Michael Rohmfeld
Member
I was given a chunk of pecan wood and need to make handles for some carbide tip tools I have made. Any thoughts on the subject?
Pecan for tool handles
- Thread starter Michael Rohmfeld
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dogcatcher
Member
I used some pecan for tool handkes, it is a good hardwood for handles. A little plain looking, I dyed mine.
egnald
Member
Hello Michael,
I think Pecan would male outstanding tool handles. I make mine with Hickory because of availability and because historically it was used for all kinds of tool handles. Since Hickory and Pecan are the same Genus, but different species their characteristics are nearly identical. In fact, many people (especially flooring salesmen) often use the terms Pecan and Hickory interchangeably because of the similarities.
Making your own tools can bring a new level of satisfaction when you build something with them. I made my tool shafts out of 3/8-inch mild steel bar stock from McMaster-Carr. I patterned the handle shapes after some EZ Wood Tools that I purchased. I like tools that are a little heavier in the back, so I put about a dozen 38 caliber lead bullets in the back of each handle to get the job done. I make my handles by either cutting them in half or by just starting out with 1x2-inch pieces and gluing them together. Before gluing them together I route a 3/8 slot down the middle to accept the tool (and my weight) without having to try to bore straight and deep holes in the wood. I cover up the ugly hole on the back end of the handle where I glue the weights in first by filling it with epoxy to make a plug and then I glue on a label covered with a glass cabochon that I get from our Hobby Lobby store. I've attached a couple of pictures. I use 3/4-inch Stainless Steel PEX Crimp Ring Sleeves for the ferrules. I used to use pieces of 3/4 inch copper pipe, but I like the flared and rolled edges in the PEX fittings much better as they make a nice transition to the handles.
I'm sure you will find that next-level gratification when you use your own tools too. - Dave
PS I really like dogcatcher's idea of dyeing them too. I either finished mine with Doctor's Woodshop Walnut Oil and Pens Plus finish or with O.B.'s Shine Juice. (O.B. Lacoste, Lafayette, Louisiana. His recipe has been promoted over the years by Cap'n Eddie Castelin in several of his videos).
I think Pecan would male outstanding tool handles. I make mine with Hickory because of availability and because historically it was used for all kinds of tool handles. Since Hickory and Pecan are the same Genus, but different species their characteristics are nearly identical. In fact, many people (especially flooring salesmen) often use the terms Pecan and Hickory interchangeably because of the similarities.
Making your own tools can bring a new level of satisfaction when you build something with them. I made my tool shafts out of 3/8-inch mild steel bar stock from McMaster-Carr. I patterned the handle shapes after some EZ Wood Tools that I purchased. I like tools that are a little heavier in the back, so I put about a dozen 38 caliber lead bullets in the back of each handle to get the job done. I make my handles by either cutting them in half or by just starting out with 1x2-inch pieces and gluing them together. Before gluing them together I route a 3/8 slot down the middle to accept the tool (and my weight) without having to try to bore straight and deep holes in the wood. I cover up the ugly hole on the back end of the handle where I glue the weights in first by filling it with epoxy to make a plug and then I glue on a label covered with a glass cabochon that I get from our Hobby Lobby store. I've attached a couple of pictures. I use 3/4-inch Stainless Steel PEX Crimp Ring Sleeves for the ferrules. I used to use pieces of 3/4 inch copper pipe, but I like the flared and rolled edges in the PEX fittings much better as they make a nice transition to the handles.
I'm sure you will find that next-level gratification when you use your own tools too. - Dave
PS I really like dogcatcher's idea of dyeing them too. I either finished mine with Doctor's Woodshop Walnut Oil and Pens Plus finish or with O.B.'s Shine Juice. (O.B. Lacoste, Lafayette, Louisiana. His recipe has been promoted over the years by Cap'n Eddie Castelin in several of his videos).
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Woodchipper
Member
Pecan will make good handles. I scored a bunch of pecan rough cut boards. The fellow said pecan is the first cousin to hickory and hickory is used for all kinds of handles: axes, hammers, sledgehammers, etc.
Michael Rohmfeld
Member
Thank you for all the replies. I appreciate it imensly!
wood nickle
Member
Pecan would be fine "If" it is hard pecan. Pecan and some types of hicory are near identical as far as properties eventhough they are not related. Even the floring industry uses each as the other. I made this pecan Axe and handle with a purpleheart as a center piece of a lamanent. This pecan came from a friends farm in Kentucky. Harder wood like osage orange is too hard and sends a unplesant recoil and you get all the sting. I'll post a hardness scale of most wood so everyone can know it's hardness.
Attachments
wood nickle
Member
| Impact Bending of Woods Rated in Joules & Organized by Hardness |
| 677 – Osage Orange |
| 598 – Beech, Blue (Hornbeam/Musclewood) |
| 497 – Hickory, Bigleaf Shagbark |
| 435 – Hickory, Mockernut |
| 418 – Hickory, Pignut |
| 401 – Hickory (Full Range) |
| 378 – Hickory, Shagbark |
| 373 – Hickory, Bitternut |
| 333 – Serviceberry |
| 322 – Locust, Black |
| 316 – Elm, Rock |
| 310 – Birch, Yellow |
| 305 – Hickory, Nutmeg |
| 299 – Hickory, Water |
| 299 – Oak, Scarlet |
| 277 – Hophornbeam |
| 277 – Oak, Swamp Red |
| 277 – Oak, Swamp White |
| 265 – Birch, Sweet |
| 265 – Honeylocust |
| 260 – Oak, Post |
| 254 – Elm, Slippery |
| 254 – Oak, Pin |
| 248 – Dogwood |
| 248 – Oak, Water |
| 248 – Pecan |
| 243 – Apple |
| 243 – Ash, White |
| 243 – Hackberry |
| 243 – Oak, Red |
| 237 – Ash, Blue |
| 237 – Birch (Full Range) |
| 237 – Black Mangrove |
| 237 – Oak, Willow |
| 231 – Beech |
| 231 – Gum, Blue |
| 231 – Oak, Black |
| 231 – Oak, Swamp Chestnut |
| 226 – Ash, Biltmore White |
| 226 – Birch, Alaska White |
| 226 – Buttonwood |
| 226 – Laurel, Mountain |
| 226 – Maple, Black |
| 226 – Oak, Chestnut |
| 226 – Pigeonplum |
| 226 – Witchhazel |
| 220 – Elm, American |
| 220 – Maple, Sugar |
| 220 – Oak, Laurel |
| 215 – Oak (Full Range) |
| 215 – Sourwood |
| 209 – Oak, Canyon Live |
| 209 – Oak, White |
| 209 – Persimmon |
| 203 – Ash (Full Range) |
| 203 – Pine, Slash |
| 203 – Sugarberry |
| 198 – Ash, Black |
| 198 – Birch, Gray |
| 198 – Magnolia, Cucumber |
| 198 – Pine, Jack |
| 192 – Birch, Paper |
| 192 – Dogwood, Pacific |
| 192 – Pine, Longleaf |
| 192 – Stopper, Red |
| 192 – Walnut, Black |
| 186 – Ash, Oregon |
| 186 – Elder, Blueberry |
| 186 – Holly |
| 186 – Oak, Live |
| 186 – Pine, Shortleaf |
| 186 – Sassafras |
| 181 – Ash, Green |
| 181 – Gum, Red |
| 181 – Hemlock, Mountain |
| 181 – Larch, Western |
| 181 – Mangrove |
| 181 – Maple (Full Range) |
| 181 – Maple, Red |
| 175 – Cherry, Pin |
| 175 – Laurel, California |
| 175 – Pine, Pitch |
| 175 – Willow, Western Black |
| 175 – Yew, Pacific |
| 169 – Chinquapin, Golden |
| 169 – Douglas Fir (Coastal) |
| 169 – Pine, Loblolly |
| 164 – Cedar, Alaska |
| 164 – Cherry, Black |
| 164 – Magnolia, Evergreen |
| 164 – Oak, Bur |
| 164 – Oak, Oregon White |
| 164 – Pine, Mountain |
| 158 – Cedar, Port Orford |
| 158 – Fir, Lowland White |
| 158 – Inkwood |
| 158 – Maple, Bigleaf |
| 158 – Pine, Pond |
| 152 – Catalpa, Hardy |
| 152 – Douglas Fir (Intermediate) |
| 152 – Magnolia, Mountain |
| 152 – Maple, Striped |
| 152 – Pine, Jeffery |
| 147 – Bustic |
| 147 – Cascara |
| 147 – Douglas Fir (Mountain) |
| 147 – Hemlock, Western |
| 147 – Oak, Southern Red |
| 147 – Pine (Full Range) |
| 147 – Sycamore |
| 141 – Gum (Full Range) |
| 141 – Maple, Silver |
| 141 – Pine, Norway |
| 141 – Spruce, Red |
| 141 – Spruce, Sitka |
| 135 – Ash, Pumpkin |
| 135 – Butternut |
| 135 – Cypress, Southern |
| 135 – Fir, Silver |
| 135 – Mastic |
| 135 – Silverbell |
| 130 – Fir, California Red |
| 130 – Fir, Noble |
| 130 – Gum, Tupelo |
| 130 – Madrono, Pacific |
| 130 – Oak, Rocky Mountain White |
| 130 – Pine, Western White |
| 130 – Spruce, Black |
| 130 – Tamarack |
| 124 – Aspen, Largetooth |
| 124 – Cedar, Eastern Red |
| 124 – Cottonwood, Northern Black |
| 124 – Gum, Black |
| 124 – Spruce (Full Range) |
| 119 – Aspen |
| 119 – Fir (Full Range) |
| 119 – Hemlock, Eastern |
| 119 – Walnut, Little |
| 113 – Alder, Red |
| 113 – Cottonwood, Eastern |
| 113 – Fir, Balsam |
| 113 – Pine, Lodgepole |
| 113 – Poplar, Yellow |
| 113 – Spruce, White |
| 113 – Willow, Black |
| 107 – Cedar (Full Range) |
| 107 – Chestnut |
| 107 – Pine, Limber |
| 107 – Pine, Northern White |
| 107 – Pine, Sand |
| 107 – Redwood (Virgin) |
| 107 – Rhododendron, Great |
| 102 – Pine, Sugar |
| 96 – Cedar, Incense |
| 96 – Cedar, Southern Red |
| 96 – Cedar, Western Red |
| 96 – Fir, White |
| 96 – Pine, Ponderossa |
| 90 – Basswood |
| 90 – Buckeye, Yellow |
| 90 – Fir, Alpine |
| 90 – Oak, California Black |
| 90 – Palmetto, Cabbage |
| 90 – Redwood (Second Growth Dense) |
| 85 – Poisonwood |
| 85 – Spruce, Engelmann |
| 79 – Ironwood, Black |
| 79 – Poplar, Balsam |
| 73 – Cedar, Southern White |
| 73 – Fir, Corkbark |
| 68 – Cedar, Northern White |
| 68 – Juniper, Alligator |
| 68 – Pinon |
| 62 – Redwood (Second Growth Open) |
| 51 – Gum, Limbo |
| 40 – Paradise Tree |
Woodchipper
Member
I got a big stack of pecan boards to make a table for the wife. Yes, it's in the plans. The fellow had his shop torn up by a tornado and didn't have room in the Pod-like container. He did mention that pecan is a cousin to hickory; "You know what they make out of hickory." Not real sure what species of pecan but it is hard and makes decent pen blanks.
I printed off the Janka Hardness Rating and keep it in a folder for reference.
I printed off the Janka Hardness Rating and keep it in a folder for reference.
wood nickle
Member
It comes in handy. Happy woodworking.
wood nickle
Member
I have two large pieces of Red Bay. It is getting very hard to find. I have nothing in mind for it and would trade it for something else. It's been just setting in my wood rack for 5 or 6 years if anyone is interested. I know spoon makers and some turners love red bay.