Thread: Which Australian wood for chisel handles?

Slow

That is a beautiful job!

I have replaced almost all my original Berg handles. I am not sure what Berg used, but the original wood is not very durable.

If I were doing the chisels, I'd probably increase the length of the handles - improves the balance.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

The "elm" was sent to me by a forum member, who said it was elm. I have no idea. It is white/cream with a little brown "smudge" here-and-there. It was hard but not crisp to turn. Sort of "chewy".



You tell me if this is not one of the more boring timbers you have seen?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek - what you have here could be Celtis sinensis, sometimes referred to as Chinese Elm. 'Tisn't a true elm, but is in the ulmaceae (& has that same jiggly grain pattern). It's ok, but not quite as tough as some of the 'real' Elms. I've just cut down several of them (it's a bleedin weed of the worst kind round here) so I cut up some billets of the larger bits ot trunk to see if they'll make decent chair legs or handles in the future.

Cheers,

I just bought about 30 old chisels off TradeMe (NZ trading site) for $55. While I know I have a bargain - there are old Wards, Mathiesons, Bergs and Sorbys in there - most of the handles are totally kaputt! I don't have access to those hard Aussie timbers you have over there, but a friend has an Olive grove, so I have unlimited access to olive prunings. The olive wood I have used has been hard, heavy and close-grained. Any use for chisel handles?

Amongst the chisels I bought were about 10 very small (blades about 65 mm or so, tangs about the same) chisels of various sorts, with no handles, made of very high quality steel. Are these Butt Chisels? If so, do they just have a smaller handle than the usual size chisel, or what's the story?

Oh, and there was one VERY old chisel which had been hand-forged. It had had a wooden handle at one stage, but appeared to have been used as a cold chisel in its old age - the metal was crystallized. Gave that one to the local college to show the kids. (And drooled over THEIR work while I was there!)

Any and all help appreciated.

Originally Posted by HandyAndrea

The olive wood I have used has been hard, heavy and close-grained. Any use for chisel handles?

Hi HandyAndrea - if you do a search there's been a couple of threads discussing Olive wood & its uses. I've found it pretty good for chisel handles & it makes excellent mallets too, if you can get larger pieces. Turns & finishes nicely, so you won't get too many splinters from it.

Originally Posted by HandyAndrea

Amongst the chisels I bought were about 10 very small (blades about 65 mm or so, tangs about the same) chisels of various sorts, with no handles, made of very high quality steel. Are these Butt Chisels? If so, do they just have a smaller handle than the usual size chisel, or what's the story?

They were either made that way, or you've got a bunch of well-loved chisels, but in any case, they are butts now! If you think you might be whacking them often, just make sure the handle is comfortably longer than the width of your hand so you don't whack that too frequently. Very handy things to have for all sorts of jobs.

My set is cobbled up from butt or well-worn Stanleys & Marples. I use them mostly for paring & they might get a mallet thump once or twice per year, so made handles that are short & dumpy & suited to that role. These are Mulga, which might be a bit hard to find across the Tasman, but I reckon Olive would work very well too.

Good find - 30 chisels for <$2 each is a real find! Half of them could be duds & you'll still have a bargain.

Cheers,

Just to add another option into the mix, I have used silver ash (Flindersia schottiana or F. pubescens I don't know) in preference to Eucalypt lately, and it seems more than adequate for chisel handles, plus its great to turn.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Woodwould

Despite your terrible singing Woodwould there is a 3kg bag here with your name on it.

I'll see how much I can cram into it

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Slow

That is a beautiful job!

I have replaced almost all my original Berg handles. I am not sure what Berg used, but the original wood is not very durable.

If I were doing the chisels, I'd probably increase the length of the handles - improves the balance.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Thank you Derek.
You are right about the timber (whatever it is) that berg used.. Its amazing how many bergs you find in great condition with handles mashed down to stumps.
Interesting that you mention making the handles longer I'm tending to lean towards shorter handles for everything bar the firmers. The more I work (I have not been working with wood for all that long) the more I find my hands moving closer and closer to cutting edge and I find a short butt style handle to be about right. I imagine perhaps that as my chisels wear down I will regret some of my shortish handles.
I would also not be surprised if my preference changes as my abilities improve (albeit slowly)

I do really like the berg handle pattern.

As an aside I was really surprised how easy it is to turn a good fit for a socket chisel, I had always thought it would be a fiddly experience.

Sorry to previous posters with pics... I really DID mean to tell you how good your chisels look- Its great to work with NICE tools, isn't it?

Maybe one day my handywork will look as good. I spent the afternoon making an olivewood handle for a socket mortise chisel with rasps and sanders. I need to use it ASAP, so the handle is Quick and Dirty, but still servicable. I was surprised how well it turned out. Will make a beautiful one when I get back to night classes next year and have access to a lathe. The olive was easy to work and very pale-coloured, but seems tight-grained and strong. I think it would turn very well if I could get some bigger bits.

Re the butts.... these are small all over. They taper down (i.e., are smaller) at the tang end, and are quite elegant. I've seen pics of small carving chisels that look similar, too. I really think they are probably not made for thumping, but I was tossing up between putting elongated or onion-shaped handles on them.... Your thoughts????

Travelling back in the Tardis ;-}

Tom says the Bergs were done out of Birch root.

The Elm you've used Luban, choc brown and cream, will after exposure to light turn the boring colour of Derek's piece - yep, both heart and sapwood. Damn shame.

English hawthorn is pretty tough and you'd be helping get rid of an environmental weed.
Cheers,
Jim

... and cotoneaster, and privet (dunno how hard for thumping but good for paring chisel handles) and Olive (African and European). Indian Hawthorn is another weed of cooler areas that makes good handles.

Cheerio,
Virg.

Drifting a bit off topic, folks - the original question was "which AUSTRALIAN wood was best for chisel handles..........

Originally Posted by IanW

Drifting a bit off topic, folks - the original question was "which AUSTRALIAN wood was best for chisel handles..........

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