Popular Woodworking 2006-08 № 156, страница 21
At the Lathe Turn a Custom Tool Handle An elegant grip that perfectly fits your hand can enhance your tool-using experience. There are at least two reasons you may want or need to make a new handle for one of your turning tools. Sometimes unhandled tools are available at a lower cost than handled, so you might choose to make your own. More often, the handle that comes on the tool is just not right for your hand; it may be too large or small in diameter, too short, too long, etc. And occasionally a handle wears out before the tool, particularly if you've used it as a hammer one too many times (or so I am told). Pictured are a number of my own tools that are positively crying out for new handles. Some handles are too big; some are the wrong shape for my hand. Many have been inelegantly modified (i.e., chopped off), but somehow never replaced. Most of these tools will benefit from new, custom-made handles. The large bowl gouge is an example of a shop-made handle that suits the tool much better than the one it came with. Custom-made tool handles will enhance your turning enjoyment, and quite possibly your accuracy as well. A tool that fits your hand is not only more pleasant to use, but also less fatiguing. I was embarrassed to discover, in preparing for this column, that I had very few tools with nicely made, attractive handles to show you. Well, the cobbler's children often go barefoot. So here are some of my most-used tools, many in dire need of new handles; also some beautiful and unusual woods for the handles, and assorted ferrules (mostly copper and brass, cut from plumbing fittings of various diameters). Making a tool handle for a gouge or other turning tool is a great project for beginners and experienced turners alike. For a beginner, it's easy to make and satisfying to use. A more experienced turner will understand what is and isn't working well with a particular handle, and can make one that exactly suits how she or he uses each tool. Basic Considerations Generally speaking, you'll want fairly long handles on bowl gouges, and shorter ones on spindle tools. There are certainly excep- by Judy Ditmer Judy, author of two turning books and many articles, has been turning since 1985. She teaches and demonstrates her skills throughout the United States and Canada. tions. I have some smaller bowl gouges with relatively short handles for detailed or small work where little power is needed. I also have a large roughing gouge for spindle work with a handle much longer than most of my spindle tools. But for a large bowl gouge, a long handle gives you better control of sweeping curves, and more power for removing a lot of wood. On many spindle tools, a long handle just gets in the way and makes it harder to flip the tool position back and forth. It's not hard to find brass or copper tubes for ferrules; just about any necessary diameter can be found in copper in the plumbing department. Many toilet fittings, and a few other plumbing items, are made of brass. Or check your local business phone book for tubing. Some places will sell you a box of cutoffs for next to nothing. Cut them to appropriate popularwoodworking.com 19 |
