Thread: Gennou - Handle

Originally Posted by Schtoo

Must find that hammer head I bought myself a few months ago and look at making a handle for it. I've become somewhat inspired with this thread.

The time to actually make a hammer handle is another thing entirely however...

Stu.

Stu

I quickly flicked through your Japan Tool link and found this statement (I'm infamous for teaching people how to suck eggs) :

"Different hammers have different requirements for how the handle is fitted, some having a basic flared hole that requires metal wedges to hold the head secure, some have a specially waisted hole that does not require wedges but will require precise fitting of the handle, compression of the wood fibres and subsequent wetting and spreading of the protruding handle to hold the head secure. Not at all unlike setting the hoops on a chisel.

(This last method is reserved for hand made hammers due to the extra detail work of making the hole, the more pedestrian models use plain wedges.)"

Clearly from people's comments this section of the forums has been a little quiet of late so perhaps it's time to make some time for that hammer handle. I find myself surprised at how much satisfaction can come from such a simple project: I am easily pleased, but unfortunately almost twice as quick to become disenchanted.

If you adopt my Bohemian approach (GMC angle grinder ) it won't take you long at all, but with the traditional methods, which is what I would expect from the experts, I am sure you will enjoy the journey much more. At least that is what everybody who has posted here has told me .

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Stu

I quickly flicked through your Japan Tool link and found this statement (I'm infamous for teaching people how to suck eggs) :

"Different hammers have different requirements for how the handle is fitted, some having a basic flared hole that requires metal wedges to hold the head secure, some have a specially waisted hole that does not require wedges but will require precise fitting of the handle, compression of the wood fibres and subsequent wetting and spreading of the protruding handle to hold the head secure. Not at all unlike setting the hoops on a chisel.

(This last method is reserved for hand made hammers due to the extra detail work of making the hole, the more pedestrian models use plain wedges.)"

Clearly from people's comments this section of the forums has been a little quiet of late so perhaps it's time to make some time for that hammer handle. I find myself surprised at how much satisfaction can come from such a simple project: I am easily pleased, but unfortunately almost twice as quick to become disenchanted.

If you adopt my Bohemian approach (GMC angle grinder ) it won't take you long at all, but with the traditional methods, which is what I would expect from the experts, I am sure you will enjoy the journey much more. At least that is what everybody who has posted here has told me .

Regards
Paul

Fair suck of the sav!

Seriously, I'm writing this between answering emails and filling orders, just to take my mind of things for a minute. The yen has dropped ini value by about 15% in the past couple months, and as I was reminded last night, one of the other folks doing what I do has effectively shut it's doors, even though it's been taken over by a larger company.

Busy doesn't even start to cover it...

It's good, and I'm very glad that so many folks have faith in me and my little corner of the interweb, but we're getting real ragged around the edges. Just mad.

I don't even know which hammer head I got. Just picked it up somewhere along the way. Made in a factory, nothing really special I don't think.

Thanks for the prod though. If you've spare hours available, I could use a few.

Stu.

Originally Posted by Schtoo

If you've spare hours available, I could use a few.

Stu.

You're in luck. I placed an order for a thirty six hour day, although I am still waiting for it to come through, and there was a special on that particular week. At no extra charge you could sign up for enough energy to compliment the purchase .

(I hope they hurry up with the delivery 'cos I'm worn down to a twelve hour day at the moment.)

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Schtoo

Fair suck of the sav!

BTW: This statement confirms you're still "True Blue" and haven't been corrupted .

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

BTW: This statement confirms you're still "True Blue" and haven't been corrupted .

Regards
Paul

If I understand the concept of "fair suck of the sav", this might apply?:

Rosewood Handled Japanese Style Plane Adjusting Hammer | eBay

(maybe its made by BrassaMune)

p.s.

Originally Posted by Sheets

If I understand the concept of "fair suck of the sav", this might apply?:

Rosewood Handled Japanese Style Plane Adjusting Hammer | eBay

(maybe its made by BrassaMune)

p.s.

Sort of . It implies a combination of exasperation and disbelief and as such has extemely complex implications which Aussie colloquialism has reduced in true minimalist style . To find an equivalent across the water I'h have to travel south of the border to the cousins in NY:

"Gimme a break woodya?"

Other alternative expressions Stu could have used would have been:

"Are you fair dinkum?"
"Strike a light!"

Yes that hammer holds little interest for me and is ridiculous to my mind. What I did find interesting was the payment options.

You can opt for payment, in this instance, via paypal for 6 months to pay (also available is 12months and 18 months in some cases). Of course you will pay the princely sum of 20% interest for this privilege .

Regards
Paul

Paul,

Thanks for the translation/lesson. I had no idea what "fair suck of the sav" meant (naturally) until I looked it up. But then it still means little to an Upoverer without the proper observation of usage amongst Downunderers.

As for the hammer - well I had a good laugh at the price (and disbelief - gimme a break wouldya!). Typical antique dealer's tactic of throwing out an outrageous price and see if anyone gets sucked in.

When I searched for the def. of "fair suck of the sav", one of the examples followed this sort of exchange (I substituted the merchandise):

Buyer: "I'd like a brass plane adjusting hammer. Thanks Mate."

Dealer: "That'll be $235, Mate."

Buyer: "Fair dinkum?"

Dealer: "$235 Mate. (along with a lengthy BS explanation of why such a price is totally justified)

Buyer: "Fair suck of the sav!"

Works for me, but I'm sure its lost any authenticity (Ozenticity) being written out and lacking the appropriate vocal and facial expressions.

Steve

Originally Posted by Sheets

Works for me, but I'm sure its lost any authenticity (Ozenticity) being written out and lacking the appropriate vocal and facial expressions.

Steve

You did well .

This link may give you a little insight to the colloquialisms. Whilst it is by no means all encompassing, if you study it carefully, it is sufficient to get you an entry visa to Oz (and a five year passport to New Zealand, although there is an endorsement required that fundamentally revolves around the recognition of sheep).

Let stalk Strine - YouTube

He made a reference to Afferbeck Lauder (a pseudonym, which itself is a spoof) and "Let Stalk Strain." That is worth a look as it is a classic and one of a series of books he wrote.

Just to make you feel better, I never say "G'day", the classic greeting of all Australians. I love the expression, but SWMBO maintains I don't say it right and I have developed a phobia about it. I always thought I had a pretty good handle on imitating accents, but it appears it has not carried across to "Strine."

You may have guessed I was not born in Oz (a pome bas*ard ). The rest of my family, despite the fact I have lived in Oz longer than in the UK, never let me forget it .

Regards
Paul

I've bought quite a few used kanna and think it a pity they're usually mushroomed from being adjusted with a gennou. I made myself a brass hammer so it wouldn't create so much damage. I like the Japanese forging hammers so made a minature one for kanna adjusting.

Kanna adjusting hammer.jpg

$235 for a hammer to do the same job! Tell him "he's dreamin".

Regards,
Gadge

Originally Posted by Gadge

I've bought quite a few used kanna and think it a pity they're usually mushroomed from being adjusted with a gennou. I made myself a brass hammer so it wouldn't create so much damage. I like the Japanese forging hammers so made a minature one for kanna adjusting.

Kanna adjusting hammer.jpg

$235 for a hammer to do the same job! Tell him "he's dreamin".

Regards,
Gadge

Nice job Gadge.

Dreamin'? Yes that would make it the "Purdey" of the gennou world .

Regards
Paul

Inomoto-san uses an old dai blank to keep planes to be sold blemish free.

Originally Posted by Pam

Inomoto-san uses an old dai blank to keep planes to be sold blemish free.

I made myself a little square wooden 'mallet' for the same reason; flat at one end for the blade or chip breaker and domed at the other end for tapping the body of the plane to adjust the blade position. The head is made of a hard dense wood (blue gum, I think) that gives it some weight. Here it is (on left) in photo taken for another purpose. It works well.

Originally Posted by Sheets

If I understand the concept of "fair suck of the sav", this might apply?:

Rosewood Handled Japanese Style Plane Adjusting Hammer | eBay

(maybe its made by BrassaMune)

p.s.

Wanna know something really odd?

It's not made by a Japanese person either, unless there's a clan of folks running around here with the surname "Heinz" or some close derivative of such...

I use a cheap wooden mallet. I'm not allowed to use anything else...

Stu.

Originally Posted by Schtoo

Wanna know something really odd?

It's not made by a Japanese person either, unless there's a clan of folks running around here with the surname "Heinz" or some close derivative of such...

I use a cheap wooden mallet. I'm not allowed to use anything else...

Stu.

Is it HJ or JH? I use a small home made wooden mallet on wooden planes.

Regards
Paul