Here's one for Philly

[Benchwayze]

Hi Philly,

On the angle-plane you made I note that you went for a long-grain handle.

I agree, it does make for a stronger tote, but you still have the short-grain problem with the 'horn'.

I have only ever made one handle, (For a Record No. 4, I resuscitated for a friend. It needed a tote, so I laminated band sawn walnut, glued with opposing grain. Attention to the finishing, made the 'layers' barely noticeable. So far, no reports of any problems.

(Why walnut? Well if it's good enough for shotguns, it's good enough for a plane tote!) I hasten to add I used a small off-cut of bough-wood that wasn't of much use otherwise.

Just a thought to get around the short-grain problem.
John

 

[Philly]

John
Good idea! Walnut is an especially tough wood, hence the major use of it in gunsmithery. (is that a word? :lol: )
Either way you orient the grain (in a straight grained piece of timber) you will get areas of short grain - you just have to try it!
Cheers
Philly

 

[Benchwayze]

Hi Philly,

yes, I guard my one good plank of walnut with jealousy in the extreme. So much so, I am reluctant to make anything from it.
But we shall see..

Cheers.
John