• January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details)
  • Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to John Lucas for "Lost and Found" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 13, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Idea for a handle

Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
95
Likes
0
Location
San Francisco,CA
Guys,

what about using regular keyless drill chuck(less then $30) on a wooden handle instead of more expensive handles with R8 collets or set screws?
For these type of handles you need separate collets or adapters for each shank size.
Drill chuck accepts anything up to 3/4" round, square or hex. Tool shank does not even need to be perfectly machined, it'll grab anything. Changing gouges takes 2 seconds, no tools required.


I've got a keyless chuck(up to 5/8" capacity) with straight 5/8 arbor that I'll put in a wooden handle.

Having some serious mass(chuck is about 2lb?) closer to cutting tip help to reduce vibration too.
 
certainly although they are kind of heavy and somewhat large.
You can buy a whole set of R8 collets for $20 from Enco. I've made a handle out of PVC to hold R8 collets. I'll post a photo later if I have time. I'm going to work on an aluminum handle I just haven't had time. I simply chucked it up in the chuck and then supported the lose end with a steady rest in order to turn the R8 taper on the inside. Then i made a draw bar with a knob on the end. The only problem is you need to tap the end of a rod because it uses fine thread. You can buy all thread in fine thread sizes but usually not locally.
You can also use the router quick release collets. One of our members brought one in many years ago. Of course on those your limited to 1/2" shanks.
 
John, how do you make a draw bar with a knurled knob on the end?

As for my setup with drill chuck when I try it for actual turning I'll let you know how it works for me.

I also wanted to make a handle like you were talking about but I don't have means to make a draw bar with a knurled nob on the end.

The knob(on the end of draw bar) has to have a shoulder that goes into pipe, or end of pipe should have a cap with a hole diam. of draw bar rod, right?

BTW what is R8 thread size?

Thanks,
Alex
 
Alex You don't really need a knurled end. It can be just about anything you can grip. If you took the metal rod and made it stick all the way through or flush with a wooden knob you would be tapping on this to release the collet. I attached the metal knob with a 1/8" rolled pin. You could attach a wooden knob the same way.
I covered the collet end with string that I lashed on and then soaked in Thin CA. This has worked for me before as a Ferrule material. It lasts about 4 or 5 years. I don't know how long this will last with the pressure of the collet but so far so good.
I believe the thread on the collet is 7/16 fine thread but I would have to check to be sure.
I have a couple of the big stick handles made by Eddy and love them. http://bigsticktools.com/ I made this one because I wanted a smaller and lighter handle for some tools and just wanted to see if I could build one.
 

Attachments

  • PVC-tool-handle.jpg
    PVC-tool-handle.jpg
    33.4 KB · Views: 223
Morse taper collet?

Now you have got me thinking. If you were to use your handle material with a set of morse taper 2 collets from my little machine shop (?) and then the drawbar and handle (nut) and a drill chuck with a mt2 also set up with a drawbar thread to make it useful. Take your handle material (wood, aluminum, etc.) and drill it through. Put a mt2 taper in one end to take all of the collets and accessories and then make up a drawbar/nut for the other end. Just thinking out loud as it were. Bruce.
 
Interesting exercise, but seems as though it would be profoundly inconvenient to have to use the same handle with two or more tools. I often switch among several different tools on the same turning, but perhaps am the exception.
 
Interesting exercise, but seems as though it would be profoundly inconvenient to have to use the same handle with two or more tools. I often switch among several different tools on the same turning, but perhaps am the exception.

It is the same issue with having one gouge you have to sharpen all the time. Here is where multiple handles and tools of the same size come in handy. I have to say that while I use interchangeable handle almost exclusively (trent bosch) I have about a dozen in various sizes and lengths.

Under full disclosure, I sponsor Trent's workshops so I do get a good deal on handles.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top