Show us your Commander/ Beetle/ Persuader

Rooster · January 05, 2013, 10:21:23 PM

Here's one of mine. I use a chunk of 8x8 EWP barn beam and an old wood baseball bat for a handle...and it's all replaceable. I had one made out of White Oak, and it was very heavy...I called it my "Old Man"...'cause after swinging it for any length of time, it made me feel like an... old man.

Next!

Rooster

Brad_bb · January 06, 2013, 12:20:18 AM

Does anyone put steel straps around each end to prevent splitting? I'm just thinking what would be the best way to do that? Use steel pallet strappingbanding and crimp? Or some other way to tighten a strap and weld it?

Rooster · January 06, 2013, 12:46:44 AM

The commander that I have pictured in the original post actually spit completely in half, so I put it back together with 6" timber screws (not seen in the photos).

I have seen square headed commanders that been strapped with the 1 1/2" wide diagonal strapping used in home construction that have pre-drilled holes every 2" or so. A person could bend the strapping around the ends of the head and then "draw-bore" a large nail or screw where two overlapping holes possibly meet, or drill one close and drive the nail, pulling the strapping tight. You could even cut a shallow "dado" where the strap would go so that it wouldn't get caught, or scratch anything while you were swinging it.

Rooster

beenthere · January 06, 2013, 01:06:53 AM

Forge the bands, turn the commander head round to fit the bands, heat the bands and slide them on before they cool down.

Like a wood wagonwheel, or an oak barrel.

shinnlinger · January 06, 2013, 09:10:47 PM

I have a few ill look around for. I always make mine with hardwood handles but softwood heads so that they don't dent the timbers as much.

Jim_Rogers · January 06, 2013, 09:15:56 PM

The trouble with any banding is that the wood is usually made from green timber "drops". A drop is the end of a timber that drops off when you cut off the end.

When the drops dry out they will shrink and then the banding comes loose and that can be a problem.

I use to make commanders all the time. I'd take one to every guild raising I went to. I would give it to the frame owner as a gift to remember the guild by. And to use to "drive" the last peg when their building was complete. Usually the last one or sometimes the first one. If I got there early enough.

I have been thinking that I should make up some of my commander handles and sell them, again.

I went to one raising with my commander and with extra heads in my truck. The crew chief was happy to see me arrive as they had broken three or more commanders the previous day assembling bents.

You have to plan on your commander heads being made out of softwoods so that they don't dent the timbers. Or use a "pad" block between the commander head and the timber being hit.

And sometimes if the user doesn't swing the commander just right so that the end hits flush with the timber/pad block then the head splits and falls apart. So you have to have spare heads in the truck ready to slide onto your handle.

Here is my collection:

I made every commander and mallet on that table.

Thanks for suggesting this subject.

Jim Rogers

Brian_Weekley · January 06, 2013, 10:50:38 PM

Rooster, I think your baseball bat would be totally legal if it wasn't for the pine tar. :D

Brad_bb · January 06, 2013, 10:59:47 PM

Just thinking about it some more. Really they always split along the center line, in line with the the handle, correct(green dashed line)? So you really need to reinforce the head in the direction perpendicular to the handle(yellow arrow), right? So if you bolted on a pair of plates on either side of the handle compress in the direction of the yellow arrow, that should significantly help a square head, eh?

Rooster, that sounds like what you did with the timber screws, only using plates with thru bolts will spread the force out and give you more holding power, as opposed to the screws in wood. Really easy to put two sets of plates on a square head and reuse the plates when you need a new head.

ziggy · January 06, 2013, 11:18:23 PM

Didn't make this myself, but I perpetually borrow it from a friend... The wrist-breaker:

Rooster · January 06, 2013, 11:43:31 PM

Brad,

As you probably know, I almost always use old barn beam cut-offs for my commander heads. Every head, that I have split, has done so inline with the dominate "check" line...I just so happen to drill through that line to keep the head symmetrical. A lot has to do with how I was using it and at what angle the "final blow" was given to split the head. The timber-screws that I use have a very large head that acts like a washer, which holds things together pretty well. I am now in the practice of screwing the head in both directions so that if it does split, then it won't fall apart.

The steel plates would work, but I am sure that I would end up taking a chunk out of a beam while trying to pound a joint apart, or trying to put one together. The plates and the bolts would need to be completely recessed.

Quote from: Brian_Weekley on January 06, 2013, 10:50:38 PM
Rooster, I think your baseball bat would be totally legal if it wasn't for the pine tar. :D

Brian,

The pine tar keeps the pitcher safe...so that I doesn't slip out of my hands while I'm "swingin' for the fences"!!

And remember...on a horse it's called "polo"...off a horse it's called "crochet"...just FYI ;)

Rooster

giant splinter · January 07, 2013, 12:01:55 AM

You guys have some mean looking commanders in your tool boxes, I cant share mine as it was being used as a "Sledge O Matic" to splatter pumpkins by my grandsons and has been impounded by their Mom.
Fun and important hand made tools can sure get the job done right ..... Thanks for sharing

Jim_Rogers · January 07, 2013, 06:38:20 AM

QuoteI am now in the practice of screwing the head in both directions so that if it does split, then it won't fall apart.

Nice idea, I may try that.

Here is a picture of my partner in the tool business, Tom's commander:

I don't know if he made it or if he bought it.

It is a nice, one.

Jim Rogers

PS. Dave and I are going to make one or two today, from some drops. We're going to make a large one and a small one for using up on a ladder or staging.
I have at least two or three different size commands.

D L Bahler · January 07, 2013, 11:56:13 AM

I currently don't have one (busted) but will slap one together when it comes to the point on the current project where it is needed.

But I have considered reinforcing mine with long lag bolts, say 2 on each side of the handle, recessed into the head, passed through slightly oversized holes, and rsting on hefty washers. That way, it is an easy matter to tighten them down as the head shrinks over time.

The project right now is all eastern white pine, so guess what my pounder will be made of.

And to add another word to your vocabulary list, mine's called a 'Schlegel', 'Schlägli' "Schlägu' or something along those lines.