Axe handle. Would you send this back?

[whats wrong with you all]

recently bought a True Temper axe handle from amazon.com, delivered to the UK to rehandle a double bit head I bought a while back.

The handle arrived in record time, but it's clearly got a large amount of heartwood and I'm worried it wasn't be as strong as it should. I'm planning on using the axe, not just hanging it up and looking pretty.

The grain orientation isn't too bad, it's just the heartwood I'm worried about.

Would you send this back and get another one, or do you think it will be OK?

Cheers!

Chris.

EDIT: Here are some pictures http://imgur.com/a/5L2C6

 

[santaman2000]

Ummmm. Heartwood? Does that term mean the same to you as it does in the South? Here heartwood means from the heart (center) of the tree. It's something to be desired.

 

[bushwacker bob]

If its Ash or hickory the colouration doesn't make any difference to the strength. The heartwood of ash sometimes is dark brown or black, sometimes its white all the way through.

 

[santaman2000]

Nothing wrong with that handle.

 

[BOD]

Send them an email explaining your concerns. They will either send you another or say it will be fit for purpose. If the latter and it subsequently breaks you have recourse.

 

[ozzy1977]

Nothing wrong wit it at all

 

[bambodoggy]

You may even find that in use this handle is superior to others as it may have the strength of the heartwood combined with the flexibility of the sapwood....in a similar manner to a bow I guess.

If you're really not happy then email the company, ask them the questions and if they say it's fine and you're still not happy then ask them to swap it if you pay the postage....seems reasonable to me but then I'd keep it

Hope that helps

 

[Macaroon]

There's nothing at all wrong with that wood - I'd be pleased to receive it if I was buying one. There's not the same degree of difference between heartwood and sapwood in Ash and Hickory as there is in some other timbers,
IIRC. Much more crucial will be how well you hang it!

 

[sunndog]

That should be fine mate

My 12 year old gransfors Scandinavian forest axe is similar to that and its had a lot of very heavy use, both in northern woods and in arborist work i do

 

[whats wrong with you all]

Looks like I'll stick with this one then! Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[dwardo]

You will be good. With most white woods there is little difference in tensile strength and compression. In short its just gonna look cool.

 

[Everything Mac]

Just me that's under the impression heartwood was not ideal then. I understood the heartwood to be less springy.

I'd probably just use it anyway and if/ when it breaks - send it back and complain.

Andy

 

[Shinken]

As above its fine, heartwood might be more succeptable to rot however (not sure on hickory or ash) But just give it some proection from that and it will be fine.

I like the sapwood, its a nice contrast to the heartwood

 

[robevs73]

My RM wilderness axe handle is the same and it's been well used.