Thread: Making Titan chisel handles

There is only one Titan expert. Over to you Doggie.

Regards
Paul

Kenny
All Titan heavy chisels (Registered and Socket) handles were Tasmanian Blue gum (I'm not aware of Spotted Gum) and all light chisels/gouges/long paring/Butts were as you said, Myrtle Beech. I have seen no evidence that Coachwood was used. Handle shapes varied according to era (Decal and blade stamp) especially with the light chisels of all types which went from a Marples type plain wood handle through a number of subtle changes (even plastic which is not all that subtle) to end up as the Swedish pattern (Berg, Toledo etc.) or a butt type handle on the light sockets.

Registered handles changed little. The most obvious change over time was the bottom (collar ferrule area) bob which starting with an English type bulb and gradually morphed into a skirt shape. Registered handles got slimmer generally over time as did the blades which went from very heavy (weapons grade) in the early years (mid/late forties) to shorter and slimmer towards the end (1978).
If you want the complete picture get hold of my book from either the HTPAA or TTTG library or a formite who has one. I've only got my own copies left. There might be some images of handles from the book on the net ex AWR or other sites if you ask google "Collecting Titan Chisels".
Regards
Doggie

Doggie.
Many thanks for the feedback.. I did not mean Spotted gum was used in their manufacture, i use it because its not only abundant (NSW/Qld), its also the closest match to the hardwood that Titan used.. in fact i use it for many tools, great for hammer handles !

Not sure what to say about the Coachwood !!...I have a Swedish pattern handle that I can only describe as Coachwood.. It was fitted to a bearing scraper when i obtained it, top ring and bottom ferrule were a Titan.
Secondly, among my horded chisels i came across what i can only describe as a Friday made chisel !!.. its a 3/8 bevelled light socket chisel.. the socket is that badly formed that it is not square at the top, the handle ( again looks like Coachwood) has the top ring staked, not 180 degrees apart, but adjacent to each other !!
I base the above on the fact that have a near mint 1970's Titan that has a light coloured wood (not Coachwood) for comparison, and that somewhere I remember seeing Stanley's with handles described as Coachwood !
A theory is that ..
1..the last production runs used Coachwood.
2..Myrtle and Coachwood can look similar , depending where they were cut from the tree !