Thread: Chisel handles

Turn the handles or carve them yourself and use copper water pipe for the ferrules.

I also vote for the copper water pipe as it is stronger (thicker walls) than modern ferrules.

That said, I just restored 14 vintage carving tools for someone and opted for the ferrules available from Lee Valley for the handles I needed to remake. They are decent and as long as they have a good snug fit I feel for carving tools and chisels they are fine.

Take care, Mike

Another possibility is to visit BOC gases, and have a look at the crimp-on fittings for air and other gas hoses.

They're quite similar to the Lee Valley ferrules, with the rounded-over end.

Don't pick up bearing inserts cheaply at closing-down auto parts sales, as they are designed to have large chunks of metal around the outside to resist any forces pressing outwards. If, like on a chisel handle, they don't have this support, they split. DAMHIKT.

Cheers,
Andrew

My latest hack chisels use aluminium rings.

I found that bunnings had some cheap towel rails and it was thick wall painted Aluminimum. - Couple of quick twists on the linnisher and instant brushed aluminium ferrule.

If you wanted to get really flash - wrap copper wire tinned and plain and seal with epoxy. The desired result is to stop the handle spliting apart, anything strong enough works - why not make it individual.

Old dairy farms used copper pipe about 30mm dai. has a wall thickness of about 1.5mm. Great stuff to use for chisels and lathe chisels.