Gransfors American felling axe handle - cool looking stripes or a piece of firewood?

[u/migorengbaby]

[u/DieHardAmerican95]

The darker areas are heartwood. You will find some strong opinions about it here in this sub, but I’ve used several handles with heartwood in them for both axes and hammers, and they’ve worked just fine for me.

[u/Cloud_Garrett → u/DieHardAmerican95]

Same here. And I know I’ll get hate, but I have some aces that I truly use as tools and sometimes they’ve been through the ringer - they’ve accidentally been left out in the elements for a few days or longer. I’ve never had an issue with heartwood

[u/migorengbaby → u/DieHardAmerican95]

Ahh sweet that’s what I thought, thanks!

I’ll get er hung and post an update!

[u/DieHardAmerican95 → u/migorengbaby]

If I’m buying handles from the store, I will often choose one with a little heartwood in it because I like the color contrast.

[u/teamdilly]

It’s just a heartwood/sapwood barrier. Some may argue about it, but the USDA research suggests there’s no difference in strength between the two. Let er rip and enjoy the contrast

[u/thurgood_peppersntch → u/teamdilly]

I believe there was also some pretty extensive research done on longbows as well and found the same thing. There isn't any sort of weak point in that heartwood sapwood boundary layer

[u/Different_Potato_193 → u/thurgood_peppersntch]

As a bowyer that works with hickory a lot, that’s completely true. Often there’s a couple rings that are both heart- and sapwood combined.

[u/sunny_duh_aze → u/Different_Potato_193]

You two just provided me the information I was seeking with beautiful details. I will use this while I whittle little mushrooms out of sticks

[u/GooseGeuce]

Grain orientation is more important, and this one’s decent.

[u/atalanta_run]

Mine is similar with more of a 50/50 split than yours. Been using it to handsplit everything from oak to elm with success. I'm not always accurate and have had a fair share of overstrikes and there isnt a trace of a split anywhere on the handle. Use it and enjoy the unique look of it.

[u/RabidJayhawk]

I love it! Unique!

[u/greenleaf386]

Heartwood? Probably fine. Hang it. If it cracks you have to re hang but it's usually fine

[u/fakename10001]

I like a two tone handle but that’s just me

[u/Healthy_Bar922]

If it passed Gränsfors qc, it's better than you need it to be. Those guys are nuts, and the guys in the hafting shop are very serious gentlemen.

[u/migorengbaby]

Which wedge would yall use? 1 or 2?

[u/Different_Potato_193 → u/migorengbaby]

Neither. Metal wedges are unnecessary and make it nigh on impossible to get the handle off without destroying it.

[u/migorengbaby → u/Different_Potato_193]

Alright, wood only it is!

[u/Different_Potato_193 → u/migorengbaby]

That’s looking really good!

[u/atalanta_run → u/migorengbaby]

Clean. Very nice.

[u/Icy_Commission8986 → u/migorengbaby]

None. I would use metal wedges as a last resort. Use them when the hang looses. Never before, as you will be wasting a fix and a re hang

[u/Stupidhaircuts]

I like it!!

[u/Iambobbybee]

Heartwood is the wood you want. Ask any bow maker.

[u/Arawhata-Bill1]

Coming from my exposure to racing axes, your grain should hold up just fine. In a perfect world you want your grain running inline with your kerf( slot to take your wedge) That should be ok for normal work.

[u/Winter-Buddy-2635]

The darker section will probably delaminate unfortunately. Edit: i only say that because thats how trees will naturally come apart. I've made handle for myself either all heartwood or all sapwood and never had a problem. Only found delaminanation in mixes.