Turn a Hammer Handle??

I would like to make some smaller handles for some 8 oz hammers to give to my boys, but not sure as to how to make them. I would like them to be oval shaped like an OEM handle.

Any suggestions/tutorials??

Thanks!

You could turn a handle with a shape, then carefully trim the sides, a little sanding or use of a rasp would smooth the transition. The tenon for fastening into the head likely does not need turning. 8 oz seems a bit heavy for a kid, unless it is a bigger kid.

Some of my first chisel handles shapes could easily be adapted to hammer handles if they were trimmed.

jim

Turn the blank round, then move the tailstock (assuming that's the end of the handle to grip) and it about 1/4" off center. Take light cuts the last 6 inches or so and you'll get your oval. Stop and check progress so you don't turn this section round.

In few words: turning with multiple centers. A least two, maybe three.
First a visualization exercise.
Get pencil, paper, compass and straight edge.
Draw a straight line ~1" long. Put a dot on the line near center. Make two more marks about 1/4" either side of first mark. You now have three dots in a row with distance of 1/2" from the most distant dots.
Set the compass to ~3/4" and strike circles around the outer dots. The overlap between the circles would be something approaching 'oval' if this were turned as a spindle.
To remove the sharp corner, you can:
1) use the first center mark to clip it
2) use a spoke shave
3) use a rasp or the abrasive gouge
4) use a combination of the above.
The top end will be simpler if it is turned with a single center and turned fat. Unless the hammer head has a round broach, anticipate whittling-to-fit with a pocket knife.
Make extra blanks---the process takes some practice to produce a 'keeper.'

BobV

http://www.vicmarc.com/default.asp?contentID=549 this should do ,merry christmas keith johnt