DAMMERR updates
I cut down a black locust tree in the yard and want to make some handles out of it. Hickory is probably the best wood for handles in general but black locust should work fine for DAMMERRS. Black locust tends to have about the same density and bending strength as hickory but less impact strength (~75%). But should be strong enough. The compression and shear strength of locust tends to be slightly higher than hickory.
The best thing about locust is it has a very low expansion rate for moisture. Hickory is low but locust is quite a bit lower (~60% of hickory) which should help keep handles tight. It is used for pegs in timber peg construction for this reason.
Here's my handle problem, I need to mill a log that is about 18" diameter at the butt and a little over 4' long. If anybody has access to a band saw or something that can cut this into 1-3/4" slabs that would be helpful. I have a buddy that had a saw capable of doing this but he moved his shop a couple years ago and it fell off the truck and the remnants went to the recycler. Urban lumber milling is popular these days and there are several in the Bay Area so I can probably get one of these guys to cut it up for some money. There is a guy in Gilroy doing this:
http://www.bakerhardwoods.comI have a change I want to make to the heads but I need access to a milling machine; something I don't have since retiring from SJSU. I am working on plans for a small shop in the backyard which I hope to build this summer so perhaps I will get a small one then. Don't know what I will get but it can't be too big. I'm also a lame and lazy machinist so require a DRO.
Also, I have made some drill holders out of aluminum but I haven't had a chance to try them out yet. If anybody wants to and is doing some drilling, let me know and I'll you send one. They are made from 7/8" hex bar (6061 T6511) with a 1/2 x 1-1/4 dowel pin for a striking surface in a reamed (0.498") hole. A small steel plug is pressed into the bottom of the drill socket in hopes the socket doesn't wear out too fast. SDS Plus bit is held in place with two 1/4" set screws. I drilled and tapped set screw holes in all six faces so if the holes wear out you can switch holes. Blue Threadlocker is very effective at keeping the screws from working loose but the Threadlocker has to be refreshed once in awhile. The holders are really light (160 g), lighter than the RocPec (200 g). The 7/8" hex provides a better grip than the 3/4" steel and is lighter. I really don't know what their useful life will be. If they last one back country trip, that's good enough for me.
Lastly, I made a few steel holders out of 3/4" hex and fitted them with grips I got from Russ Walling at Fish. These grips are huge and beefy.
