I'm sure it is a combination of shear dumb luck, and forgiveness, because it sure wasn't skill, especially when I first started. The first/only 8# splitting maul I bought and have had for years and many cords of wood is starting to show its age. I have never replaced a fiberglass handle. Is it worth it if it finally goes? With it being fairly reasonably priced, $45, I am going to get a similar to this one and take original to camper so I don't have to drag it around all the time. With some of the stress cracking and just being old that I am seeing eventually I'm sure it will croak. So do I mess with fixing it or junk it. Any tips on re-handling a fiberglass maul? Never having busted one will this eventually explode in my hand into a million glass splinters when it goes? Half tempted for a cheap back up for when it goes at the camper Menards has a Yardworks 8# for 26$. Anyone ever use one or is it a you get what you pay for with them, wouldn't get a ton of use but dont want to waste $ if its total junk?
They break just like a wooden one. I've replaced with a fiberglass handle . One "trick" and maybe the most important one is both mating surfaces for the joining epoxy must be super clean. No rust, no dust, no wax, no environmental oils and pollutants on surfaces, etc. No cheating. Clean means clean. There are some cheap tools with crappy fiberglass handles though and it isn't surprising some people consider fiberglass handled tools crap. I've had my share. Good tools are rarely cheap.
Fiskars Isocore 8# maul...lifetime warranty, even the handle. If you watch, you can get them for under $50. Fiskars IsoCore 8 lbs. Forged Steel Maul with 36 in. Fiberglass Core Handle-751110-1001 - The Home Depot
And, they are good one's!! I've got the Fiskars 8lb maul, the 36'' splitting axe, then bought the 28'' splitter, and just rounded the pack off by getting the X11 hatchet. Yup, i've got a use for all of them. I give the 8lb maul to the grandson, ha, ha, don't worry about over strikes with that ''beauty''. lol. I can swing it just right, he's still learning. I've got a small fortune in all 4 of them, but, you can't take it with you, and its nice not to have to worry about busting a handle out in the brush. One thing i did do with the X11 hatchet, i put some ''shoe goo'' on the handle so its not so slick, nothing like loosing control of a hatchet with gloves on, this stops that.
