Another turning tool Question

[Bobby Perry]

How much steel should there be in the handle when you make your own tools? 2" 3" 4"??????

[Dick Latshaw]

Go to Doug Thompson's web site (thompsonlathetools.com) and you will find an excellent article on making your own handles. (2 or 2 1/2 inches seems about right)

[William Bachtel]

depending on the tools, a large bowl gouge should be 2 inches, a smaller tool you could go as little as l.5 inches. A good rule of thumb is 2 inches.

[Bernie Weishapl]

I like to feel the handle in my hand. I usually go with 2 to 2 1/2". I just feel I have more leverage and it feels more comfortable in my hand.

[Paul Engle]

Bobby, in my adjustable pipe collet handles one can use only 1" or enuf for the ferrel to grab as the rest is " just in space" inside the handle ( see my personal web site for the tutoral on the handles :
http://mysite.verizon.net/respwkup/stuff/ )
, in wood ( the round gouges) ... most of the commerical mfgr's put 2" in.The tools with tapered tangs, I have seen go 2" to 3" , like files and such.

[Ben Gastfriend]

The further in, the safer and stronger the tool will feel/be. The only problem with going in far is if your hole isn't perfectly straigt, the handle will be way off kilter with the steel.

[Curt Fuller]

I just turned a handle for a Henry Taylor 5/8" superflute and buried the steel 3" into the handle. It feels very solid.

[Doug Thompson]

A 1/2 diameter and smaller tool, 2 inches is standard, now a 5/8 and 3/4 require 2-1/2 inches. The strenght of the joint is the ferrule more than how deep the tool is set into the handle. Glue should be use to hold the steel in place.