Looking to find bushings for my Thompson 5/8 nose handles. Like to get to 1/2 and 3/8. Trying to get something off the shelf, avoid machining. Any help appreciated.
[OP]
Contributor
Looking to find bushings for my Thompson 5/8 nose handles. Like to get to 1/2 and 3/8. Trying to get something off the shelf, avoid machining. Any help appreciated.
Contributor
I wonder if D-Way bushings would fit? I have a couple, but don’t have a Thompson handle to try them in. I can mail you one to try if you want.
Left click my name for homepage link.
Contributor
I was wondering that too, but from the "fine print" it sounds like not. E.g. D-Way says their nominal 1/2" shafts are 0.515" where as Thompson says their 1/2" shafts are turned down to an actual 0.500".Originally Posted by John Keeton
Bill, you don't show a location. Where are you? There may be someone close with bits & pieces you could experiment with.
Contributor
Have you asked Doug Thompson?
Trent Bosch sells 5/8" to 1/2" inserts and may know if they would work in the Thompson handle.
https://trentboschtools.com/product/...sert-58-to-12/
Oneway has a 5/8" to 3/8" but I don't know if that will fit.
https://oneway.ca/products-category/...Handle-Adaptor
RD
Contributor
With such a weird number like 0.515", I'd be tempted to either chuck up the tool and file 0.0075"/0.015 inches off of it. Either that or drill or bore out the insert to accommodate 0.515". Home Despot has 33/64 drill bits listed on line for under $15.
Moderator
I thought he told me the handles were just made with different sized holes but I'm not certain. I have one for a 1/2" tool shaft and another for 3/8".
Contributor
My turning stuff has been stored since I lost access to a wood lathe when our makerspace closed down. I dug it out because I have a D-Way 1/2" to 3/8" bushing, a Thompson 1/2" handle, and as it turns out a The Woodturning Store Hurricane brand bushing.
SMC_Bushing_1.jpg
Shows the D-Way Bushing in a Thompson handle with a Thompson gouge. Not a smooth transition and slightly loose and wobbly. I think there are other problems shown when I put those parts next to each other:
SMC_Bushing_2.jpg
This shows, from bottom up, the D-Way bushing with the Thompson gouge, the Thompson Handle, and the Hurricane bushing. There are a couple things to notice. First none of the grub screw holes line up, this is a show stopper without making modifications. Also, I shoved the Thompson gouge further into the D-Way bushing to show it goes well past the shoulder Thompson adds on his tools. This illustrates the larger actual diameter of the D-Way system.
BTW- my earlier comment seemed to cause a little confusion:
Doug Thompson's FAQ, under "Shanks and Tangs", says:
"Why is the shank on all bowl and spindle gouges are turned down to a common fractional size? This is because high quality tool steel is sold .015 oversize so the shank needs to be turned down to a common size to fit all the aftermarket handles and so a common drill bit can be used to bore a wood handle."
D-Way seems to make their handles slightly over the nominal size to match the extra stock diameter.
Last edited by David Bassett; 08-21-2022 at 2:09 AM. Reason: (typo), (wording)
Contributor
How bad do you want these bushings? (I mean, Doug Thompson's handles are really nice, except when it's cold, and not that expensive once you start adding time & effort to the materials.)
If you're determined, it seems, with care, you could probably make what you want yourself. E.g. McMaster-Carr has steel tubing you could start with:
od 5/8" x id ~1/2"
and:
od 5/8" x id ~3/8"
seems like a hacksaw, drill, and some files and a *LOT* of care you could line up the grub screw holes and get something that would do the job.
Last edited by David Bassett; 08-21-2022 at 2:11 AM. Reason: (wording)
Contributor
Well, that settles the issue of whether the D-Way bushing will work. This may be a bit off topic, but I will add that I have both Thompson and D-Way tools and love both, but I have all D-Way handles, which I find much more comfortable - for whatever that may be worth. As I indicated - not really relevant to the OP’s question. The Thompson tools fit the D-Way handles with the exception of the 1/4” Thompson tools, which are a hair too large. I lightly ground a bit off the shafts to achieve a fit.
Left click my name for homepage link.
Contributor
What about Jimmy Clewes adapters? I'll have a look in a bit when I go out to the shop.
Moderator
Two things I like about the Thompson handles. First, they are drilled 1/32 over to accommodate the extra diameter Doug described. Second, the hole inside is deep allowing sinking the tool shaft quite a bit to control the amount extending from the front. Besides letting you keep the same extension when the tool is shortened by sharpening, I find a shorter extension allows better fine tool control (for those who have learned tool control), especially for spindles and detailed things. Hogging out big bowls, I don't know. I've tried and dislike those tool adapters that grip just the very end of the shaft, extending the full length of the tool into the air. For me, this is a big disadvantage.
I've mentioned this before, but again: For me it is easier to make my own inserts and turn a wooden handle to hold it. I've made many of these, for example:
inserts_IMG_7933.jpg handle_inserts.jpg finished_small.jpg Handle_roughing_IMG_5964.jpg textured_handles_hunterIMG_.jpg
I admit I make the larger inserts and those from steel on my metal-turning lathe. However, it is not difficult to turn them on the wood lathe with woodturning tools. I did a demo on this last week and have another next month.
handle_adpater_wood_lathe.jpg
The 6061 aluminum rod is available and inexpensive from Online Metals. https://www.onlinemetals.com/en/buy/...ruded/pid/1087
I use 3/4" rod for 3/8" inserts (larger for larger tool shafts) and epoxy 5/8" diameter into the handle.
handle_cross_section_text2.jpg
The tools needed are a chuck with appropriate jaws, a few HSS woodturning tools (bowl or spindle gouge, parting tool, maybe NRS, drill bits, tap for set screws).
It does take a bit of time but you get exactly what you want and at a low price.
JKJ
[OP]
Contributor
Wow, thanks for taking the time, everyone. I plan to call Doug (alt, Trent Bosch) tomorrow.
Contributor
As far as I know Doug does not offer bushings. I was thinking that Doug might know of a source that fits his handles. On the other hand I suppose it might be considered poor form to ask a manufacturer how to avoid buying his product!
If you want to make your handles but don't want to turn the ferrules, Oneway makes nice ones A little pricey but they are well made and the handle can be whatever shape you want. https://www.packardwoodworks.com/tools-hand-thrfer.html
John, how are you drilling the deep holes in the handles? Are you using a gun drill? I might try just plowing a stopped dado in the handle halves that can be glued together and turned.
Last edited by Richard Dooling; 08-21-2022 at 3:48 PM.
RD
Moderator
The dado in halves would be easy.
Years ago I bought a set of long drill bits, I didn't measure but they are at least a foot long. I use them to drill through fence posts, large beams, etc. I usually drill to the extent of a shorter drill bit then use the long bits. I drill the deep holes before I glue in the insert. If I have the right size, the taper shank bits are a little longer than the jobbers bits. If all I have is a shorter bit, drilling as deep as it will go is better than nothing. I don't have a gun drill but I'd like to.
JKJ
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