First Tool Handle

[Narayan Nayar]

Hi everyone.

I finished my first turning tool handle. It's really the first finished piece to come off my lathe (I have a half dozen bowls roughed out), and I'm pretty happy with it. Was nice to see it take shape.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/3664746251_d01a6e4ccd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/etherfarm/3664746251/)

And it fits my hand wonderfully. That second slight bump is very comfortable.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3664746183_c754291ce5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/etherfarm/3664746183/)

The lamination is maple and purpleheart and the tool is a 5/8" Thompson Bowl Gouge. The ferrule is a brass pipe coupling.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3665548368_a984d3fb95.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/etherfarm/3665548368/)

Next time I'm hoping to get a clean finish off the skew instead of having to sand. The lamination was making that difficult for me, I think, and I'm not convinced I had the handle between centers correctly.

Any ideas for a finish? I'd like something simple--water-based poly?

[Roger Wilson]

Any ideas for a finish? I'd like something simple--water-based poly?

If you want something simple, try mineral oil. It's used on cutting boards and salad bowls so its safe. Just one to three coats. Wipe on, let sit a few minutes, wipe off. Easily renewal. As an oil it will bring out the grain nicely.

[Curt Fuller]

That's a great looking handle! For a finish, the water based poly would be good or regular wipe on poly. Anything that will seal the wood and keep it from discoloring from use.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Narayan - that is one great looking handle! Nice color combination! As for a finish - an oil based poly will soak into the wood and bring out the grain a little more than the water based stuff. However, the oil base will add a touch of yellow to the color where the water-based will stay colorless.

Nice work! Seeing as how the Purpleheart goes right down the center - you must have set everything up correctly!

[Ron Petley]

Great looking handle, how did you round over the brass?
Cheers Ron.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Great looking handle with the two woods. I use lacquer on my handles and it seems to hold up well.

[Narayan Nayar]

Hey Ron.

Brass is pretty soft. I used my spindle roughing gouge then a spindle gouge to round it over, then some sandpaper. Light cuts, obviously.

[Norm Zax]

Great work! Did you drill or leave a gap while laminating? If drilling, since its so well centered, what technique did u use?

[Narayan Nayar]

I didn't leave a gap--was I supposed to?

I just eyeballed it, really. To drill, I put a chuck in the tailstock and used a long Colt bit, which has a brad point. It was very a very loud and squeaky operation.

[Ron Petley]

Narayan:
Thanks for the tips, I will have to try it myself.
Cheers Ron.

[Narayan Nayar]

Ron, check out the Thompson Lathe Tools website; there's a pretty good .pdf available there on making tool handles. They also explain that you can use a file for the ferrule. I did that, but found the gouge easier.