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Since many of you showed considerable interest in the previous thread and have many hatchet heads lying around unhandled, here is how I go about making and fitting a handle for one. With the exception of cutting the blank on the band saw it was done with a few hand tools. The whole process took a little less than one hour but of course I have done this countless times. Keep in mind that although you may not have the same tools I have any of them can readily be substituted by any thing you may have. I used an old head I had here. Next if interested I can show how to sharpen it so I can shave with it. 1- The Wood Wood of choice is Hickory but you probably will not have that in stock me included. I had a scrap piece of ash which is probably the second best wood for it. However, almost any hardwood you may have will do. It should be dry so it will not shrink inside tool eye. 2- Grain orientation. This is important. The piece I have however also does not have the ideal grain for it but it will be ok on a small hatchet. If it was a sledge or full ax it could break in time. Grain should run vertical in line with hatchet blade and should be as straight as possible without running out in the middle of handle. That is how a piece of wood has the most strength. 3- Shape of handle This is mostly dictated by the type of use or tool it is. Every single little nuance of the shape on a handle has a specific function. This however is also dictated by personal preference and should not be written in stone. 4- Finish Store bought handles come sanded and finished. Finish is important to protect handle. I prefer my handles to have the tool marks and ridges from the spoke shave or plane. I don’t want them silky smooth . The tool marks add grip and feel better in the hand. As for the type of finish I like to fully dip them in linseed oil for a day or so . Just wipe it then and let dry redoing the process like once per year. Many times I reshape a handle that I may not be so happy with and it’s easy to restore finish. It’s a tool handle nothing complicated really needed. 5- Fitting and wedging. Fit must be tight and precise. If you can test fit a handle into the eye and remove it, it’s no good. It will never last. In reality it should stay without any wedging, that being only an added aid. Any one that I fit if needed to be removed it will have to be destroyed. If done incorrectly the wedge will actually weaken the whole thing. Installing the head is done in a specific manner, not by hitting head onto handle and not by hitting back of handle onto a surface with head on top. In other words never use blows or gravity to install the head. The very opposite, just start the head like 1/8” , turn handle with head facing down and now hit back of handle. The vibration will bring head upwards fully into handle correctly aligned and very important without damaging the part of handle that will be inside eye. If inside of eye is a little rusty leave it, it creates additional friction. Any straight grained hard wood will do. Hickory best choice. Ash good also . Unlike this piece grain ring lines should be vertical in line with blade length. This will be ok for a small hatchet. Size piece a little oversized and longer than needed. make sure eye end is square Place head centered and straight on blank and trace eye shape onto it I like to cut eye portion close prior to shaping but not necessary. My reason for it is to stay away from it as I do the preliminary shaping on the front half of handle. If a wood wedge was to be used vertically on the handle this would be the time to make that cut now. I now start shaping using a spoke shave. It’s a very efficient tool for it but it can be done with a block plane and rasps. I do the front half of handle now. Eventually I’ll get to the important part. Very important not to take too much and have correct shape. Leave pencil lines intact. Test frequently until it can be started for no more than 1/8” again make sure that you can only start it no more than 1/8” It’s time to put it in. Chamfer edges of fitted end This is the correct way to drive it in . Upside down hitting back of handle. Vibration will bring it up into handle correctly aligned. Trust me. In place. Notice on how head shaved high spots as it moved up. Insertion is now completed. Do it until about 1/8” sticks out. At this point if I needed to remove it it would have to be destroyed . It will NOT come out. Head is perfectly aligned with handle. Driving it any other way can cause head to be slightly tilted . That would also mean that it damaged one side of handle as it was driven in. I now shape the back half of handle . My hand will be the final judge . I keep going contouring it until I am happy with how it feels. There it is with all that came off of it Cut handle to final length if needed. I like to leave them a little long. Always in time to cut later. Sometimes in use one wishes it was left longer. Cut a heavy chamfer on back edge. It will prevent splintering if you hit back edges. Drill a hole in back of handle trough the longest section for a string to hang hatchet. It will save edge from damage by hitting other tools while stored. Chamfer edges of holes It really needs no wedges. One way it would be one wood wedge lengthwise with one metal wedge across it. At this time I only have here one metal wedge which is not the right size. So the correct way to install it is this way. Use what is at hand. Notice the burnt mark around wedge. I like to make the wedge red hot and drive it in. It will go in easier specially when oversized as this one minimizing cracking of end. File everything down flush with head Melt paraffin onto end to seal everything. Water or moisture here will be the beginning of the end. All tools used to make it. My grandchildren should be able to use it for the rest of their lives.

Well recently before Alex got his 604 project he was looking for another project and was out Perusing my parts tractors pile. Out there sat this little commando 8. It was owned by my ex Alex’s mom. So I told him he had to talk to her. Her and I don’t see eye to eye so she thought it was for me and told him a price. I was like whoa it’s for him not me. After weeks of him pleading for it she finally caved in and gave it to him. Tonight was finally warm so he asked my dad to move it for him since it doesn’t have tires (we stole them for another project). We tested the spark and it had great spark and tried to start. Now the back story to this tractor is. I was at a local dealership that I’m friends with the owner picking up some parts I ordered for another project. I asked him what was up with the commando 8 sitting in the side lot. So he brought me out and we looked at it and he gave me the story. The original owner Archie bought it brand new with a mower deck and the snow thrower. My friend was a kid when it was new and would walk by Archie’s house and got to be friends with him. He started learning to mow on it and graduated to doing all the services on it and switching implements for Archie who was in his 60’s at the time. Archie lived into his 90’s and the tractor sat for years in his garage. His kids gave it to my friend. I thought it was a cool back story. Then my friend said he didn’t have the time to fix it up or get it running and told me to make him an offer on the spot. I had 22 bucks in my pocket and he told me deal. Couldn’t believe it. Well my ex was super pissed that I bought another tractor so I gave it to her. We got it running and it’s been sitting since. I’m glad Alex got it. He’s been addicted to this hobby all winter and now has wheel horses of his own. He plans to keep it original paint and keep the nick name Archie!

Red Sky in the Morning, Sailor Take Warning. This was the sunrise before our winter sleet set in last Friday. .My morning commute! And this the Sunset a week earlier. Seems like there's been lots of color lately! My evening commute!

That has Peter Lena voodoo all over it. Are you sure you guys aren't related?? Quite honestly Bob, never seen anything like that.

@WHX?? I know that idiot, he gives your post two thumbs up! Same thumb, but twice!

@c-series don gets cut ALOT of slack.... it's the BS ! Since you never been there EB you should be informed it's IMPOSSIBLE to not have more than one or two tractors in your shots! How about two fer Tuesday?!?!?

Okay here’s a few more!

You all may be completely befuddled by this but I decided to take a slightly different approach to the thread topic...and yet....stay on topic. 2 pics Of a 2 cylinder On 2's-day In 2/22

Wrong day, but back on track

Yep! My 867 is scheduled for rehabilitation therapy. Might let every one ride along Jim. We'll try to keep it down to 20 pages for you.

Ya know what this means boys.... Dan's doing a resto..... we is gonna get us some eye candy....red porn... drooling... the whole nine yards! and we won't have to suffer thru 40 pages of build nonsense will we @ebinmaine...... ahem..... @Pullstart If I didn't hve sturgeon spearing I'd come get in your way......

When you're ready to sell, just put a price on it. If it's fair, it'll sell itself.

Okay guys we replaced all the fuel lines clean the tank out and hit the key and it just keeps on surging a bunch so it's probably the carburetor the fuel pump is working perfectly. On the plus side I got the fuel gauge to work because the negative wasn't plugged in.

The gold standard is whatever you and the buyer are happy with. But I understand you don't want to give it away. Your best bet is to take pictures, and come up with what you WANT to get for it. Then put an ad in the classified section here on the forum. If it's too much, someone will say so. I've seen beautiful and well maintained 520 hydros listed for stupid money, and others around $1200- the latter being at least more reasonable. Condition is obviously important, and extra implements add value as well. You just have to do your homework. There is an archive in the classifieds that may help. Just a starting point of course, but worth a look.

@JCM @Oldskool Translation: I think Steve is writing of Winnuh Haaahhbuh.

Morning...Lake Michigan Different day on the Lake Near sunset at point of Acadia National Park, Maine Near sunset Winter Harbor, Maine

Four on... Whatever day. I gotta drag out more to show more.

Idea here fellas ... how about a three fer Thursday??? Naww lets go right to four for Friday !!!!!!

In Norfolk VA overlooking the Elizabeth River on a work trip this past December. Thought it was cool with the cranes, jet trails, two helicopters, American flag on the middle crane…and of course the sunset.

Here's a few from the BBT. Our house, sunrise over the mountains across the street. Various views on our drive to work.

Something about the dawning of a new day and the sun setting after enjoying one.... Excellent post. @ranger throw some in.

Current winter misery Backyard sunrise Cape May NJ sunset

@JCM You’re bringing it back and I’m on it!

If anyone has captured either post them up, with or without a tractor, at home or one of your favorite destinations that brings you peace for better and warmer days ahead for all of us. Take Care All

We rode our bikes over a dozen miles today, saw bald eagles and a blond jogger in shorts. What more can one ask?

Without pictures, it is impossible to give you an honest estimate. This also needs to go into the "Classifieds / For Sale" Section. Really, the sale price is what the seller wants and what the buyer is willing to pay. Pictures and maybe a video of the horse running would give you some ideas. Just know that this belongs in the Classifieds.

Two much time on my hands

To that tractor, I say... YOU LOOK GOOD... @kpinnc knows what I mean... That's the only one I have that my wife thinks is sexy. Coming from her, that is a huge compliment.

Fancy indeed! Me likey!

I’m nowhere’s close to done @Snoopy11 On your first sketch, remember the yellow line would need to pivot at the frame (not even centerline of the 1” tubing in fact) in order for the suspension to move freely. Think of Ford F-150 trailing arms on the twin I beam fronts. The front will move in a somewhat circular motion. I’m working on this currently. I’ll also be triangulating from the trailing arm mount up to the frame too.

That's my 523-H. It got pushed back to help my FIL, and I'm still working on it. That's a brand new Vanguard 23hp build. In the restorations forum it's under "523 high roller".

Fiver Saturday?

Here’s a pic heavy one… kickin’ it old skool.

Gotta like that FEL Craig wonder who the moron is has it now?!?!? & the way it looks the idiot shoulda cleaned out the rest of the barn!

@Achto I guess I was racing the sun too! Stepping out of the shop to take a leak

Vacationing at the lake Racing the sun to get the job done

LOL. I don’t mind whatsoever but it did confuse me a bit. I actually thought to myself that I must be really getting old I just can’t get this photo. What is the meaning of it? That is it the mind is now going. I am not sharp anymore. Geez I feel so much better now.

I consider that the 'alarm' to let me know when to release the lift handle!

So today I called the powder coating shop to check on my wheels for the Work Horse… The guy said I never dropped them off ! So it turned out I mistakenly called the guy that was wanting to charge $325… I apologized and called my guy that is doing them for $150… I should have them by Friday… will post pics… Just ordered 2 Hi-Run 23x10.50-12 ags for rear, and 2 Hi-Run 16x6.50-8 straight ribs for the front… I will post pics when I get them mounted. Hopefully she’ll be rolling shortly !

This world needs more women like her...

She doesn't hate ya too much then I was guessing like 250-300 just to stick it to you

Bringing this one back for the Cribs.