Thread: The Great Chisel Handle debate.

I think i need to plead guilty.

These are the handles that i made for some HT chisels i bought. They are roughly a copy of the Hamlet set i was given for my 50th birthday.

The largest gouge has the narrowest handle and i like the feel in the hand better than the smaller gouge.

was sharpening it for me and was used most of the day on DJ's lathe.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Calm

I think i need to plead guilty.

These are the handles that i made for some HT chisels i bought. They are roughly a copy of the Hamlet set i was given for my 50th birthday.

The largest gouge has the narrowest handle and i like the feel in the hand better than the smaller gouge.

was sharpening it for me and was used most of the day on DJ's lathe.

Cheers

Yes!!!! that's the one. The one on the bottom. I really like the feel of it, although on the day it felt a bit weird. But on thinking about it, it really did fit the hand very well. (Phew I wasn't going crazy.)

Originally Posted by tea lady

Yes!!!! that's the one. The one on the bottom. I really like the feel of it, although on the day it felt a bit weird. But on thinking about it, it really did fit the hand very well. (Phew I wasn't going crazy.)

TL
none of us even contemplated the thought you would be going crazy

Now you have the basic shape we expect to see a post of your version pretty soon

My preference is for a simple "cigar" shape, length about 275mm. Some are longer and some are shorter. To make a handle, I fit the driving spur in the tailstock, and a jacobs chuck and appropriate bit in the headstock, fit the blank in the lathe and slowly bore an appropriate size hole. Then the centres are put where they are supposed to be, with a revolving cone centre in the hole bored in the handle. This ensures the hole is axial. For square tang tools, use the square end as a reamer for about half the depth and holding the tool vertically, handle up, and hit the end of the handle with a mallet to drive the tang home. Round tools need the hole slightly undersize. In all the years I have been turning, I have never had to resort to gluing or pinning the tool into the handle. For ferules, I mostly use 19 or 25mm hard drawn copper tube. The local friendly plumber often gives me scraps of copper tube left over from jobs. This is not the only way to turn a handle, but I find it works well for me. Hope it helps.
Jim