I just bought a replacement sledge hammer handle and want to be sure I shim it properly, any tips out there?

Question

The handle came with 2 shims, a small metal one, and a larger wooden one(that appears to be way to big to even fit in the handle hole. Help?

Answer 1

You get a lot of shims to accommodate different head hole sizes. You want to jam that up as tight as you can with the largest wood you can. Both if needed. If you think after that you can force the metal bit in try it. I always go for the kit that has the epoxy resin to add to the strength. Regardless of what you do make sure you watch it carefully the first few times you use it and keep the kids/ dog/ spouse away from the "business end". Mark it with pen before you use it and then keep checking it from time to time, swing to swing. If it shifts and you are out of shims you may have the head on upside down or any number of problems that may not be worth messing with, so get a new hammer WITH a rubber handle protector. PS, wear goggles and /or glasses when you use it. The metal can splinter and Murphy said... well you know what Murphy said.

Answer 2

here are the instructions to do so...

http://www.tennesseehickoryproducts.com/...

Also keep in mind that if you have already purchased the handle..do not put it on yet untill you have checked this out... Look at the bottom end of the wooden handle and check out which way the grain runs..it needs to run up and down in the same direction as the sledge hammer head runs...this makes the impact work with the grain of the wood and less chances of breaking it in the future..if you have one that the grain runs "cross grained" with the impact of any wooden handle tool , your chance of breaking it in the future increases by 75%...You need the vibration to run with the grain when it is used and impact will work with the grain and not against it..If this handle is crossgrained go back and exchange it for one that will have the grain running parrelel with the sledge head..You will get many more years of usage from it this way..

Answer 3

You use both wedges.  Trim the wooden one to fit the hole in the hammer head and drive it in the split in the handle.  After the handle is securely in the hammer head and trimmed, of course.  Saw off any of the wooden wedge that would not go into the handle and drive the metal wedge perpendicular to the wood wedge, forming an X with the two.