home made handles - tang fitting

[Shay Vings]

Sorry if this has been done before, but what is best process for inserting tangs? Step drill or one mid-sized hole?. One website shows dowels being sawn through the middle with a cut equal to the thickness of the tang then these semicircles being used to fill the hole. Sounds a bit complicated - any offers?

 

[paulm]

Depends largely on what wood is being used for the handle and what the tool is.

If the handle is softer timber then one hole diameter might work as the wood will compress at the tight points, but if a harder timber then this might lead to splitting. If in doubt I guess use stepped diameter holes which if done right will give a decent secure hold and reduce chances of splitting.

Cheers, Paul

 

[jasonB]

When fitting files into wooden handles I was tought to heat them up and plunge into a pilot hole in the handle. This will burn the wood to the shape of the tang.

Jason

 

[TEP]

Mornin' Shay.

My method is straight hole for all spindle & bowl gouges, ½” deeper than then length you wish to insert.

Stepped hole for all tang tools, again ½” deeper than the steel going in. Then if you come up against a flat tang which is a lot wider than thick which will leave gaping half moons either side, I turn a dowel to fit the spaces either side. Don't part it off the blank, take from lathe to the bandsaw and make two cuts the thickness of the tang. Now saw the dowel off, spot of PVA in each hole and tap the pieces in. One the glue is dry cut the ends off.

Must admit I have never had a flat tang come loose on me, so don't know if this method is warranted.