Strength, hardness, density and flexibility are the technical characteristics to evaluate when purchasing wooden tool handles
It’s no coincidence that wooden tools and wooden handles have been found in archaeological sites across Europe. As a matter of fact, wood is a natural and easily material to find material and – if not attacked by pests or pathogens – it can last for centuries!
However, not all wood is the same. When considering the purchase of wooden handles for tools, it is essential to consider the technical characteristics of this material to make the right choice and invest in the best wooden handles for each intended use.
Let’s have a look together at the technical features to look for in wooden handles for agricultural and construction tools.
Wooden handles and durability
Durability is certainly one of the technical features that must be taken in consideration. This is not simply the ability of wood to withstand a load without breaking, but it is also a measure of its resilience when it comes to prolonged shock, pressure and stress. In technical terms, the strength of a wood depends on its cellular structure and the presence of braided fibres, which allow it to absorb and distribute the energy of impact and force.
Among the most resistant woods we find maple and ash wood. Specifically, we at Foppoli Bramin use ash wood that comes from the forests of Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Northern Italy.
Wooden handles and hardness
Hardness is another parameter that tool handle experts need to evaluate before purchasing. Not to be confused with strength, seeing that the latter refers to the ability to withstand loads, hardness determines how well wood can withstand abrasions, for example. Hard types of wood will be less susceptible to damage, scratches or marks caused by everyday use.
A wood type known for its hardness, for example, is beech. At Foppoli Bramin we often use beech because it has far fewer knots than ash wood, a technical feature that actually makes it harder yet also more flexible.
Wooden handles and flexibility
While the rigidity of a wooden handle ensures stability and precision, flexibility is another relevant feature, especially for tools that have to absorb shock and vibration. Flexibility is the tendency of a material to bend without breaking, allowing the handle to adapt slightly to the forces at play without transmitting the entire load to the instrument or user. A flexible handle can improve comfort during use, reducing wrist and arm fatigue.
Poplar wood is undoubtedly one of the lightest and most flexible woods. Foppoli Bramin uses poplar for wooden handles used in hobby work, construction and light utensils and tools.
Wooden handles and density
The density of wood is closely linked to its hardness. However, density refers, above all, to the ratio between the mass of the wood and its volume. Dense woods are not necessarily the best for tool handles, although density remains one of the scientific parameters to be evaluated during your purchase.
Moreover, not only determine the wood types the density and other technical qualities, but also the aging of the wood is important because properly aged wood will have a reduced presence of internal humidity. This improves its dimensional stability and reduces the risk of deformation or cracking over time. In any case, lime wood has a good density – it is also excellent to work with because it is stable and even in colour, and it lacks twisting and warping.
A well-designed handle is the result of a thorough understanding of the characteristics of wood and how these aspects influence the performance of the tool over time. Talk to our experts and find the right type of wood for your tool handles right away!
