Thread: Which Australian wood for chisel handles?

Originally Posted by jimbur

Seeing we had osage, cotoneaster etc mentioned, I thought we were talking about wood sourced from Australia.
Cheers
Jim

Just poking the fire, Jim.

I liked your suggestion of finding a use for a weed tree, in fact. If the feral Hawthorns are anything like the stuff I encountered in Canada, it does make excellent handle material- a bit bland, but ticks all the other boxes pretty well.

Cheers,

Cotoneaster is a weed throughout Australia. Let's make handles out of the wretched stuff!!! The we can make beautiful stuff out of our unusual indigenous timbers.

Originally Posted by IanW

Just poking the fire, Jim.

I liked your suggestion of finding a use for a weed tree, in fact. If the feral Hawthorns are anything like the stuff I encountered in Canada, it does make excellent handle material- a bit bland, but ticks all the other boxes pretty well.

Cheers,

Thought you might be

If you want your tool handles to look like european box try some African Box. It is a noxious weed, has spikes like stilettos and grows like crazy.
If you dry it in the microwave make sure the wife is out because it stinks.
However, it looks very like real box and turns nicely.
Don't know how it would go with being hit.
Cheers,
Jim

Have a go with Jam or York Gum. These two were used a lot for tool handles at the turn of the century. York Gum was also used for wagon wheel centres and it is extremely tough. Both are found in W.A. in the central and southern wheatbelt. I have also used Sandlewood which is rare and expensive. Its oil content seems to preserve the wood and prevent any cracking. They are all very attractive.

Cheers
Irvin

We've been nattering about this for some time and had numerous suggestions, even castigation for discussing non-native timbers, but has anyone actually mentioned what timbers Australian chisel makers use? What is the preferred timber for Harold and Saxon chisels and what did Titan use on theirs all those years ago? Maybe we could learn from the experts.

Cheerio,
Virg.

Trent (H&S) uses alot of different timbers. When I was in his workshop on wednesday he had Tassie Blackwood, Ancient Redgum, Gidgee, Bull Oak, Tiger Myrtle, Crows Ash, Jarrah, etc. etc. etc.

My old Titans look to have handles out of one of the species that get lumped under 'Tassie Oak'.

I dont think anyone has mentioned Cooktown Ironwood,excellent stuff, I use it for all the handles I make, chisel handles, lathe tool handles, file handles, even made new wheelbarrow handles about 10 years ago, they are still like new.

Might break my routine when I get my Thumbsucker chisels, I am thinking of Blackbean handles for those, hoping it will be OK for paring chisel handles.

Originally Posted by Ironwood

I dont think anyone has mentioned Cooktown Ironwood,excellent stuff, I use it for all the handles I make

Not a good idea, it's prone to splitting when struck