My hammer handle snapped mid-swing last Tuesday and I learned something about grain direction

I was working on a railroad spike knife at my forge out back when my favorite cross peen let go right at the shoulder. The handle was hickory but I realized I'd cut it with the grain running across the head instead of along it like it should be. That mistake cost me a 3 hour project and a sore elbow. Has anyone else had a handle fail because of bad grain orientation?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_elizabeth11h ago

Actually, I think hickory handles breaking has more to do with how the wood was dried than the grain orientation itself. A properly seasoned piece with straight grain running through the head might still crack if it was kiln dried too fast.

gracej9912h ago

Man, that sinking feeling when a tool lets go right in your hands is the worst. I've had a splitting maul handle break because I thought I could cheap out on a replacement from the big box store and it had the grain all wrong. Hickory is supposed to be tough but when you get that short grain near the head it snaps every time. Hope your elbow is feeling better, those shockwaves go straight up into your shoulder.

johnson.eva9h ago

Oh man, tell me about it. I still have a scar on my thumb from when a cheap hatchet handle splintered and the head flew off into a fence post.