Homemade Shopmade Turning Tools

[Mike Minto]

Here's are three tool handles I made in the shop. The longer ones are equipped with steel I bought from David Ellsworth - nice guy - and I made the handles roughly from his description of the length he uses, only I glued up a couple of ash boards and turned the handles, not having a forest from which to gather wood. The other is a 3/8 inch Thompson shallow detail gouge - which I have yet to touch wood with - handled to a length of red palm I bought at the 2008 symposium. My hole centering is a little off, but I think it will be allright. All are epoxied into the wood, and the ferrules are simply copper plumbing couplers available at any borg for a couple of bucks. See the key for scale. The last photo shows my complete arsenal. Oh, yeah - I built the outdoors table the tools are sitting on. Mike

[robert hainstock]

I suggest that for the center tool in the first picture that you drill a small handle mount perpendicular to the loength of the handle for lateral atability when hollowing. I had fits keeping the torque from ripping it out of my hands while hollowing. Also a mark noting vertical is a big help. enjoy and show pictures.
Bob

[Bernie Weishapl]

Some good looking tools Mike. I would suggest the same thing to make a mark so you can tell where the tool is at inside.

[Mike Minto]

Hey, let me ask you all this - do you glue your steel into the tool handle - and if so, what type of glue do you use, or just pressure fit, or what? Mike

[Bill Bolen]

I only glue up if the steel rotates in the handle. A bit of epoxy and push the steel in or if snug but rotates a bit of ca without taking the steel back out. Usually tight enough with no glue though..Bill..

[Terry Achey]

aaaahhhhhh.... air conditioned shop