u/handtoolwoody

Ever wonder why old hammer heads never needed glue? In this one I walk through why a properly fitted hammer or axe handle relies on a wedge and compression, not adhesive, and why that method has lasted since the Bronze Age. I get into grain direction, why the head should slide on before wedging, and why glue can actually hide a bad fit instead of fixing it. Also touch on the difference between hafting methods used by early humans and the wedge system we still use today.

If you've ever had a hammer head fly loose or you're rehanging an old tool, this should clear a few things up.

I like to post my articles here on reddit not for fame nor for fortune because I do this for free, but because I see more like minded people here than I do elsewhere except for my readers on my blog. I've made a video of it, a podcast to listen to while working, driving, sitting on the loo or you can simply read it on my blog. All the links are on the blog. For some reason the ai running this community flags the youtube video links.

A properly fitted hammer handle is held in place by mechanical force, not adhesive. Here's why the wedge still beats glue, and always has.

https://journeymansjournel.wordpress.com/2026/07/06/why-a-hammer-head-doesnt-need-glue/

Most people assume that if you make something well, the right people will find it. That was true once. It is not true anymore.

This video is about the gap between making and selling, and why that gap is wider than ever for small independent makers. It covers the hollow promises of AI marketing, the platforms you build on but never own, and why chasing every algorithm may be the wrong move entirely.

If you work with your hands and wonder why good work alone is not enough, this one is for you.

You can listen to the audio podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oRjExCVE6IFeXXTHeuDxC?si=_EY-475PTfanNDRn41-pWQ

You can also visit my blog for many great articles I've written over the years

https://journeymansjournel.wordpress.com

There is no monetary gain in any of the platform I use. It almost sounds like sin.

After months away from the blog, I'm back. In this post I talk about my journey with hand tools, why I bought machines, why I sold most of them, and what handwork actually means to me. Including what the word handmade really should and shouldn't mean.

https://journeymansjournel.wordpress.com/2026/05/20/why-i-got-rid-of-my-machines/

or listen to it on spotify

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/47WEVj8A5O8v9ihV1YeiP2?si=z_ECSnEHQVamjVQobAJyng