Making Tool Handles

[custard]

Can anyone recommend a web site or book that gives guidance on making handles for tanged tools? I've tried Google but all roads seem to lead to Ashley Illes!

 

[Ironballs]

When we made our trowels in metal work at school we heated the tangs to red hot and then forced them into a pre-drilled undersized hole in the wooden handle. We loved it because it made tons of smoke, worked though, still have the trowel 24 years later

 

[bugbear]

When we made our trowels in metal work at school we heated the tangs to red hot and then forced them into a pre-drilled undersized hole in the wooden handle. We loved it because it made tons of smoke, worked though, still have the trowel 24 years later

I have seen this recommended often, but have never removed a handle from an old (tanged) tool and found scorching.

BugBear

 

[paulm]

What kind of guidance would help, are there specific things or aspects you are not sure about ?

Cheers, Paul

 

[custard]

What kind of guidance would help, are there specific things or aspects you are not sure about ?

Cheers, Paul

Paul, I'm looking for some handle design ideas, together with some general technical guidance. For example, should the tang hole be tapered/stepped and if so what's the best way to achieve this, what are the recommendations for ferrules, what are recommended handle dimensions, etc?

 

[Racers]

what are recommended handle dimensions, etc?

It depends on how big your hands are.

I step drill with a series on drills to approximate the taper of the tang and wack it home, a lot depends on what sort of wood you are using soft wood is easy as you don't have to be as accurate as you would in Box wood etc.


Pete

 

[bugbear]

What kind of guidance would help, are there specific things or aspects you are not sure about ?

Cheers, Paul

Paul, I'm looking for some handle design ideas,

For what tools - "tanged tools" covers everything from a engravers chisel to a bill hook!

BugBear

 

[head clansman]

hi custard

you better research where your going to get the brass Ferrel's from first, there not easy to find nowadays , having said that i expect some one will pop up and tell you where to get loads .hc

 

[Dalboy]

Try a search on stiles and bates site and put in brass ferrules. Hope this helps

 

[head clansman]

Hi dalboy

any idea what ther actual web site is called .hc

 

[custard]

Craft Supplies sell brass ferrules.

 

[xy mosian]

Hi custard,

Last year I bought some un-handled carving gouges from Ashley Isles, at the Northern Woodworking Show, along with some un-drilled handles. When I asked advice about fitting the handles I was told to drill a hole, no taper, no steps, the same diameter as the across flats dimension of the square tang. Then just drive the handle onto the blade, using the bolster on the tang resting on the vice jaws for support. Now the Ashley Isles tangs do not have a course taper and this may make a difference. With some apprehension I followed the advice and had no problems at all, thank goodness.

Of course if you are nervous you could always make the hole an easy fit on the tang and apply Araldite, or whatever the name is these days. But of course that is sort of cheating isn't it?

In terms of ferrules, does copper tube work? Readily available in 15mm and 22mm.

xy

 

[Dalboy]

Hi dalboy

any idea what ther actual web site is called .hc

This is their site
www.stilesandbates.co.uk
Can't seem to get the link to work

 

[Racers]

Hi,

Copper pipe works well, I made several file handles using 15mm tube for the small ones and 20mm steel conduit for larger files, brass does look better for chisels.


Pete

 

[AndyT]

Ashley Isles also sells proper brass ferrules at very reasonable prices:
http://www.oldtools.free-online.co.uk/spares.htm.

Andy

 

[Ironballs]

Was there not an issue that some folks were having with brass ferrules on chisels, ie the ferrules were cracking after some use

 

[bugbear]

hi custard

you better research where your going to get the brass Ferrel's from first, there not easy to find nowadays , having said that i expect some one will pop up and tell you where to get loads .hc

Brass pipe and a pipe cutter should work!

BugBear

 

[Racers]

Hi, BB

Thats what I did for my copper ones but it does leave an internal ridge at each end that needs to be removed, I filled it out on one end, leaving a nice rounded over end with no sharp corners at the other end.

Pete

 

[Harbo]

Alf has a piece on making and fitting handles:
http://www.cornishworkshop.co.uk/

I use brass ferrules from Ashley Iles and just drill a hole smaller than the tang - it seems to work most times?

Derek Cohen uses(d) some nice looking brass shelving fittings which had rounded ends but I could not find them over here?
And examining Philly's very nice display of tools at Yandles, I noticed he turns them from solid? - nice but expensive in brass?

Rod

 

[xy mosian]

Hi, BB

Thats what I did for my copper ones but it does leave an internal ridge at each end that needs to be removed, I filled it out on one end, leaving a nice rounded over end with no sharp corners at the other end.

Pete

From my Plumbing days. I found that the physical size of that internal ridge could be reduced by advancing the cutter, on the tube/pipe cutter, by smaller amounts. That is achieving the cut more gradually.

xy