Mike Swendsen wrote: > > Most of the woods used are very hard. Pear or apple would be ok, but they > are light and usually light in colour. Darker woods are prefered mainly > because they show less dirt... Also most of the woods used are hard > ehough that they don't need to be finsihed to maintain a good look. > Finishes eventually wear off. > KOA would probably be fine. Some of the harder walnut would probably be > fine as well as crotch maple etc... If you are going to make a tool out of > it, it might as well look good. I've had two hammers - one walnut, the other a reddish brown wood, maybe cocabolo - that split because the shaft was too short and too thick - approx. 5/8" turned down to 7/16" at the head. A machinist friend of mine made me a 10" model with a long 7/16" stainless steel shaft, a HD brass ferrule, and a dogwood handle. Light weight and rigid. You're right about the lighter wood showing dirt. I chucked the headless lever in the drill press, sanded off the dirt and finish, and appied a few coats of varnish. Carl Root, RPT Rockville, MD
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