Thread: Timber For Chisel Handles

I use any hardwood lying around. No probs so far. Just make sure there are no cracks.

I used off-cuts from E. Maculata's construction pack.

Not strictly Aussie (or even close, if it comes to that), but most timber yards have some Beech - lovely stuff!

Red-gum works well. And if it's figured, bonus!

I thought the short grain of redgum would mean you couldn't belt it hard

Hi
Yeah - BEECH...
Cheers
Jedo

echnidna,
Beech is the standard, we have a couple of chunks the right size to get about 5 or so handles out of the one peice.
Link to timber page.

Steven

Any hardwood for paring chisels, but impact resistance is desireable if you are going to hit them. Hit them really hard and a steel collar is a bonus too.

Spotted Gum, Corymbia macculata, (No longer Eucalyptus macculata) is the preferred commercially available timber for impact resistant tool handles in Australia. Although it does not have the fashionable red colour that so many prefer today, it frequently has beautifully subtle grain.

Regards
Paul

Which timber? I guess it will really depend on what you plan to do with the chisel. Do you plan to push the chisel or hit it with a mallet? For the former you could use just about anything. For the latter, I have used Reg Gum and Jarrah quite a bit.

Here are a few oval bolstered mortice chisels. The two on the left were as purchased (from the UK). One looks like Rosewood and the stripey other I was told may be Ash. The two on the right are ones I rehandled in Red Gum (with a touch of Jarrah stain) and Jarrah.

<center> <div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Chisels/OvalBolsteadMorticeChiselsWC.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br /></center>

Regards from Perth

Derek

Bootle's "Wood in Australia, 2nd Ed." lists Crow's ash, brush box, coachwood, mararie and satinay as being good timbers for use as chisel handles.

I've an old set of Marples I use mainly on-site for checking out framing. As they get a fair amount of walloping, the orig. handles fell apart long ago, quickly replaced with redgum. I did put ferrules on both ends for that extra bit of strength and, from memory, I've only had to replace one since.

I'd hardly call 'em pretty, but as I said: they're my on-site tools. (As distinct from my shed tools, which are much better maintained. )

I have made a couple out of spotted gum and the have come up very nicely.
I know it was spotted gum because the tree had spots on it
these particular pieces had a nice pinkish tone & once polished cam up realy nice.
the spotty is a lit heavier than the beech and real imparts a nice feel to the tool bringing the weight further back into the hand. Spotty is great I love it.

but any good bit of ausie hard wood will not disapoint.

cheers

I've got some spotty and some flooded gum.
I might try them.

I think the Poms and Seppos use beech cause they don't have our hardwoods.