Greetings all,

There is a member who posted often in the wilderness forum about axes, using axes, & handle making. I haven't been around lately & his "handle" on the forum has slipped my mind.

He once posted a link to web site that sold wooden handles & it was what I surmised was about the best collection of wooden tool handles available (axes, picks, hammers, shovels, etc).

I searched the forum & archives but couldn't find anything.

Anybody know the members "handle", or a good online source for wooden handles?

Thanks
Rob

Robert, not positive but I believe that was Dale Torma? And I believe the place you're talking about is called "House Handles". When that was posted I wrote the name of the company down. Couple of months ago I got tired tripping over tools with broken handles so I took a tally of what all I needed and ordered some handles from "House Handles". Fourteen handles all together, axes, mauls, sledge hammers, shovels and pitchforks. Didn't take them long to get here and I was very happy with how well made they were, and with good running wood grain.
Had a handle hanging day and replenished my tool supply. They are a good outfit IMO.

Nice collection Spek and I admire your organization getting them all done at once. Might have to do the same.

Probably Dale Torma like Spek said. He's on Facebook and has a group called Northwoods survival skills (something along those lines). Definitely worth a look He got the boot on here for calling out some dirt going on in a certain trapping association by a certain member of this site.*
*This is his side of the story that he told me on FB. I don't know for sure what happened, which is why I'm not going into any detail.

Sheesh Spek....

I've got a measly dozen broken handled axes, hatchets, rakes, spades, and mauls, and I was thinking it'd take me a couple weeks to get them back in operation. You did 14 in a day? I'm in awe, man! Good on ya!

Jack

Thanks Bushman, so easy seems like to keep putting that job off "until later".

Tim H, that's too bad. He had some pretty informative post.

Gulo, thank you, it was a pretty full day for me. I take a lot more coffee breaks than I used to. A 4 inch angle head with a 36 grit disc did most of the work. Works really good for fitting things up, but you do have to go easy with it at first. Pretty easy to take off too much wood if you're not careful.

House Handle Company has a handle for about any thing you can think of. I ordered their premium grade, only cost a little more than the regular grade. I don't know what their regular grade is like since I've never seen one.

Robert.. Yes your asking about Dale Torma. He is up near Hibbing MN. Good guy very driven to work wood in the old ways. He carries a great knowledge of methods and tools, also where to find both here and abroad. He is not just show, he applies what he knows year round.
I know nothing of any rift behind the scenes which would have caused him to leave here. If so it would be a shame, the guy is incredibly skilled.

Osky

Dale Torma had some of the most informative posts ever posted on Trapperman... He freely shared his knowledge with anyone that wanted to learn. I never saw anything in his posts that should have caused him to be banned from Trapperman but then I don't make those decisions.

Thanks, guys.

Spek I believe that is the place.

Rob

Beaver Tooth Handle Company. Took a little bit of time for my handle to show up, but from what the website says the guy is operating out of a shop run almost exclusively by himself. I was very happy with the quality of handle.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dale at the Fur Takers shindig in Marshfield, WI a couple weeks ago. Super nice guy and a wealth of knowledge. I really miss his posts on here.

Zim

If you’re on Facebook, Dale is currently posting a photo journal of a birchbark canoe build, like he used to do here. You can find it here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/392648094406233?ref=bookmarks

Dale will tell you about the circumstances regarding his absence from this site if you ask. Definitely a loss to T-man.

Yes we talked for awhile about what happened here. I do not do the facebook thing so have to contact him otherwise.

Thanks, zim

I do not facebook as well Zim and would like to email him.Miss his post.

I’ve used this company for various handles. No idea how shipping to Alaska will be though.

https://www.househandle.com

I just received two maul handles. Shipping was $21.03

White, do you consider that high or normal? Does not seem too bad, I just ordered a garden hoe from Kentucky and it is $15 to get it to Wisconsin.

Zim

That was about what I expected. Not too bad. Some things are just ridiculous though. Many companies take advantage of shipping to AK. I think they make more on the shipping than on the product. Several years ago I needed a new sim card for my sat-phone. It weighed about a tenth of an ounce. They would only ship it "overnight" from Memphis. $60 and it still took several days to get here.