Toolhandles/Thompson tools

[Eugene Wigley]

This was the first thing I turned on the VB lathe. They are tool handles for some Thompson gouges and skews. I used some walnut left from my flat work days. The VB worked well for turning small spindles, but it is best suited for bowl turning. I can rough turn large bowls much faster with the VB.
The tools are made by Doug Thompson except for the depth drill. He is a heck of a good guy. I called to order the tools and talked to Doug the owner and the guy who makes the tools. He spent a long time talking to me and answering questions. He shipped them the same day. He made a customer who will buy more tools from him. These gouges work great. I have roughed several bowls with the same gouge and it is still sharp. I like these tools.
Thanks for looking.
129765

[Skip Spaulding]

Very nice Eugene, great looking tools.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Great looking handles. Yep Thompson tools are good for sure.

[Joe Mioux]

very nice handles.

joe

[John Keeton]

Beautiful handles, and great testimonial on the Thompson tools! More temptation from the round world!!:eek:

[ROY DICK]

Beautiful handles, and great testimonial on the Thompson tools! More temptation from the round world!!:eek:
Doug is waiting for your phone call John.

Outstanding handles, they compliment the tools.

Roy

[Harvey Ghesser]

Nice work! :)

[Steve Schlumpf]

Very nice handles Eugene! Look like they would be very comfortable to use!

So...... you OK with the VB decision? Ha Ha Ha Ha

Looking forward to seeing photos of your new lathe in action!

[Radek Kowalski]

Those handles look real nice and should be a pleasure to use.

I was wondering if that depth drill is supposed to drill stock through the punch out hole?

[Frank Drew]

Eugene,

Do you have the VB36 (I don't know if that's their only model)?

If so, you suck! :D

[Joshua Dinerstein]

Wow. Nice handles. A very nice job. I made one out of black walnut. It is hands down my favorite handle and since it is my large skew my favorite tool all around. Very cool.

Joshua

[alex carey]

those look like some fantastic tools. Nice job.

[Rob Cunningham]

Nice job on the handles, they look very comfortable.

[Ron Bontz]

I was wondering what if anything you put into the holes for the bowl gouges to keep them from turning in the handle. Or did you just drill it nice and snug? I just received my Thompson bowl gouge and need to put it in a handle. Thanks:)

[Chris Stolicky]

I was wondering what if anything you put into the holes for the bowl gouges to keep them from turning in the handle. Or did you just drill it nice and snug? I just received my Thompson bowl gouge and need to put it in a handle. Thanks:)

When I have made handles for my Thompson's I just make it a snug fit. No problems, so far...

I know that epoxy is recommended, but have not gone that route.

[Eugene Wigley]

Ron, sorry for the slow response. The only thing I used epoxy on was the skews and the depth drill. I drilled a pilot hole in the blank first then turned the handle around the pilot hole. When I drilled the hole for the gouge the bit followed the pilot hole.

The stock I used for the handles was kiln dried about two or three years ago. I kept the stock in the house for a couple of weeks before I turned the handles. It is more humid in my unconditioned shop than in my house. That should help to maintain a snug fit. Hope this helps.

Enjoy your new gouge. I really like mine. I also think that Doug Thompson is a great guy and I plan on buying more tools from him in the future.

[Jon McElwain]

Oil finish on the handles? They're beautiful! Does the oversized knob on the butt ever bother you?

I love all my Thompson tools, except the scrapers and skews do not fit standard sized handles. I have some Bosch, Oneway, and Kelton handles. I had to grind the square corners of the tang to get them in the handles. Anyone else have this problem?

[Thom Sturgill]

I met Doug briefly at the NC symposium, and agree that he seems to be a real nice guy, and his tools are top notch (I bought my first two there, a bowl gouge and a spindle gouge - your collection already makes me jealous:D). Nice handles, but two suggestions - please don't take them as criticisms.

First plumbing flare nuts make great ferules. They don't turn green like copper pipe and can be shaped with normal wood turning tools (or a file) to remove the flats. The internal threads help hold them in place.

The second is a comment David J Marks made on his DIY show when he discussed making tool handles - make each one unique so that when it is sticking out of a pile of shavings, you can still tell which is which. Having a collection of Sorby tools drives that one home to me.

[Sean Hughto]

I agree with you and Marks that it is helpful to have a bunch of mutts so they are instantly recognizable. But I can imagine more organized types with wall mounted racks and such might be able to actually look at the blades to differentiate their tools, unlike mine which are often covered in shavings on the shelf under the lathe. ;-)

[Doug Thompson]

Oil finish on the handles? They're beautiful! Does the oversized knob on the butt ever bother you?

I love all my Thompson tools, except the scrapers and skews do not fit standard sized handles. I have some Bosch, Oneway, and Kelton handles. I had to grind the square corners of the tang to get them in the handles. Anyone else have this problem?

That's a catch 22 to leave the tang square or turn the tang round which I think would weaken it. The way it has to be done is knock the corners off on a grinder it doesn't take much. One day I'll sell them handled but it won't happen for a while.

[Richard Madison]

First plumbing flare nuts make great ferules. They don't turn green like copper pipe and can be shaped with normal wood turning tools (or a file) to remove the flats.

Steel conduit (EMT) also makes good ferrules. Inexpensive, can cut with hacksaw or tubing cutter and wirebrush the ends smooth.

[Sean Hughto]

Would it be cost pohibititive to braze some more metal on before turning it round?

I personally think the wood inserts solution (as shown on your handle making article) is fine. What about making some metal bits that can be epoxied on to the tang in much the way the wood bits are used in you article?

[Doug Thompson]

Sean, to braze a round sleave on the tools would be possible, you'll see things in the future that use bushings.

[jason lambert]

I also spent some time on the phone with Doug Great guy. His tools are top notch, I gave some to a local high school I volunteer for and they haven't distroyed them yet, so I consider them well tourcher tested. Thoes are some nice looking handles, keep up the good work.

[Jon McElwain]

That's a catch 22 to leave the tang square or turn the tang round which I think would weaken it. The way it has to be done is knock the corners off on a grinder it doesn't take much. One day I'll sell them handled but it won't happen for a while.

Thanks for the reply! I love hearing from the guys making the tools to hear why and how they do things - one of the best parts of the Sawmill. I'll always go for the stronger construction - it always amazes me how much abuse a tool can take and not chip or break. Love the tools they're top notch, can't wait to see the handles.

[Ern Reeders]

The high vanadium content in Doug's tools mean they're esp good with abrasive timber or sand-encrusted bark and the like.

They seem to keep cutting well beyond similar M2 tools before needing a refreshed edge.