Thread: Which Australian wood for chisel handles?

Hi Woodwould

My question to you is "what type of chisel, and what do you plan to do with it - push it or mallet it?"

If you are going to push the chisel, say a paring chisel, then it really does not matter what type of wood you use. Of course, pretty or utilitarian is up to you.

Jarrah handled Berg tanged chisels:





If you are going to hit the end of the chisel, then the next question is, "are you planning to add a steel ring or leave the end unsupported?"

Personally, I do not care for hooped ends, unless they are my Japanese chisels. In which case I will hit them very hard with a steel hammer. I would add that most Australian eucalypts, reinforced with a steel end, would likely cope pretty well with hammer blows.

I prefer to use a wooden mallet on, for example, my English (or Oval) Bolstered Mortice Chisels. These are not hooped. I have used different woods - Jarrah, Beech, Grey Gum, Ash.

Jarrah handled socketed Ibbotson mortice chisels.. (I sold these - perhaps the buyer, a forum member, can say how they have been for him)



An assortment of English BM chisels (mostly Ward):



L-R: Stained Grey Gum, Jarrah, Beech, Ripple Ash, Ebony.

The rule I have with wooden handles that are to be hit - don't use a mallet that will destroy them - it is less effort to make another mallet.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi Woodwould

I have re handled old titans and the like with sugar gum following the classic hooped design. Held up very well to the repeated angry whollopings of a man not enjoying building fences

I have no idea where to get sugar gum though.. it was thrown my way years ago by a friendly tree surgeon. Made beautiful mallets too

Red gum and Jarrah will shatter if you hit it too hard. Ash or rock maple would be great if you can get it (whoops I'm ignoring the native part)
Elm might be good (common street tree) might be a little soft.

Stringy bark is pretty robust stuff and can be very pretty, I have used that on turning chisels. another common street tree here.

Osage can be Stunning and as hard as a rock but I'm not sure about beltability, certainly has a bling factor though. Turns well.

Native olive might be good, again I have no experience hitting the stuff but it certainly feels like it would handle the abuse quite well.

I think you can pretty much get a close idea of how a particular timber will perform once you take an edge to it.. even green to a point.

I might be able to scape up a small log of Osage if you want to give that a shot.

If you have spotted gum (corimbia maculata) down your way consider it too. It feels lovely and can have a nice figure too.

Cheers
Michael

spotty gum is the way to go. it is very tough used for tool handles for years. it was also used as bearings in wagons/windmills as it polishes up and then stops wearing.

There are some fine looking handles there Derek.

I should have clarified; these are bench chisels. Some are bevel-edged and some are pig stickers. I rarely thump bevel-edged chisels, but I do belt mortise chisels.

Given a choice, I wouldn't mind something pretty for the bevel-edged chisels and obviously something robust and shatterproof for the mortise chisels and if it's pretty too, so much the better.

I'm completely ignorant of Australian timbers, but I'm begining to like the look of jarrah. That grey gum looks quite nice too. I'm afraid the others remind me of pallets. What does spotty gum come up like - spotty? I wouldn't mind a selection of Aussie timbers so I can begin to get a feel for them.

Go the spotted gum Woodwould it's bullet proof and can look nice too.

I like Jarrah for my belters and sugar gum for my bench/paring chisels. If for no other reason than I like the contrasting colour of the two.

Surprised no one has mentioned Ironwood ,never tried it for chisel handles as yet ,but I have some oval bolstered mortice chisel tangs to put handles on .I am contemplating using Ironwood for them.

Kev

WW,

Traditionally, Brush Box has been used for mallet heads and Spotted Gum used for hammer handles, tool handles, etc. They're both roey grained timbers that take a beating.

The chisels here I've seen haven't had a Spotted Gum handle, it was a lot finer grained. I think that it may be more a native Ash - A bit yellower than Silver Ash (Qld timber,) perhaps Crow's Ash, now a hard to get timber that was good for cutting threads, etc... Coachwood might also be a possibility but it didn't have that greenish tinge.

In short, I'd use brushbox or spotted gum.

CHeers,

eddie

Woodwould, PM me your address and I'll send you some bits, have some Spotted Gum, Jarrah Redgum and Yellowbox and I think I'll be able to find a couple of bits of Grey Ironbark too.

PM sent!

not sure if its australian but i got some used cricket stumps for a $1 each to make some replacement titan handles

Originally Posted by tanii51

not sure if its australian but i got some used cricket stumps for a $1 each to make some replacement titan handles

Are they not a bit too long?

If you're interested in the look of the jarrah, WW, brushbox is a similar shade of red, just with a purplish hue thrown in as well. Jarrah can split easily, perhaps hoop them if you wish?

The good stumps are English Ash, from memory. There's a cheap option.

Cheers,

eddie