and before that.

Who's history? The history of the metal "tomahawk" in the western hemisphere or are you saying that the natives here used to throw away their stone axes prior to the arrival of the Europeans?

Sure, people threw tomahawks at one time or another, but going into battle and throwing away your best melee weapon, as a tactic, makes little sense. Same with your knife.

Too many movies kids. :grin:

Well, Grizzly, I'm sorry your desire for information has come down to this, but I really think I gave some sound advise. Use it or not , your choice.
Carl, I don't know what your real problem is, but you have to stoop to cheap shots and insults to get your point across? I'm serious read some history. As for throwing, anything, as a tactic, absolutely! What better way to break up a human wave assault. You seem to have a very narrow and stunted view of mans capabilities. I'm at a point in life where you might say, I'm in the shadow of the mountain, oh there may be a few ridges and mogeles on the desent, but for the most part, its down hill. I have done and experienced many interesting things, and hope to do more. I have been a warrior, I could correlate to you how my views on this subject can relate directly to our past, but honestly, I don't think you would understand.
"Too many movies"?" fantasy"? Those are your points of reference, not mine. I have lived my life fully and with great enthusiasm. Please Carl, if you see a post by me just ignore it, and I will extend you the same courtesy. I have no need for ankle biters in my life.
With that being said, I would like to paraphrase Chief Joseph: I will post no more on this subject, forever.

:snore: