GIRARD Wrench/Hammer

[Mel Larsen]

I picked up this little Girard Wrench today at a yard sale for $2, just could not leave it lay there.  I'm thinking these were used for hammers more than wrenches.  Every one I have come across has the head flared out from pounding.
Mel

[Papaw]

Girards are nice to collect. I have a friend that has 15 to 17 of them almost all different , either in length or style.

[Mel Larsen]

This if the first one of this style for me.....do I want to repair/replace the handle of just leave it as is?
Mel

[oldtools]

what is under the tape? are the handles wood?, broken? or just need refinishing?
helps to have a sample to replicate if you are going to replace the scales...

[rusty]

Nice wrench project :)

It isn't just that the wrenches got used as hammers you know, because you can't get much force on the little thumb nut to tighten the wrench on a nut, it wasn't uncommon to adjust the wrench a little undersized and then hammer the wrench onto the nut to get a tight fit....

Lube the handle nut up *really* good before trying to take it off, the metal behind it is thin and weak....

[johnsironsanctuary]

You must get the tape off. Is it scales for handles or a turnip style like a pipe wrench? I can't say about Girard, but on Bemis and Call turnip handles, the nut is left hand thread.

[rusty]

>left hand thread

Now there is a little detail that will bite you...

Wonder why the heck they did that?

[Mel Larsen]

Actually the nut on the handle is a Right hand threaded nut, and it was only finger tight.  What I had to laugh about is that under the tape was a layer of cotton string wound around the handle, then another layer of Friction Tape, then more string. Now I will have to choose a wood, I'm thinking Black Walnut to make a handle from.   I wonder what granite looking Corian would look like.
Mel

[Papaw]

Granite looking Corian sounds great!

[Mel Larsen]

Did you make the knife handle Papaw?  Good looking handle.
Mel

[Papaw]

Nope- swiped the photo off the web!

[oldtools]

Wow, so that is what the handle stem looks like on those end capped handles..  Just drill through & cut to fit.
looks round, or is it oval?

[Mel Larsen]

Yes, It appears that the handle is suppose to be round and least on the ends.  I took a couple more photos showing how things are.  The end cap is round with 5/16 standard threads and other end is round also.  Some one said they thought the end cap had left handed threads, the adjusting screw is what has the left handed threads.  The second photo shows how it all looks.
Mel

[scottg]

Not quite plain round
  There is a tenon that goes into the top bolster and a short one at the bottom.  The tang is widely tapered at the top so you have to carve that hole or it'll split to beat the band! (otherwise the handle would whirl like a dervish in use.)

  Walnut is probably too soft for the handle.
 The originals were beechwood. Not too pretty, but very hard and long wearing.
 Hard maple would do? Pecan? Hickory? Ash? Cherry even!

 If you get that one in a thousand piece of very hard black walnut, that would be cool.
  But the average walnut is too soft to hold up to wrenching duty.

 Many of the exotics would be beautiful too. 
      yours Scott

[oldtools]

what is the maximum diameter of the wood handle? i.e what size stock?
if the overall lengrh is only ~7", looks like handle is ~2-1/2"x3/4"D?