Snapped my favorite cross-peen hammer handle yesterday on a simple drift punch job

I was just setting a 3/4 inch hole in a mild steel bracket for a fence gate when the hickory let go right at the eye, no warning at all (maybe it had a hidden crack from last month?), and now I'm hunting for replacement handle blanks at the local hardware store - has anyone else had luck with ash over hickory for heavy striking?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona_kim9714d ago

Man, that's a bummer. I've had hickory handles fail on me before too, usually right at the eye like yours. Ash can be alright for heavy striking if it's really straight-grained, but in my experience it doesn't have the same shock absorption as good hickory, it tends to transmit more vibration into your hand. Your mileage may vary, but I'd stick with hickory if you can find a dense, clear blank without any knots near the head.

susan8114d ago

Oh COME ON, @fiona_kim97, don't go making me feel bad about my trusty ash handle! I've got a splitting maul with an ash handle that's lasted me ten years WITHOUT any issues. But now you've got me wondering if it's just waiting for the PERFECT moment to snap and hit me in the shins. Honestly though, in my book, if your handle breaks you just didn't hit the nail hard enough in the right spot - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

corah7514d ago

Last winter I lost a framing hammer the same way, and it got me thinking about how everything eventually just gives out without warning. It's kind of like how old porch steps will hold up for years until one day they just snap, or how a good pair of work boots will wear thin in the same spot every time. Maybe it's just the way things are meant to go.