New axe, eye a bit splintered. Problem or no?

[Foogs]

I've just received a Hultafors 006 Trekking axe. (Ordered from Amazon as I had credit there)

As you can see, the top of the handle has split somewhat where it's been wedged.

This is my first axe, so just wanted a 2nd/3rd/4th opinion on whether this was par for the course or represented a sub-optimal specimen?

The handle is a bit dinged up in places too, but I was planning to sand and re-oil it anyway.

I totally appreciate it's a tool to be used, so I'm not interested in its aesthetics, only that its function is up to snuff.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

F

 

[HillBill]

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Pattree]

It’ll probably be OK but I’d have expected better if it was new and I’d have expected the seller to show the defect if it wasn’t.

It’s a shoddy fitting apart from the crack.

If it were mine I’d want it replaced. I’d contact the seller and ask them what they are going to do about it. I’d want them to repay any return postage. (Preppers once emailed me a return post label.)

When my daughter complained that a seller had sent the wrong sized hammer: they sent the right size and told her to keep the smaller one sent in error. There was nothing wrong with it.

 

[Tony]

I'd not worry about it, although you could contact Hultafors and see what they say about it, there might be some reassurance in that.

 

[Toddy]

If it's tight it'll be fine, but for a brand new, and I presume happily anticipated new tool, I'd have been roundly dischuffed to receive one that looked like that.

I call that an end of shift special...couldnae be bothered to do it 'right', even if technically it'll do the job.

 

[slowworm]

It looks very similar to my Husky hatchet and that has done a fair bit of work over the last 10 years without any problems and the head is still snug.

 

[slowworm]

Here's a quick pic of mine. I don't think it's that uncommon but mine was only £22 so it didn't matter.

 

[Pattree]

Sloworm, that’s a bloody site better job than Froogs’.

 

[Foogs]

Sloworm, that’s a bloody site better job than Froogs’.

Froogs is my money-saving alter ego.

 

[Broch]

I think it's fine; we get too fussed about these lumps of sharpened steel on the end of a stick. Will it come off? no, will it cut wood? yes. It's not (hopefully) intended to be a show piece but a tool.

 

[alphaburner]

If you wont be out of pocket, I’d return it. I guess it wasn’t to cheap and even though I agree it most likely won’t be an issue, just knowing it was there would bug me.

 

[Chris]

Personally would want something a bit better quality for the money.

 

[grainweevil]

I've rehandled one or two tools in my time and if this happened to me, I'd swear mightily and storm out of the w'kshop angrily declaring "it's good enough". Then I'd be down there the next day ripping out that handle and redoing it, because it isn't. So better add me to the it'll-probably-be-fine-but-it's-really-not-acceptable-for-a-brand-new-tool camp.

 

[Dave Budd]

it's wood, wood splits when you wedge it open. It's purely cosmetic! It's a blooming tool not a fine china teacup!

 

[Pattree]

it's wood, wood splits when you wedge it open. It's purely cosmetic! It's a blooming tool not a fine china teacup!

That’s fine. I am not a perfectionist, I’m an adequist - if it will do, then it will do - but that’s for MY work for my use.

If I’m buying a professionally made tool then I want it made professionally.

For all we slag off the far East, can you imagine an Asian manufacturer selling something like that axe.

Note:
I KNOW Hultafores sell tools made in Asia. Would an Asian *seller* let that pass QC???

 

[Foogs]

Thank you for all the replies and thoughts. I ordered a replacement which arrived today, and it's even drunker than the first one. So I'll return the replacement, keep the original and one day re-helve it knowing that the bar is fairly low.

Pics of replacement attached (on the right)

 

[HillBill]

Tbh, the replacement has a better handle (cracks aside). The grain is tighter. Personally, i'd keep that one and send the original back.

 

[Foogs]

Tbh, the replacement has a better handle (cracks aside). The grain is tighter. Personally, i'd keep that one and send the original back.

Interesting. It looks like the handle of the replacement is heartwood - it's much darker than the original. I've taken some pictures of the two side by side, I'd welcome any thoughts.

(Original left, replacement right)

 

[HillBill]

Best thing to do is take a few swings with both, see which one feels better. The heartwood may have a little more shock down the handle due to it being a little harder.

 

[wickerman]

mine came with similar cracks but does not impair axe used mine nearly everyday for past five years great axe and was only £34 delivered at the time