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We all borrow tools for doing various jobs, and sometimes they break on us 😕
This was a sledge hammer I borrowed from work and broke the handle. So time to repair it.
Like to think it was my strength that broke it but pretty sure the timber base was already splintered 
Materials
Tools
10mm drill
Hammer
Screwdriver (deaths head)
Chisel
Steps
Step 1
I borrowed a Sledge hammer from work to break up a concrete path down the side of the house. Made it half way before it broke loudly! It wasnt a difficult repair but fiddly when i was trying to get the old timber handle out without damaging the actual sledge part.
The handle split right up the center.
You can see the tape repair someone has done previously.It held it together for a fair while but I was really using it.
Drilled out holes to remove the old handle
I was careful when drilling not to spear my leg. It was hard trying hold the handle and drill at the same time. I should have wedged the handle into something.
Three holes in and just started to be able to wiggle it out. I was paranoid about drilling into the actual metal head for some reason. In reality it would take a LOT of effort to damage it.
Used a deaths head screwdriver (It has a metal spine straight down the center so you can hammer it without the handle breaking but for electrical work its a no no.
Used the two screwdrivers and a hammer to remove the timber bits.
Step 2
Next step was to replace the handle. I do have a question someone may know the answer to. Should I have soaked the timber and head in water before putting in the metal wedges to expand the timber and lock the head in? I did it when dry and the timber did split but was still solid.
Cleaned up the head.
Tools I used to make the handle fit the head. I didnt end up needing the chisel or saw.
Mmm Scary as it doesn't fit too easily, Trimmed a little to make it fit.
Steady as she goes.
I used the weight of the head to tap downwards and the timber went through no worries.
The metal wedges.
Now here is the question. What should I have done to stop the timber splitting? Even If I used only one edge I still felt that the timber would have split. Maybe if I soaked the whole head in a bucket of water overnight? But who wants to rust their tools?
It worked a treat. Solid as a rock and no movement. There was no way the head would come off with the wedges in it even tho it splintered a little. I ended up buying a fibreglass Sledge hammer to help reduce the jarring as I still had at least the same again of concrete breaking to do.
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