Thread: Chisel Handle Help

Will,
If you intend keeping the original handle measure the diamater of the end and look for some pipe with the same inside diamater. I find it is often easier to make a new handle and then you can make it fit the tube you have got. I have never been a fan of those striking bands in any case as they encourage the use of a steel hammer rather than a mallet.
Regards
John

Thanks John,
I will have to keep the original handle for now as I don't own a lathe. My other worry is that the end is pretty mangled - here's a pic that I should have included in the first post.
Cheers
Will

A few suggestions. You can still make a handle even if you do not have a lathe. I you have a spokeshave or dremel or belt sander, you can make really nice chisel handles that are suited to you and feel great in your hand.

A crude but effective solution.

If you round the end of the handle over like a dome, and then use some heavy duty tape and tape the handle tight, down the full length of the handle. Your handle will work fine and will not split if you are striking it with a wooden mallet, which is realistically what you should only be using.

If all else fails I'd be happy to make you a new one

Thanks very much for the offer Funky, I'll see how I go with finding some pipe to fit, and if that fails I'll PM
Cheers
Will

How'd you go Will?
Ferrules are available to purchase on the net - about a dollar each last time I looked.
Shock - Horror
Dust Tape

Jamie

I had a chisel that had been belted with a hammer (by previous owner) and the end had split at the top on one side. Not being a turner, I decided to clean up the splintered wood - and pack out the missing chunk with plastibond. It worked a treat. It's easy to clean up with chisel/file/sandpaper. It doesn't have a top ferrule, just a rounded wooden handle. It now feels very good in the hand. It just has a pinkish patch on one side. I did think of colouring the plastibond, but didn't know how best to do this.

(Why bother to patch an old chisel? I'm in love with this chisel. Seriously. Its a 50mm firmer by Woodcock - a Sheffield company. I use it for all sorts of hand paring and occasional wacking (with wooden mallet) and it never gets blunt. Well, I guess it will eventually; but for now, it never seems to. This is my first experience of how a good quality chisel steel is supposed to work.)

Anyway, if you were worried by the wear on the end of your chisel, you could try this approach under the ferrule.

If you can't find a replacement ferrule or suitable dia pipe, then why not just put a few wraps of medium gauge wire around the end and twist it tight with a pair of pliers, carefully tucking the twist back into the wood to avoid owies... and leave it at that?

That handle has a nice shape & plenty of character; personally I wouldn't replace it unless it has split or otherwise become "risky."

Well I found some pipe that did the trick. There was no hope of a perfect fit given the state of the stump that was left, so I had to cut it down a little, epoxy it on and then fill all the empty space with a mix of wood glue and saw dust. Its not pretty from the end but it does the job!



Thanks for all the help
Will

I believe you should leave some wood above the ferule, else the metal will drive down on the wood when you hit it, and act like a riving knife.


...and it will be much kinder to your mallet.

Thanks for the tip! Although the nature of my projects thus far hasn't required me to strike the chisel, so currently the ferrule is for looks only, and for comfort in the hand! Maybe I'll put a little cap on, or grind some pipe off...
Cheers