Kelton ER Handles

[Barbara Gill]

I have not bought any new woodturning tools in over a year. After hearing about the Kelton ER collet handles I decided they would be just the system I needed. Today I have been using them and they are even better than I had been told. Not only are the handles very easy on the hands, including not being cold to the touch but they also have helped me solve several problems.

One of those problems was space; I simply had more tools than room. I have removed the wood handles from all of the most used gouges. I made a holding rack from PVC that I can put on the table behind me. The table that used to be piled up with all the tools I was using. The space that used to be so cluttered that I couldn't find anything. Now it is sooooo neat.

One of the unexpected benefits I have experienced is the ease of sharpening with no long handle to get in the way. I find I am getting a much better job done now.

Here is a link to the site:http://www.kelton.co.nz/index_store.html

 

[Odie]

Sharpening without the handle attached would be a big plus, for sure......probably everyone here can visualize an advantage to swinging the tool around the grind without that bulky handle in the way!
:cool2:

I am so invested in tools with handles that it would be a big expense to change over to something like that, but it would have been nice to have started out with an outfit like the Kelton.

I can see another advantage.....the ability to change handle lengths to suit the situation. For me, exterior turning is better with longer handles, and interior turning is better with shorter handles. The reason for this is the longer handle keeps bumping into the lamp and bedways, disrupting the cut........

Are you using lead shot in the handle, Barbara? Your thoughts on that?

ooc

 

[Barbara Gill]

Odie, I have not put the shot in the handle yet. As soon as I can go get some BB's or shot I plan to put it in. You are right about the handle length.
I had a lot of tools with handles but after using the Kelton I decided to get rid of them all. I now have some extra kindling.

 

[ray hampton]

STOP , before you burn the handles/ turn them into something else or sell to a fellow turner

 

[Barbara Gill]

STOP , before you burn the handles/ turn them into something else or sell to a fellow turner

Ray, the way I remove the handles is to locate the end of the steel with a magnet, cut the handle with the bandsaw, put the tool in one of the dog holes in my workbench, split the remaining wood and tap out the tool. Not too much left.

 

[hughie]

Ray, the way I remove the handles is to locate the end of the steel with a magnet, cut the handle with the bandsaw, put the tool in one of the dog holes in my workbench, split the remaining wood and tap out the tool. Not too much left

Yep, that's kindling alright. The way I put mine on in the first place with epoxy pretty well guarantees the same result.

But as far as handle swing goes when sharpening your right, as I tend to have long handles.
I have number of DIY handles that allow me to remove the gouge for sharpening, best thing I ever did.

 

[potter142]

Kelton ER

Have you seen the Serious Tool Works handles? I've been using two of them
for four years. Very similar to Kelton handles but possibly easier to use......
and they are American. Both systems are great you can't lose with either.

 

[DOCworks]

I make my own handles. They really are not hard to make. You also control the weight without having to add shot, sand or lead. My 3/8 bowl gouge I used aluminum tube so it very light. I use it for my small skew and 3/8 detail gouge. I used black pipe covered with PVC hose for 1/2 tools and my roughing stuff I have a 22" monster that will take up to 3/4" tools. I have about $60 in 4 handles and they look as good as the oneway handles. Oh and if your looking from ready made..Doug Thompson has started making handles and they look really nice.

 

[Barbara Gill]

I certainly am not going to get into one brand is better than another. Some of the other features I like about the Kelton ER handles are:

-They use ER collets which are available from many suppliers if I need some different ones. I am not sure what the difference between a ER collet and a split collet is. I know that it is no problem to get collets to hold my 1/4" tools to use with the Keltons.
-The two handles can be screwed together if I should want a longer handle.
-There is a torque arresting handle that can be screwed into the longer handle.
-The handles are covered with a material that really gives me a good secure grip without needing a tight grip.
-The heft of the handles has made a big positive difference in the steadiness of my cut.
-While made in the USA can be important I certainly am not going to base my purchase decisions on where a product is made. The exception to that is that I will not knowingly consume, inhale, or apply to my skin anything that comes from China.

 

[ray hampton]

I certainly am not going to get into one brand is better than another. Some of the other features I like about the Kelton ER handles are:

-They use ER collets which are available from many suppliers if I need some different ones. I am not sure what the difference between a ER collet and a split collet is. I know that it is no problem to get collets to hold my 1/4" tools to use with the Keltons.
-The two handles can be screwed together if I should want a longer handle.
-There is a torque arresting handle that can be screwed into the longer handle.
-The handles are covered with a material that really gives me a good secure grip without needing a tight grip.
-The heft of the handles has made a big positive difference in the steadiness of my cut.
-While made in the USA can be important I certainly am not going to base my purchase decisions on where a product is made. The exception to that is that I will not knowingly consume, inhale, or apply to my skin anything that comes from China.

I know that you mean well but some meat or seafood comes from the China shop

 

[Barbara Gill]

[/COLOR]

I know that you mean well but some meat or seafood comes from the China shop

Ray, that does not mean it is safe to eat. China does not have a very good safety record with not only what humans consume and put into their environment but also what animals are fed. We are fortunate that some of the pediatric medicines were not allowed to enter our consumer system. They killed children in Europe and China. How about that dry wall?

 

[GLENN ROBERTS]

KELTON ER HANDLES what makes them different

I certainly am not going to get into one brand is better than another. Some of the other features I like about the Kelton ER handles are:

-They use ER collets which are available from many suppliers if I need some different ones. I am not sure what the difference between a ER collet and a split collet is. I know that it is no problem to get collets to hold my 1/4" tools to use with the Keltons.
-The two handles can be screwed together if I should want a longer handle.
-There is a torque arresting handle that can be screwed into the longer handle.
-The handles are covered with a material that really gives me a good secure grip without needing a tight grip.
-The heft of the handles has made a big positive difference in the steadiness of my cut.
-While made in the USA can be important I certainly am not going to base my purchase decisions on where a product is made. The exception to that is that I will not knowingly consume, inhale, or apply to my skin anything that comes from China.

I am glad you point out the features of the handles, as it is important to understand why one manufacturer goes to more trouble. The difference with the ER collets is they have a 1mm (approx 1/16") clamping range. Other split collets ( that some manufactures use) do not have this.
This means that you can use different manufacturers round shaft tools in the handles. (imperial and metric etc)
As you say, its difficult to comment about if one brand is better than another, however from what I have seen no other manufacturer has ever incorporated so many 'user friendly' features in one handle system. IMO

 

[Steve Sloan]

Just bought my first Doug Thompson bowl gouge and handle. Will get to try it out later today. Seems very well made.

 

[Barbara Gill]

Just bought my first Doug Thompson bowl gouge and handle. Will get to try it out later today. Seems very well made.

Steve that is another product that I really like. I just bought another gouge and a blank from him.

 

[Carole Valentine]

I will second that on the Kelton ER handles. I got one set, liked them so much that I turned around and bought a second ER25. I have tried a lot of handles but these are superior to anything else I have found. I also use them to hold drill bits, sanding balls, etc - in fact they will hold anything with a round shank very securely, and with only simple hand tightening. A truly tool-less handle and an extremely versatile system.

 

[ray hampton]

Ray, that does not mean it is safe to eat. China does not have a very good safety record with not only what humans consume and put into their environment but also what animals are fed. We are fortunate that some of the pediatric medicines were not allowed to enter our consumer system. They killed children in Europe and China. How about that dry wall?

Barbara, consider all of the meat and vegetable/fruit recall ,WHAT IS SAFE TO EAT ? OR INHALE

 

[Bill Pottorf]

Kelton ER handles.

I will third the Kelton handles. I have the full set and really do like them. Have not yet cut off my wooden handles as of yet though. I am using the ER with Doug Thompson's and Glaser gouges and they work great. It is important that the collet will allow a full clamping on Doug's gouges, since he reduces the bar size to the actual size on the inserted portion of the gouge. When inserting the Glaser's, they are not and you have to push the gouge in to allow for the expansion. Not a problem. I have been using them in attending demo's and classes away from my shop (studio!!!!). Sorry. BTW, make sure that you have fully tightened the collet nut prior to use. I was careless once and the gouge twisted in the collet while turning. Not a good thing to have happen. Could have caused a severe catch or loss of a turning or eyeball. Great handles.

 

[GLENN ROBERTS]

Bill, its interesting that you mention the ER handles ability to hold Glaser tools, as it was one of the first features that the handles had to have.
You might find that the 1/2" Glaser is actually about 13mm (slightly larger than 1/2") Most other handles suit just 1/2" and so can create a real problem.
It was fortunate that the ER25 goes up to 16mm (16mm is slightly larger than 5/8"), which covers most shaft sizes in 'common' use and allows for these 'variations'
That is why the ER25 size was chosen.

This should explain why your Glaser tool is slightly tight as it at the extreme end of the 12-13mm collets capacity compared to the Thompson tool , which has the end machined down. One tip is to mark the Glaser (with a marking pen etc) at the depth suitable for the collet to grip (typically 'say' 50mm) which helps ensure you have suitable grip length.
As you say, not a problem.
Yes, just like tool rests, banjo's and grub screws it is always worth checking things are appropriately secure, before we start to turn.
I hope this helps.

 

[Bill Pottorf]

Hi Glenn,
That is what I wanted to say but you stated the situation between Glaser and Doug Thompson's perfectly. The ER25 doe's work with the Glaser and that is really great. They are fine handles and I really like them. Thanks for clearing this up for everyone. BTW, I have not added any shot to mine yet either, but I really like the threaded plug in the back of the large handle. That prevents mishaps of spilling the shot all over the floor, which can happen with other handles I have. I do use them in the shop from time to time, but mostly for traveling outside of the shop to another venue. They are really great for that.

 

[Ian Jeffcock]

Handles

I bought some new Thompson tools. I could only afford one new handle (5/8 x 20), but thought I'd see what I could come up with for the other two. A quick look around my local plumbing store and I came up with these.. Compression fittings for 1/2 & 3/8 gouges, a few pieces of black pipe and some clear tubing. Both handles were less than $15.00. Ten minutes to put together. At that price I could make different lengths for different projects, for the same gouge. A quick switch. Easy to take off for sharpening etc. I didn't add any shot, but could if needed. Not the prettiest, but don't feel too bad in my hands.