Chisel Handels

[wozza85]

Hi I am new to your site.
I have a lot of old chisels and am making handles out of Australian hard woods like Gidgee, Hairy Oak, Mulger, and lance.
These are all very hard timbers grown in very dry areas in Queensland. I would like to get some English box and would be happy to do a swap. Cheers
Wo

 

[Lee J]

I've got to ask, what is Hairy Oak? :shock:

 

[Bigus]

Hmm, hairy indeed:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Hairy+Oak&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch

Nice figuring

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Hi wozza, and welcome to the forum!

English Boxwood is as rare as rocking-horse droppings. Most of the boxwood used in the past came from Turkey, but those sources are now somewhat depleted. Some reputable suppliers still have stocks of wood sourced from around the Mediterranian, such as this - http://www.workshopheaven.com/tools/Boxwood.html which is probably your best bet.

On the subject of chisel handles more generally, you're probably aware that whilst hard woods are fine, brittle woods are best avoided - they don't like being attacked with a mallet. For bench and mortice chisels, English makers favoured Beech, and sometimes Ash. European makers liked Hornbeam, and North American makers often used Hickory.

For paring and carving chisels, there's more scope to use fancy woods since these types of chisel don't usually have to take such a beating. A cabinetmaker's bevel-edged and paring chisels may be boxwood handled, but his mortice chisels rarely were. Joiners tended to prefer beech or ash for all their chisels (though as an exception that proves the rule, sash mortice chisels were often box handled - though these were intended for cutting mortices in softwoods such as pitch pine for sash windows). A carver often used all types of wood, since a variety of handle shapes and colours allowed him to identify the right tool among the chips and shavings on the bench.

 

[marcus]

Hi Wo, how much are you wanting? I can easily get hold of some if you are willing to wait a bit (am quite busy at the moment so it would need to wait until I am at the timber yard in question).

For those in the UK, ML West near Midhurst (West Sussex) have always had quite a good supply of Box when I have needed it — don't know where they get it from, but they usually have some up to about 4" or maybe 5" diameter in lengths up to 3 or 4 feet, and the price is not that scary at all if you are just wanting a bit for handles or veneer or whatever.

For me box is the timber par excellence for chisel handles. Very hard, lovely to turn, and beautiful too if that is important to you...

 

[rafezetter]

Hmm, hairy indeed:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Hairy+Oak&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch

Nice figuring

Very nice figure, but I have to say the timber au naturel looks a bit ...odd.

Maybe I should get in touch with my Aussie relly for the lowdown on what's available over there.