replacing handles on old tools

[bower]

I didn't see a thread for this so started a new one.

I have a ton of tools whose handles are gone. Between my own and the ones at Mom's place, I could start a shop. I have bought replacement handles for a couple of things that worked out and were pretty easy. The pick handles are super easy to install, if you have the right size. I also replaced a rake handle which was very straightforward. Rake has a short tine on it; handle has a hole. You just bang it in there and it stays pretty well.

The big problem I have right now is garden forks. I have no less than 3 forks that want a handle. Two of them have a longish tine, the third one I am doubtful if it can be fixed, seeming to have a very rusty half collar and no tine at all.
I went handle shopping in the past two days, to three different stores. Ended up with a couple of shovel handles I thought might work, but after looking at the hole (round in a tapered wooden handle) and the width of the tine at its lower part, I can't see it working at all. Not even to mention the 'square tine in round hole' question.

So I have an old handle I thought I would try out before going at the new wooden ones (as they were not cheap either). My thought is to find a drill bit the same width as the tine, and make three holes next to each other to try and approximate that rectangular shape. I'm assuming that too large a hole would be fatal, in terms of falling off. Maybe I should drill a spare bit of wood first just to try it out?

I haven't looked on YouTube yet either, but I thought I would mention it here, in case someone with lots of experience should happen to see this, and share their guidance on what works or does not. TIA.

[worth1]

I saw it and read it.
There's a method to making square holes that I can't remember right now.
One is to drill the holes and use a wood chisel to square off the hole.
Another recommendation is to sell the right grain pattern in the handle.
Hopefully @Uncle_Feist
Will chime in and show you his craftsmanship.

[Paulf]

What I remember is that purchasing a replacement handle is more expensive than buying a new shovel so there are several tool heads waiting to weld into gardening artwork.

[bower]

I noticed the same thing when I looked online, Paulf, but when I got to the store, they had none of the online stuff on the shelf yet... I would've certainly be tempted.
My mother's veggie patch has become completely overgrown with goutweed. My personal preference would be to just make a garden elsewhere (she has plenty of good land) but she is stuck on having her old patch restored. And since she's 90, I'm doing my best to give her what she wants. Getting there early and digging the stuff out before it gets started is step one, but I don't want to risk bringing my tools out there and then bringing home the tiniest seed or rootlet of that stuff.

I found just one video of a pitchfork with a tine similar to the digging fork design I have.
The tine though looks to be a better fit than the ones I have. Will try and get a pic before I start whacking them in.

[worth1]

Now I see what round hole you were talking about.

[JRinPA]

how about a simple trowel/shovel? it is a real good one that I would like to repair with a new handle.
has a round shaft keyed near the end, and a metal truncated cone for a collar.
might have broke my computer trying to put a pic up...

[JRinPA]

what a weird thing, keyboard drivers got corrupted and out strange functions.

here are the pics,

01.JPG

02.JPG

Turn a handle, drill hole same size, hammer it on? What is the proper way to do it to put a wood handle back on?

zip tie is just holding the collar there so it doesnt get lost.

[bower]

That does look like a challenge, @JRinPA .

Yeah, the fork tangs are narrow enough to just fit into the round hole, but then they widen out.
I get that a tight hole is necessary just to keep the thing on. The rake I fixed has fallen off under duress and had to be pounded back in, and that was a simple straight tang that fit pretty easily into the handle hole.

No luck finding suitable handles for this type of fork. The two handles I brought home, well I decided to try the thicker of the two, and go ahead and try banging in one of the forks this morning, and the handle started to split as soon as I got to the wider part of the tang. Not a go. Then I sawed off an old shovel handle, planning to drill a couple of side by side holes at best, but sadly the old handle is already split. Back to square one.

Couple pics to show. The two tangs are similar but not exactly the same.
Then there's a third fork someone brought here, seems like the collar is broken. Maybe a pitchfork, not really for digging.

fork-tangs-373.JPG

forks-378.JPG

handle-hole-384.JPG

handle-split-385.JPG

[bower]

This handle thing sure doesn't seem like the plan to do, just when you need to get to work....
Every tool needs its own problem solved. So much tool punishment!!
This shovel has rusty rivets that have to come out before a new handle can go on. I don't think I have the right saw to get in there and cut them off. A second shovel has the broken handle still stuck inside. As with the pick (and a second pick, the same).
My dad would have a little smudge for that, toss in the tools and burn out the wood remains, then clean em up after. Not sure how that would affect the temper or whether it would even matter that much.

h-shovel-rivet-rusted-391.JPG

handles-needed-390.JPG

[Whwoz]

Do you have a grinder @bower . I just buzz one end off the rivet, then punch to put of a shovel/fork handle. As for the picks, I would cut off the old handle as close to the top as I can then drill a line of holes across the remaining handle and knock out from there. A chisel may come in useful as well.

[worth1]

We used to put our huge pipe wrenches in the fire to warm them up in the oil field when it was freezing cold.
I do and don't miss those days.
Nobody wanted to get out in the freezing cold to get wet and work.
After 14 hours we would get home drink some whiskey smoke a big fatty and listen to rock and roll.
The girls we hung out with worked in the oil field too driving trucks and ran front end loaders.
We were a tough crowd and replaced our own handles and partied hard.
None of the girls complained about us smelling like crude oil even after a shower.

[karstopography]

My good friend worked as a electrical lineman for his young years and then they later on bumped him up into a project manager role. He finished his career recently with the last ten years or so mostly out in the Permian Basin putting in Substations and related power distribution infrastructure. He says there’s some rough and tough folks out there. If you @worth1 have seen the show “Landman” he said at least some of it is accurate. Big Equipment goes missing and maybe it comes back again. The cartels are definitely active out there. CDL Truck drivers can make a lot of money, but it dangerous. It’s all dangerous and dirty. The man camps don’t look too inviting.

I think the lineman had to buy their own tools, but I could be wrong. That high voltage stuff is super scary. Kill you faster than you can blink. No room for mailing it in, got to be on your toes working around high voltage. Equipment and tools have to be in good shape. Even their gloves get tested.

[worth1]

I've seen clips of Land man but not the show.