leather stacked handles

[Kevin]

In the "working knives" thread, I asked about leather stacked knife handles. Thanks for the answer to that by the way.

I had asked, because a few years ago, my dad gave me this rock hammer. He is a geologist and this hammer is one he used way back when. It originally had a leather handle. It was dried up and mostly gone when he gave it to me.

It's an Eastwing, made in Rockford IL. I've always wanted to put a new handle on it, and in fact one time emailed Eastwing. They do not repair hammers. However, looking at these pictures, the rust on it probably makes it a wall hanger more than a usable hammer. I am open to suggestions on what to do with the handle though. But I don't want to remove the pommel end piece. I've thought about a para-cord wrapped handle, which might look pretty nice in a dark brown color.

I think this must be the forged date August of 1969, which would be when my dad was using it. He's still around, I suppose I should ask him.

It has seen better days and is probably just a display piece more than anything.

 

[gunzo]

It's got one hole drilled in the handle section already, two more & you could lay a couple slabs of just about any suitable handle material.

The selection at Jantz Supply will have you reeling with options for handles & fasteners.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

The leather was just a bunch of donut type rings that were stacked onto the handle and then the end piece was put on and the rivets hammered down.
If you have lots of time and some leather you can make your own donuts .
The hard part would be getting the end piece off and putting it back on without damaging it.

 

[pete44ru]

.

IMHO, a new handle of any material would look out of place, unless it was distressed after installation.

I'd use the EASY button, and go with a paracord wrap - although an alternative that might look good would be a wrap with leather lacing...………….

.

 

[caryc]

Here's mine. My Dad gave me this one in about 1957 when I was into rock collecting. It's spent most of it's life in a storage shed. I had forgotten all about it until you posted this thread.

 

[Bob Wright]

if it were mine in that shape, I believe I'd go to PetSmart and get a couple of slabs of elk stag. Rout them out to fit around the shank and glue together to make a new handle.

You might guess I'm partial to stag.

Bob Wright

 

[Kevin]

Thanks for the input. And yes Cary, that is exactly what this hammer used to look like. I remember the white spacers.

Hmmm....elk antler might look good on it. Get some good expos resin and age the handle material to suit the metal.

I might just give it a try.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

The best hammer I ever bought for a dollar:

It's an old Estwing I got at a yard sale many years ago. It seems smaller than the ones I see in the hardware store today--I'm guessing they'd call it a 16 oz head. The handle was almost totally black, in about the same shape as Cary's rock hammer. I was lucky the leather hadn't shrunk or loosened. It took a lot of sanding to get some color back, then it got a few coats of indoor gloss polyurethane (first thing I found in the garage.) There are still a lot of divots that didn't fill well, and in anything but good light, the handle still looks black.

But in brighter light, the colors start to come out:

Rick C

 

[chuck]

HUM. PetSmart has Elk slabs?

 

[Dave P.]

If I was really dedicated to saving it I carefully remove the rivet heats and pull the cap.
Bead blast everything, cut new leather strips, put the cap back on, spot over the rivets
with a tig welder...quick zap. Belt sand the leather to shape and buff it.
Lots of work for a hammer!
Dave

 

[eveled]

KaBar makes handle kits. I’ve done a ww2 knife that needed to be saved. It is a lot of work but it came out nice. I’d try to make it leather again.

 

[Bob Wright]

HUM. PetSmart has Elk slabs?

Yes. They sell them for dog chews. I've seen some nice slabs about a foot long. Some fairly nice looking pieces for knife handles etc. Not big enough for revolvers grips, maybe a n auto pistol, though.

Bob Wright

 

[powder smoke]

Hi,

The best hammer I ever bought for a dollar:

It's an old Estwing I got at a yard sale many years ago. It seems smaller than the ones I see in the hardware store today--I'm guessing they'd call it a 16 oz head. The handle was almost totally black, in about the same shape as Cary's rock hammer. I was lucky the leather hadn't shrunk or loosened. It took a lot of sanding to get some color back, then it got a few coats of indoor gloss polyurethane (first thing I found in the garage.) There are still a lot of divots that didn't fill well, and in anything but good light, the handle still looks black.

But in brighter light, the colors start to come out:

Rick C

I use a hammer daily Estwing without a doubt is the best altho I have a couple
with stacked leather grip hammers I use the blue rubber handle one for work.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I use a hammer daily Estwing without a doubt is the best altho I have a couple
with stacked leather grip hammers I use the blue rubber handle one for work.

Hi,

A hammer's never been an "everyday at work" tool for me, but I recall arguments between guys who do use 'em all day about whether the Estwing design causes more tendonitis than wood handled styles. If there's anything to the arguments it does, the blue handle probably does absorb shock and treat your arm better with prolonged or constant use than the stacked leather. I've never had a blue handled one, but would guess it's probably easier to hang onto in cold/wet conditions, too. Like rubber handled knives?

Rick C

 

[eveled]

I like the blue handled Estwings better for work. I have a few in different sizes. The collector in me wants one in each size. But so far I’ve resisted. Lol!

I’ve used stacked leather ones and can tell the difference after an hour or so.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I am a carpenter and my Father was a carpenter. I use a hammer every day.
When it comes to hammers I will say that Estwing makes good hammers but the best hammer you can buy is a Vaughn with a hickory handle.
Maybe in other trades some other maker is better , but when it comes to driving nails Vaughn is the best.
I have been using Vaughn hammers for 50 years.

 

[protoolman]

Buster, I agree completely with you on the Vaughn's. A hickory hanldle won't blister you hand, a rubber handle will. Estwings are durable but too much weight in the handle. They are hard on wrists an elbows. The weight belongs in the head. I like a 20 oz. Flat face Vaughn best for most work .Straight claw. I think there are videos on YouTube about making new leather washer handles.

 

[Mike J]

I too agree with Buster. I'm not a carpenter but a sheet metal worker. I remember being an apprentice & the older journeyman used an old Malco tinners hammer with a leather stacked handle. I wanted to be like him so I got one. It was okay when I was in the field but then I landed in the shop one day knocking duct together. When I left that day my right elbow was aching. It had never done that before. I still kept the 18 ounce malco around for a while. I forgot it on a fork lift & someone took it before I came back for it when working a shutdown in '94. I'm not sure who makes the 20 ounce tinners hammers I use now (I got them from a website called JBee.biz) but I still prefer a wood or fiberglass handle as it keeps vibration & stress off your arm. Of course I wind up replacing a handle every few years but a 20 ounce machinist hammer handle isn't that expensive & they aren't hard to install. I usually keep a spare in the truck.

 

[toysoldier]

I think a properly wrapped handle would be the easiest way to approximate the original look, and provide a working grip. Shape wood inserts to fit, epoxy them in, shape the outside contour, then add the wrap, secured with more epoxy.
Now that I've suggested this, I remembered an Eastwing hatchet I picked up, and never got around to putting a handle on. I'll have to try this.

 

[caryc]

I just watched a YouTube video where a guy took an old Estwing hatchet and took off the old stacked leather handle and made a new handle. He didn't do stack leather. What he did was glue up a material. He took a scarf made from cashmere and cut like 12" squares out of it. He mixed up some epoxy glue and coated the pieces well and stacked them together to make what looked like a 5/8" thick stack. He then clamped them together in a home made jig with "C" clamps and let it dry.

Now, here's the thing, he kept on calling it Micarta which bugs the heck out of me. IT WAS NOT MICARTA :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: It was a bonded layered material but it was not Micarta. Micarta is a bonded layered material made under extreme pressure.

I know what Micarta is. I've made lots of gun grips out of black and ivory paper Micarta and it makes beautiful grips. I didn't even really care for the handle he made anyway. Sorry, I just had to get that rant out of the way.

 

[eveled]

Even if he did it the same way they do. He can’t make Micarta. Micarta is a trade name like Kleenex. That’s why they are capitalized.

 

[caryc]

Even if he did it the same way they do. He can’t make Micarta. Micarta is a trade name like Kleenex. That’s why they are capitalized.

I don't think they use over the counter adhesive, a scarf from a flea market and "C" clamps to make their stuff.