Single stem

2024 Author: Caroline Blare | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:39

If you work diligently with hand tools in the garden or around the house, it can happen that the associated wooden handle breaks or tears completely. In this case, you don't have to buy a new, expensive tool straight away. With the right instructions, a replacement handle can be attached to the damaged equipment in just a few steps. You can then continue working normally without major interruptions.

In most cases, a new hand tool is purchased straight away if the wooden handle of the old tool breaks. Only a few people dare to do the stemming themselves. However, if you have some practical experience and follow the instructions carefully, you will definitely be able to complete the repair. When buying, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the new handle; the right fit is just as important. Depending on the equipment, the shaft is in most cases either triangular, oval or round, although there are also certain special shapes in exceptional cases. Often the ratio of width and length of the replacement handle is incorrect, so you can make the required handle yourself using a drawknife. The wood fibers are crucial; if the fibers are too short and slanted, another break is inevitable.

Only use handles made from seasoned wood
Professional chamber drying is ideal
Make sure the wood fibers are straight and continuous
The best stem woods are acacia, ash and hickory
Consider climatic conditions when planting
When the humidity is high, the stem sits tighter
When the humidity is low, the stem becomes loose

Tip:

It is best to leave the newly purchased wooden handle in dry air for at least a week, either in a centrally heated room or directly on the radiator.

Instructions

In addition to careful selection, it is also important to ensure that the replacement handle is installed correctly. First, the old handle and its remains must be completely removed from the hand tool. Then the new handle must be prepared to fit the shaft; there are different methods for this. When refinishing, it is recommended to follow the wood grain and only remove excess material where the fibers are no longer continuous. This ensures that the wooden handle retains its resilience for a longer period of time. Anyone who planes or files the continuous annual rings weakens the stem considerably. Tools should then be used to drive the handle into the shaft. Tool manufacturers carry out this work step with powerful presses; existing tools can also be used for household use. It is important to have a firm and resistant base so that damage can be avoided.

Requires hammer, hand saw, hardwood and metal wedges
If necessary, use waterproof glue or glue
Carefully saw off the broken handle
Drill the rest until you can knock it out
Do this with a hammer and blunt chisel
Prepare the replacement handle for the shaft to fit perfectly
Draw appropriate contours with pencil
Then remove excess material
Either with rasp, draw knife or scraper blade
Then drive the handle in far with a hammer
Make sure it is firmly seated, secure the handle by wedging it
If the fit is too loose, use glue or glue

Note:

A planing bench that can be used to apply a lot of pressure to drive in the replacement handle is ideal.

Axe

Old ax heads rarely fit together with new handles. In order to attach a new handle to an old ax, the handle diameter should be selected slightly larger and then machined according to the respective dimensions. Since wood begins to swell when the humidity is higher, the handle becomes slightly thicker over time. In this way, the seat becomes even stronger, making it significantly more stable and safer.

Drive in the new handle at least 5-10 mm above the head with a rubber mallet on a wooden base or freehand
Always proceed so far that the replacement handle is firmly seated
Saw the excess and drive the wedge into the wooden base with a hammer
Saw off the protruding part if it gets in the way
Place the head of the ax straight on the handle
Never hit the hammer head as there is a risk of splinters

hatchet

On a hatchet, the attachment between the handle and the striking head must hold permanently and reliably. As soon as the replacement handle comes loose, this situation can endanger life during use. When the ax flies around in its pieces, its head resembles a dangerous missile. Although the mechanical implementation of removing the new handle is comparatively simple, it must be done correctly and according to specific instructions.

Be careful when driving in the stem end
Make sure the handle sinks evenly into the head
Keep measuring with angle iron
Maintain a right angle between the center of the blade and the shaft
Correct the seat with additional hammer blows

Broom

Brooms are usually equipped with a thread for which suitable handles are available in every well-stocked supermarket. It is much more difficult to repair brooms for gardening and sweeping outdoor areas that only have an empty handle hole without a thread. Long wooden handles with the right circumference are suitable for this, which are tapered at the bottom and then processed accordingly.

First measure the depth of the handle hole
Sand the edge of the handle accordingly
Put the broom on with firm pressure
The end of the handle should disappear into the hole as far as it will go
Let the head end of the broom fall vertically onto the hard floor
Repeat until the handle is very tight

Cross hoe

The wedge shape of the pickaxe and the handle almost never match each other. Therefore, the hoe either has to be pressed onto the handle with great effort or the handle has to be ground in precisely. In general, the pickaxe is not connected to the replacement handle, as is the case with the ax or hatchet with the wedge. Therefore, the new stem must be conical in order to hold sufficiently firmly. Under no circumstances should the metal part wobble when chopping, as it could come off under heavy use.

Work on visible contact points with sandpaper
Then carefully rework with a rasp
Put the hoe on the handle
Knock vigorously several times on the hard floor
Check the tightness of the seat from time to time

Note:

How much you have to sand off the contact points can be estimated by where light still shines through at the end of the handle.

Shovel

Specialist retailers offer many different handles for a shovel, which differ considerably in terms of handle shape, material, diameter and length. Wooden handles are widely used and can be easily replaced if they break. To find the correct dimensions, remove the old shovel handle and measure the diameter of the opening and the length before purchasing a new one. Ideally, the same dimensions are selected that perfectly match the shape of the handle of the shovel.

Note handle shapes: D-handle, button handle or T-handle
Button handle offers little grip for the hands
Therefore not ergonomically useful, rarely used
D handle offers a secure hold thanks to the triangle
T-handle enables comfortable working thanks to the horizontal bar
You can try out various handle shapes at the hardware store

Spade

The first step when spading is to remove the rivet that runs straight through the old handle. To do this, clamp the spade handle firmly and then either file or sand the head of the rivet. The head must be ground down to such an extent that the normal thickness of the rivet can be seen. Then take a mandrel and knock out the rivet to the other side. If the remaining wood in the handle of the spade cannot be pulled out immediately, the entire spade should be heated so that the wood dries out completely and then comes loose. If you're in a hurry, you can heat the spade handle with a flame.

For single handles, clamp the spade in a vice
Carefully drill a hole in the spade booklet from side to side
Drill should be half a centimeter thinner than rivet
Alternatively you can use a thick nail
Drive nail through the hole, leave half a centimeter longer
Then spread the end of the nail with a hammer
Smooth surfaces are important
Otherwise soil and weeds will remain stuck

Sledgehammer

The head of the sledgehammer is the most expensive part because it is made of solid metal. That's why it's always worth replacing the relatively inexpensive handle if it breaks. New wooden handles must be prepared well before and after insertion so that working with the sledgehammer is easy. That's why the handle must be completely smooth, as large frictional forces arise during use. If the wood is too rough, it will rub the palms of your hands and can cause injury.

Sand the new handle carefully with sandpaper
Repeat the procedure several times
Finally use fine-grit sandpaper
Oil the handle after insertion
Repeat oiling a few times
Oil absorbs quickly and completely into dry wood
Serves as protection against adverse weather influences

Christmas tree

So that a painstakingly set up Christmas tree does not tip over after a short time, it must be firmly planted in the matching stand. However, the selected tree often offers stubborn resistance when it is set up because it is an untreated natural product. Then the handle must be made suitable for the stand using an ax and saw, so that a secure stand is guaranteed over the long term. Otherwise, there is a risk of fire in the house or apartment when using real candles.