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Commemorative gouge ferrules?

Owen Lowe

Owen Lowe

Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
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Location
Newberg, OR: 20mi SW of Portland: AAW #21058
Today I got my very own 3/8" AAW Commemorative gouge - didn't want to jump on a trendy bandwagon too soon! And the sale price certainly didn't hurt any.

Can anyone tell me how the ferrules were installed on the gouges? The best I figure is that the ferrule was placed after parting off a section of the stock with the piece reattached later. I don't see any brazing lines in the ferrule so don't think it was a split ring installed over a solid "tenon".

Anyone have the inside scoop on this? I like the effect and may give it a go for my own handles.
 

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I've got one, studied it a bit, and haven't a clue as to how it is attached. The handle is soooo nice that when the gouge is worn out, it would be a shame to not dress up another piece of steel with it. But, doubtful mine will ever see use, let alone get used up.

They sure are sweet looking tools, eh?
 
I don't have one but could it be a two piece handle and is glued together under the ferrule? (Just a guess).
Tim.
 
I think Tim is right it would be the easy way to do it just going by the photo as has been said may be too good to use

Ian
 
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My x-ray vision tells me that they sawed the handle in two slightly behind the nose piece so that it has a very short tenon that just barely goes into the ferrule, So basically it is just a decorative button on the end of the ferrule. Has anybody actually used their commemorative gouge?
 
Yes, I've used mine no tool goes unused. That's like buying a Hummer and never taking it off road!
 
Bill Boehme said:
My x-ray vision tells me that they sawed the handle in two slightly behind the nose piece so that it has a very short tenon that just barely goes into the ferrule, So basically it is just a decorative button on the end of the ferrule. Has anybody actually used their commemorative gouge?
Click to expand...

Does anyone know the metal identification -- stainless steel? In examining further, suppose the ferrule was shaped with the slightly rounded and tapered profile before being secured on the blank.

Bill, my intention is to use the tool. It's very pretty and all, but the value for me is in the using. Besides, my wife would have a conniption if'n I put it in the china cabinet for display.
 
Mine are "user" gouges.....

A couple years ago I bought two brand new, unused 1/2" AAW commemorative gouges on eBay for a steal. I currently still use one, and it has LOTS of life left in it, at least another 4 or 5 years minimum (it is a good performer, as all Glaser tools tend to be). I still have the other in pristine condition, stored in its original "fishnet stocking" and in a cardboard mailing tube. Some day it will be used, but I suspect not for MANY years. Last month I bought one of the 3/8" gouges as part of the ongoing AAW sale, and intend to use it too.

When the first 1/2" gouge is used-up to a nub, I will mount it on a wall plaque for a decorative memorial to the thousands of cuts I made with it! No sense wasting high quality steel in a fully functional tool! The descriptive placard will have dates of first use and retirement. Better to appreciate a fully and completely used tool than an unused one!

I believe the ferrules are polished and inscribed stainless steel. I never thought about the construction of the handle near the ferrule - thanks for calling that too our attention! Now I'll have to take a closer look!

Happy New Year everyone!

Rob
 
Owen Lowe said:
Today I got my very own 3/8" AAW Commemorative gouge - didn't want to jump on a trendy bandwagon too soon! And the sale price certainly didn't hurt any.

Can anyone tell me how the ferrules were installed on the gouges? The best I figure is that the ferrule was placed after parting off a section of the stock with the piece reattached later. I don't see any brazing lines in the ferrule so don't think it was a split ring installed over a solid "tenon".

Anyone have the inside scoop on this? I like the effect and may give it a go for my own handles.
Click to expand...

Stewart Batty created the prototype handles and may have turned some or all of the handles for the gouges.
You might ask Stewart.
Another reason to attend the 2013 symposium. Stewart has had a terrific booth the past two years.

Happy new year,
Al
 
I have not seen one close up so I'm purely guessing but you can roll an edge down using metal spinning techniques. You could turn the wood so it has a bead on the end of the taper. Then install the ferrule and roll the metal down into the groove left by turning the bead.
 
john lucas said:
I have not seen one close up so I'm purely guessing but you can roll an edge down using metal spinning techniques. You could turn the wood so it has a bead on the end of the taper. Then install the ferrule and roll the metal down into the groove left by turning the bead.
Click to expand...

The metal would need to be something that is malleable and relatively soft to do it. While many types of thin sheet metals can be stretched, going the other way doesn't work as well. I suspect that the ferrule is brass or some other easily plated nonferrous metal. It has a bright plating that has what appears to be acid etch engraving, either of which would rule out out forming in place. It is pretty easy to figure out that it has a wooden button on the nose end -- my gouge has some sapwood along one side -- somebody was careless when installing the button and didn't bother lining up the sapwood on the button with the sapwood on the handle. QED

EDIT: If the metal were tin, it could be roll formed and polished, but the etching still seems to be a problem.
 
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Bill The local business that does metal spinning uses Stainless steel for several of their projects. That's why I thought it could be done. I've photographed them turning an edge down like that before. They use a puzzle like form that can be dismantled after it's turned. Other wise you would never get the metal off the form. Of course on that gouge you don't want it to come off. I have some ferrule material of different metals. I may try it.
 
Bill Boehme said:
It is pretty easy to figure out that it has a wooden button on the nose end -- my gouge has some sapwood along one side -- somebody was careless when installing the button and didn't bother lining up the sapwood on the button with the sapwood on the handle. QED
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Obvious to your situation perhaps, but my gouge handle's grain looks perfectly aligned, which is why I decided to post the question. I figured it was a parted and reattached section but thought others might have been involved somehow and would offer the process steps. (Learned about Stewart Batty's influence, for example.)
 
Owen et all,

All this talk has spurred an unwrapping and longer look.

The ferrule appears to be stainless. Testing with a magnet seems to not have any attraction to the ferrule, although there is a weak pull that can be attributed to the shaft inside the handle. The signature on the ferrule looks to have been done with either a laser, or more than likely, an edm dishcharge. Either way, probably done prior to installing on the handle.

If the ferrule is stainless, I doubt it was spun down onto the handle. The forces involved in spinning the metal smaller would be quite high.

I doubt the ferrule is a plated brass or non ferrous that has been spun down onto the handle, as the spinning process would pretty well remove the plating, and plating post spinning with the wood in the ferrule does not seem possible. I tried to whittle a small chip with my pocket knife, and the material is harder than aluminum or tin. I could not detect any copper or brass color in the divot.

My handle has a pretty well figured piece of cocobolo, and it is hard to tell if the grain lines up or not. It might be off just a tad, but it is hard to tell.

The button in the end idea seems to be the best so far. The hydraulic crimp idea is possible, but I think there would be some evidence of the crimping action remaining, at least on the ends of the ferrule.

There appears to be a slight bit of epoxy or other material in the joint between the shaft and the wood. I do know that a friend and I tried to remove his handle from the gouge. We applied as much force as we thougt we could without destroying the handle with zero results.

I've met Stuart at a demo, but don't know him well enough to email and ask. Anyone know him well enough?

BTW, mine is # 498 of 500 and is going back in the sleeve and wrapper. Wish I could have gotten #500.

Happy New Year Ya'll
 
I think that we need to draw lots and whoever gets the black bean or short straw does destructive testing to figure out how their gouge was put together. Think of it as advancing the state of the art if that eases the pain.
 
Bill Boehme said:
I think that we need to draw lots and whoever gets the black bean or short straw does destructive testing to figure out how their gouge was put together. Think of it as advancing the state of the art if that eases the pain.
Click to expand...

Guess what Bill? I did the straw lot here in my living room and you got the short one. Let us know what's inside once you cut yours apart! 😉
 
Owen Lowe said:
Guess what Bill? I did the straw lot here in my living room and you got the short one. Let us know what's inside once you cut yours apart! 😉
Click to expand...

Dang! The good news is that the results of the analysis confirms exactly what I said, whatever that was. 🙂

Peer review dictates that other researches should be able to confirm my results. Let us know what you found. 😀
 
I just received my valentine present in today's mail and of coarse I had to open it and make sure everything was correct. I think I got lucky because the gouge doesn't seem to be available any longer. I was hoping, based on Dale Miner's post, that I might luck into #500 but when I opened it I received #396.
 
IAN is right!

Ian Thorn said:
Why not just ask the maker or is that too easy or you could have one xrayed😀
Ian
Click to expand...

I produced every single tool for that project under the guidance of the great Jerry Glaser who unfortunately has left us, I can tell you that the ferrule IS MADE out of staiinless steel and marked with his signature.

Stuart did NOT produce this tool. Angelo Iafrate (then president of the AAW) invited Jerry Glaser to create a tool for the Anniversary.

I assembled every single tool. My wife and I engraved and numbered every single handle and I had the task of polishing them all... (It was not easy).

The ferrule design and setup was created by Jerry Glaser.

I am glad some of you own this little piece of history. It cements Jerry Glaser's ingenuity.

He has left me with some more things to do. We are working on it. I am still sad for his passing.
 
So how IS the ferrule and handle constructed?

Paulo Marin said:
The ferrule design and setup was created by Jerry Glaser.
Click to expand...

That's fine, but some of us who own these tools would still be interested in learning how the ferrule and handle are turned, fitted, and attached. We still don't have an answer....!!

Rob
 
You are right Rob the answer was like asking a member of parliment a question 😉 and it would save Odie cuting his up to find out 😱 😀


Ian
 
Agreed Ian....you would have thought that if he took the time to post here, he could have at least answered the main question being asked throughout the thread. It's still a mystery....

I guess Odie's now got to get that hack saw out and let us know how the ferrule and handle are put together! 😀

Rob
 
Rob Wallace said:
Agreed Ian....you would have thought that if he took the time to post here, he could have at least answered the main question being asked throughout the thread. It's still a mystery....
Click to expand...

Well, like any "good politician", the answer is there, but you have to search for it and then make some assumptions. Look at the title of Paulo's post "Ian is right". That may seem confusing at first, but way back in post #4, Ian said that he thinks that Tim is right. And in post #3, Tim said that he thought that there were two pieces of wood glued together beneath the ferrule. And in post #5 I agreed with that idea. So Tim had the right answer, but Ian gets the credit. Politics as usual. 😀

However, this does not excuse Odie from needing to cut his gouge up to verify that this is correct.
 
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Brilliant Answer Bill!

Absolutely Spot On! 🙂

Besides, sometimes, certain things are best left to the imagination.
One thing for sure... Jerry was ahead of his time. I miss him a lot.

and.....

for God's sake don't cut the tool up... If you really need to know and you can keep a secret to yourself, get a hold of me 🙂

Best Wishes to you all


Paulo
 
I bought one of the Glaser gouges several years ago when they were first offered and registered my ownership. When I recently heard that the remaining few were being sold for a bargain price, I thought about getting another one, but didn't act quickly enough. They are beautifully done, but my guess is that the very sharp angle on the wings would cut very aggressively and not be the least bit forgiving of even a momentary lapse of attention to the task at hand. While I could regrind it, I am guessing that the shape is the way that Jerry Glaser preferred it.
 
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I have my pair, sitting on display, likely to never be used. I like them as art, although the function is there should I ever need it.

You can buy them at me estate sale, hopefully many years from now, and hopefully not at todays bargain.

Funny, I went to see how to buy more, and there isn't an active link under Chrome or Safari.
 
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I was going to offer to Xray mine and report back but I guess I don't need to now that we have the answer to the mystery from the maker-or do we?😕

Anyway, regular medical Xray, which I work with, would most likely not solve the mystery since it would not penetrate the stainless steel ferrule to see what is under it.

And yes, I do use one of mine, the 1/2". The smaller one is still in the drawer-for now. It is easily 1 of my favorite tools.
 
Don O. Jr. said:
I was going to offer to Xray mine and report back but I guess I don't need to now that we have the answer to the mystery from the maker-or do we?😕

Anyway, regular medical Xray, which I work with, would most likely not solve the mystery since it would not penetrate the stainless steel ferrule to see what is under it.

And yes, I do use one of mine, the 1/2". The smaller one is still in the drawer-for now. It is easily 1 of my favorite tools.
Click to expand...

The company that I worked for before retiring, x-rayed steel hydraulic line brazed couplings (as well as other stuff) to verify there were no flaws. Needless to say, this a-ray was far more powerful than the medical kind. When you are at 40,000 feet, it is hard to stop and fix a problem.
 
Bill Boehme said:
The company that I worked for before retiring, x-rayed steel hydraulic line brazed couplings (as well as other stuff) to verify there were no flaws. Needless to say, this a-ray was far more powerful than the medical kind. When you are at 40,000 feet, it is hard to stop and fix a problem.
Click to expand...

About 30 years ago I visited a factory south of Denver where they X- rayed welds for the delta rocket tubes.
A bunch still blew up. Thy failed at lots of altitudes. they figured it out because they rarely fail now.

Al
 
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