the handle in my splitting maul looks to be a composit of fiber glass inter core and some type of plastic around it. It kept comeing loose almost from the day I bought it so every spring i clamp it into a home made jig so it is standing up and work any loose bits of the sealer glue out. Once that is out I mix up some epoxie and pour it on then it sets all summer. A couple days ago it just flat broke except the core. I went out shopping for a new handle which has a hole in the head like a single bit axe, think it is called a neddle eye. Couldn't find any type of glass, composit handle just wood. Good loard they sure thing those have gold enbeded in the handle the prices they want for the sorry looking things. I have decided I have several types of wood to choose from to make a handle my self. First choice would be Ash good strong wood and in my experince weathers well. Second choice is Hickory also a good strong wood and the choice of handle makers for many years. I would have to cut the sapling down and dry it for a while. Third choice is iron wood I also would have to dry it but that would go quick in the corner of my wood burning furnace room. I think I can use the old handle as a template. Take my time, have tools like the table saw, band saw, stand sander, hand sanders draw knife and wood chisels. Maybe stock all three chiunks of wood and wait till they are dry to chose which to use. Al
I'd use ironwood as the first choice. Second would be hickory. Ash, it's good, but not like the other two choices.
Progress Ha Ha. as I said I need to dry the wood which ever I decided to use. Way some of you feel about having dry fire wood it will take 5 years to get the wood dry enough for a handle. Though of another wood, thorn apple AKA Hawthorne. Al
What Horkn said, ash used to be what all baseball bats were made out of, read known to break. Iron wood is what you want! lay a piece on your Hearth behind your stove it will dry..
Hickory would be my first choice it is very strong but still has some flex to it that will absorb shock.