Axle shaft for tools

[Frosty]

Sure, there are all kinds of things I could've scrounged to make handles. I haven't broken an axe handle in a long time so don't have one around. Same with shovel handles I'm REALLY easy on them see attached pics. (I retired from the State of AK June 1) I picked up a couple hockey sticks but they're too narrow for these hammers. Repousse hammers maybe but not forging hammers.

I have a bucket of unused hammer handles I picked up when a hardware store went out of business 15 or so years ago and I may grind them into slab handles. There are a number that'll make good striking hammer handles so I won't have to make those.

I suppose I could've looked around more for old tool handles to adapt but with the price of fuel buying a 1" x 6" x 8' hickory board was not only cheaper but got me a bunch of handles fast.

Frosty

[Frosty]

Darn I hate having to reply to my own posts but the pic of me and my shovel didn't attach to the last one.

With crossed fingers.

Frosty

[ThomasPowers]

Yup you got to take it easy with a shovel like that or you jostle the beer!

I've always been amazed at what has been used for handles in tools I buy at fleamarkets in europe---I think I like the fruit tree branches the best though.

Not too many hocky sticks out this way but I bet they are *tough* seeing their use.

Thomas

[Nick]

Thanks for the advice, all

Thomas, a friend of mine turned a couple of laminated wood hockey sticks into practice rapiers, they've held up better than the metal stage combat swords he's had.

[RegionalChaos]

Frosty! Love the cup holder on the shovel! I was thinking about needing to make a similar one for my wheel barrow. I usually have to use two hands to move the wheel barrow, so I figured I would need a beverage holder

[Frosty]

Thanks all.

The cup holder is gimbal mounted because I MIGHT have to move, seeing as I don't work for the state anymore. You can NEVER be too careful you know.

I made this during a gathering of metal artists in Elk River Mn. over Father's Day. We were supposed to make an "Artist's Book," whatever that is. I've had a paycheck job for the past 35-40 years and am not an artist. Anyway, the "Book" was supposed to say something about the person, their art, etc.

I flew down early to give my good friends a hand setting up for the Shindig and after it got going I realized what my "Book" should be. There's a long standing bunch of jokes about what a state employee does. I'm sure you've heard most of them like, "What's orange and sleeps four? - A state truck." And so on. The one I was repeating at the time the muse spoke to me was, "What's this high (holding your hand about shirt pocket level) and smells like an armpit? - A state shovel handle."

So, there it is, my "Artist's Book". A brand new, stickers intact, shovel, with foam padded handle, that'll NEVER scoop anything, ever. It's permanently mounted on a stand with DOT - RET in forged letters welded to it. Also to show just how versatile a State Employee has to be, the cup holder will hold not only a beer but soda can or coffee cup safely.

The real story of this book is of course that it's the end of that story. Time to open a new volume and move on.

And YES your wheel barrow should have a cup holder! Good grief is it even a QUESTION?

Frosty

[RegionalChaos]

And YES your wheel barrow should have a cup holder! Good grief is it even a QUESTION?

Like most things its only a question of time...

[skunkriv]

I work for the city. The jokes are all the same, you just change the color of the trucks

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by skunkriv

I work for the city. The jokes are all the same, you just change the color of the trucks

You got THAT right.

The state stopped using orange trucks 10 years ago and the public still hasn't caught on.

Frosty