Splitting Maul Fiberglass Handle -- Unbreakable?

[WarmGuy]

I usually put a rubber handle saver, like this:

on my sledge, but I can't fit it on my new splitting maul. The maul has a fiberglass handle -- is that likely to break with an overstrike (sometimes I'll use the maul to drive wedges)?

Thanks,

Al

 

[Thistle]

Fiberglass is OK,they are slick when wet though & I've seen them break same as hickory with careless aim & abuse.My Plumb 4lb double bit axe is over 60 yrs old,have owned it since 1985 & the handle was old when I bought it.Few small dings & gouges on the neck over the years,but no cracks or breaks.It shrunk a bit over time also,did have to oil it a few times & put a 2nd steel wedge to tighten it back up.Damn thing probably outlast me now lol

 

[moosetrek]

I broke a chunk out of mine, but it was from hitting rebar with it. Otherwise it's held up for a few years now, and I'm pretty hard on handles (see previous sentence).

 

[RAY_PA]

mine is 15+ years old and still going strong.

 

[RNLA]

I wonder what the difference is between manufacturers? I have seen 2 fiberglass handles break & 1 fall out shortly after purchase. I have tought myself to put on new wood handles and they get good reviews. I had a friend with several heads 2yrs. back, the neighbor across the street gave me a bunch of handles. I spent a week or so in the garage fitting the handles up. It was a lot of work but the mauls & axes are still holding just fine. I liked reading about the process and doing the work. :smirk:

 

[woodsmaster]

I'm also hard on handles so I found a homemade one with a steel pipe handle. works great exept your gloves will freeze to the handle. My friends don't like it but I do, and I won't have
to loan it out that way.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Take better aim.

 

[Thistle]

Take better aim.

+100

 

[FWWARDEN]

They'll break, been through a few over the years.

 

[quads]

I usually put a rubber handle saver, like this:

on my sledge, but I can't fit it on my new splitting maul. The maul has a fiberglass handle -- is that likely to break with an overstrike (sometimes I'll use the maul to drive wedges)?

Thanks,

Al

A good fiberglass care/polypropylene handle will probably withstand more over-strikes than a wooden handle, if you have that problem. The fiberglass handle on my maul lasted more than 25 years/125 full cord with no over-strikes. What finally did it in was the epoxy started to crack and loosen.