Mattock Handles. Why?

[Opti-Mist]

I and my logger uncles have made a lot of cant hook, maul and axe handles from white ash. It is very tough and durable.

 

[oosik]

I found "liquid rubber gasket seal" in a can at NAPA. Pounded the handle as tight as possible - liquid gasket seal to fill in any/all spaces between handle and head. Still holding tight after six years.

I did roughen the head end of the handle with coarse sand paper so the gasket seal had a surface to hang on to.

 

[oldballs]

Many years ago, I just drove a 16 penny nail in the gap between the head and handle.....from the bottom ...up. It's still there and holds fine. It has been intersting to read the rationale of this design however. The small end of my mattock head is vertical and works great for chopping roots.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[N80]

I used my old one yesterday. Chopping roots with the axe end Head held in place with bent nails. The head is loose as can be. Without the nails it wouldn’t stay in place at all.

Might try the gasket trick that @oosik mentioned.

 

[Jstpssng]

Might try the gasket trick that @oosik mentioned.

I like that idea, also. However, an ill fitting handle like what you just described would drive me absolutely bonkers, it wouldn't be long before I did something different. I have never had problems with a head loosening up though; probably because of the way that I install them, as described previously.
I also can't stand a dull axe, it's painful just to watch somebody else working with one.

 

[N80]

Agree. This mattock needs attention. Every time I use it I think I need to do something better than two nails but I just don’t use it often. It is ancient. It was my grandfather’s and he died in 1968. ( He owned a hardware store) and I suspect it came from there. The handle is also bone dry. I am sure it would benefit from a soak.

 

[Jstpssng]

I am sure it would benefit from a soak.

Try mineral oil, or even antifreeze rather than water. It will swell the wood up for a longer period of time.

 

[N80]

Try mineral oil, or even antifreeze rather than water. It will swell the wood up for a longer period of time.

I've never tried it but you are correct water doesn't last any time at all. I can't remember what my son-in-law uses. It might have been mineral oil but it might have been linseed oil. I bet mineral oil is cheaper.

 

[California]

Here is a picture of the head. As you can see it is about 12" long. I'm assuming this is a little mattock

That looks like a near twin to this one from an old junk box in the barn. Dad saved a lot of stuff like this for ... well something. Some of it actually useful like two pitchfork heads, a large and a medium size, that I put new handles on. They are better quality than what I see new at HD.

The text molded into the right side is TRUETEMPER. And there are faint remnants of what might be Army green. So these may be WWII army surplus.

 

[oldballs]

There's a song that goes with this........somthing like this anyway.

I'm in the Army now
I'm not behind a plow
I'm diggin a ditch
I'm a Son-of-a *****
I'm in the Army now.