In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Built a new hatcharoon

Discussion in 'Axes, Mauls, and Hand Saws' started by jo191145, Nov 6, 2022.

  1. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    40,414
    Location:
    Ct
    Quite a few years ago I built a hatcharoon out of a cheapo 14” hatchet. It worked better than I expected but too short for my taste. Yellow plastic handle came off, I repaired it once. It’s ready to fly off again soon.
    So I came across these Estwing hatchets at HD. They call them 16” but they measure 18” overall. They also had a 26” that I thought I might prefer but after swinging them around in the store a bit I went with the shorter.
    Used the bandsaw this time to alleviate heat. This design works very well. It’ll stick into and lift any round I’m capable of picking off the ground. The bird mouth I leave on allows it to disengage with a slap from the palm of the hand. I cut a little too much off the bird mouth this time. May weld a little back on.
    Usually I sharpen the top edge but leave everything inside the mouth flat for picking ability.
    Didn’t sharpen or smooth anything yet. Just trying it as is for the moment.
    Last pic it’s not whacked in hard. Just enough to stay so I don’t bend over to grab it.

    92655768-9212-4358-AECF-2C1A192B4290.jpeg 2539DE43-0D5E-4A60-A763-B29281FB47C3.jpeg D5944811-E513-47BB-AF65-D75565C6BCA5.jpeg
     
  2. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    27,369
    Likes Received:
    163,182
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    Seems like that would work better than standard log tongs for PU smaller rounds. Ive used my hatchette for the same.
     
    FatBoy85, Screwloose and jo191145 like this.
  3. Screwloose

    Screwloose

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Messages:
    4,751
    Likes Received:
    27,173
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    One thing about a Estwing is I've never seen the handle come loose!
     
    FatBoy85, buZZsaw BRAD and jo191145 like this.
  4. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    27,369
    Likes Received:
    163,182
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    Very true. 20 oz straight claw was my roofing hammer for years. I retired it when the claw was an inch shorter, the face of it had worn to a "D" and the grip was so worn the inner steel was showing. I switched to anti-vibe hammers after. No roofers/carpenters elbow...yet.
     
    MikeInMa, Screwloose and jo191145 like this.
  5. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    40,414
    Location:
    Ct
    Works nice for not bending over on little rounds. Even better on the big ones. Provides a nice handle to begin the lift without bending over as much. Or use both hands on it as a handle. Not afraid to stick that in a 200lb round and do a dead lift. As you know I go well out of my way not to need doing such things but it’s capable. Works good on big noodled half rounds to drag or toss them on the log lift. They don’t roll well.

    I tacked a little foot on it to make up for too much metal removal. The shape of the Estwing blade and thinness in that area make it almost necessary anyway. I can grind it down now. I’ll use it for awhile and see how it works before removing any more metal.

    92F8E37F-FC7F-4309-9BF8-01AE9BBF47F6.jpeg
     
    GMB77, FatBoy85, JD Guy and 2 others like this.
  6. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    40,414
    Location:
    Ct
    Can’t recall ever seeing a broken Estwing handle but I have seen the blue rubber eventually come off on their Mason hammers. I’m not thinking I’ll put it through that type of abuse tho :)
     
    Screwloose and buZZsaw BRAD like this.
  7. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    27,369
    Likes Received:
    163,182
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    I like it especially the way it will easily come out of a round. Ive used my hatchette in place of log tongs when scrounging and like it better but have to wiggle it several times to release. Maybe ill have yo make me a couple with shorter hatchets. Being the proverbial cheapskate id probably get a couple of Harbor freight specials being i dont use them a lot.
     
    Screwloose and jo191145 like this.
  8. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    40,414
    Location:
    Ct
    Ill bring a few options along. Let ya try them. This reminds me I bought a set of log tongs and have t even tried them yet. Not even sure where they are. Maybe in the backseat of the truck.
    You got a hefty round on your truck to play with?
     
    buZZsaw BRAD likes this.
  9. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    27,369
    Likes Received:
    163,182
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    I do not. The job has some smaller dead ash trunks the homeowner said i could take. 10" maybe. Bringing 261 & wheelbarrow.
     
    jo191145 likes this.
  10. FatBoy85

    FatBoy85

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Messages:
    6,592
    Likes Received:
    25,094
    Location:
    Washington State
    Heh I can see a blacksmith or the like welding some rebar on that blunted end and sharpening it for a cant or 'roon type. Then again I'm going down a rabbit hole for another zombie tool and might render the hatchet head somewhat obsolete unless you use it as a fulcrum to pry it out of logs you poked too deep. No worries on the head separation since the belly/neck is all one piece. Still I like the idea!
     
    jo191145 and buZZsaw BRAD like this.
  11. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    40,414
    Location:
    Ct
    I bought a Forester pickaroon this spring. Don’t like it. Almost useless IMO. Ok for picking up splits maybe. Rounds you need to stick em hard enough that you have to wiggle them out. Waste of time and energy. Hickory handle split too.
    This little hatcheroon outperforms a pickaroon tenfold IMO.
     
    FatBoy85 and buZZsaw BRAD like this.
  12. FatBoy85

    FatBoy85

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Messages:
    6,592
    Likes Received:
    25,094
    Location:
    Washington State
    Mind showing pictures of the Forester?
     
    jo191145 likes this.
  13. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    40,414
    Location:
    Ct
    Had to grab it out of the junk pile. Biggest mistake is they cut the handle horizontal to fit the head. Hard to tell from pics. The black isn’t a hole it’s where the paint never made it. A horizontal cut in the handle near the head is death knell for wood. Only a matter of time. In this case it wasn’t long.

    7329F62D-2588-4C67-AA7F-4D682EAC9190.jpeg 45D3F93B-EECE-4C69-92F6-BD5297BA13E6.jpeg AF2058B7-476B-4B26-A192-DA6E905A4746.jpeg
     
    buZZsaw BRAD and FatBoy85 like this.
  14. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    27,369
    Likes Received:
    163,182
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    You tossing that Joe?
     
    jo191145 likes this.
  15. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    40,414
    Location:
    Ct
    Haha it’s yours :)
     
    buZZsaw BRAD likes this.
  16. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    27,369
    Likes Received:
    163,182
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    cool. Thanks buddy. Mebbe i can get the old X27 handle to fit it. Same one i made my "pickeroon" out of
     
    jo191145 likes this.