Hickory timber supplier ?

[mikehill]

Anyone know of a U.K. supplier of hickory so I can carve my own axe handle ?

Thanks

 

[Mesquite]

Exotic Hardwoods UK has it listed but it's pricey.

You'd probably be a lot better off going for Ash as an alternative and much more readily available in the UK

 

[bobnewboy]

I’ve bought some half decent boards from Yandles down here in Somerset, in my case for bows or bow backings. So I’ve been fairly fussy about grain etc. If you’re making handles you could be be a bit less strict which would help as you’d be ordering online I suppose.

 

[bobnewboy]

Exotic Hardwoods UK has it listed but it's pricey.

You'd probably be a lot better off going for Ash as an alternative and much more readily available in the UK

Yep hickory is difficult to find as lumber and expensive. Ash is much more common and cheaper as a result. I just had a quick look at Yandles’ website and they don’t list any hickory right now.

 

[Broch]

just from an environmental perspective; and the fact that ash is the native wood that's been used for tool handles in this country since before we'd ever heard of the Americas, go for ash

 

[mikehill]

Thanks guy. I did see that board but it was way too big for my needs. I’ll see if something turns up, and if not, will get some ash.

 

[C_Claycomb]

I bought my first hickory board from Timberline in Kent, don't think they do them any more. Not sure where I got my second. I know I hand picked the first. I wanted it for making a self bow, so all one piece of wood, no laminating. Had a hell of a job finding a flat-ringed board. I know now this wasn't necessary for the bow (fibre parallel to back, but ring orientation less important). The second board was less flat ringed than the first and the explanation was that the boards are imported for bowyers, who being English make "traditional" bows by laminating hickory with various tropical hard woods and almost invariably turn their hickory into 1 to 1.5 inch wide, 1/8 to 1/4 inch strips, and ring orientation isn't something they care about much. So finding a board that is thick enough for an axe, and has grain in the classic "ideal" orientation could be a lost cause, or at least a costly one.

If you haven't carved an axe handle (or similar tool handle) before, ever mind being a dab hand at hanging them, I would recommend ash over hickory. Hickory is nicer to work than ash in that the early wood in ash makes getting smooth faces difficult in some places, but it would really suck to find a rare bit of wood and make a beginner's goof. I did okay with the last two ash chop tool handles I did, but my hammer handle before that could be better, and while my parang handle is fine now, it is the third iteration. That is with all the tools, and a fair bit of practice with knife handles.

Best of luck! Do show pictures when it is done

 

[mikehill]

Maybe ash would be better

I do have a belt and bobbin sander so hopefully that will help finish wise.

 

[Kav]

There are US companies online that sell Hickory tool handles. If you have a special project in mind one may serve as a blank.
My bucksaw, Akka axe, hiking staff and custom knife all use Hickory. It’s not as flashy as others, but incredibly strong and stable.
But from a practical perspective Ash is more appropriate.

 

[Mesquite]

There are US companies online that sell Hickory tool handles. If you have a special project in mind one may serve as a blank.

Yup, there's lots of US companies that do that but it would cost the OP a small fortune to one of them to post it over

 

[mikehill]

Yep… think I’ll just get a few pieces of ash, but thanks for looking