Tip: protectors for the ends of tools

[John K Jordan]

Quick tip.

I keep many tools without handles in a shallow drawer behind me when I'm at the lathe, and in other places.

I make custom inserts for tool handles, mount the bare tools in the handles when needed, then often hang them on a wall.
But when in the drawer, the sharpened tools are vulnerable to damage. This is especially true for the extremely sharp cutters on the Hunter tools.
In addition to damage in the shop, the tools can really get damaged when transporting to and from a demo or class.



To protect the ends I make cheap but effective protectors from plastic tubing. I once went to the hardware store
and bought 3' of every size of clear plastic tubing they had - so handy for many things!

To make the tool tip protectors I cut off a short piece of tubing that will fit snugly on a tool. Heat the end with a
small heat gun until the plastic softens, then squeeze the end together with some pliers.
Sometimes I don't even bother with closing up the ends but just use the piece of tubing.

These work well!

JKJ

 

[Tom Gall]

@John K Jordan I also use plastic tubing but don't bother to heat the ends. For shorter tools (tool length from handle) I just cut a length a little longer than the tool and slide it on until it hits the ferrule. On longer tools (i.e. gouges) usually a 4-6" long piece will do the trick. Because the tubing comes off a spool there is always a curve, which gives enough friction to keep it it place. Of course, the ID of the tubing should be a little larger than the tool diameter. Easy on - easy off. For some larger tools (i.e. SRG's, etc.) I've used the black foam pipe insulation and use duct tape on the ends - similar purpose to your heat & crimp mentioned above.

 

[Tim Mortimer]

Yep, I use plastic tubing too. However I wrap a piece of red tape around the tubing because it often falls on the floor among the shavings and it makes it easier to find?

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

I used to use PVC . Heat it to form fit on tool and let it cool. You may have to reheat to get it off but beware it does want to go back to original shape.

 

[Brian Deakin]

I use lengths of bicycle inner tube and the wider mountain bicycle inner tube
I cut a length longer than the metal shaft of the tool Seal the end with superglue then stretch the open end over the first couple or inches of the handle
You can put a piece of masking tape over the glued end to improve its appearance you could even colour code

 

[Jon Rista]

Late last year, I cut up lengths of various sizes of PVC pipe. Drilled holes into one side, smaller holes into the other. Screwed em into the side of my bench:



The think that spurred me on to do this, was a near terrible accident. I had one of those Rockler rotating tool holders that you clamp to the end of your lathe. The tools fit into one of two sized notched holes around the perimeter of a disc. I'd lightly scraped myself a couple of times on sharp gouges, but generally my hands were above the level where injury could occur. Oh, I guess it was early 2023, my father was over, and something fell onto the ground, right under this tool holder. I warned him that the tools were sharp and not to bother with it, but...he went to pick up whatever it was, and just as I had worried, his head came STRIAT UP! Right into the tools. I saved him, by sacrificing the untainted beauty of the back of my right hand. ;P I have a smallish crescent-shaped scar where the gouge that would have pierced my fathers head, pierced right between my index and middle finger.

After that, I first tried to find something to stick over the ends of the tools. That ended up being "fiddly" and was constantly interrupting my turning, as I had to find one of the little plastic covers (and some I kind of custom-formed out of hot glue even!) and fit it onto the end of the tool. I didn't like the constant interruptions, and eventually came up with the setup above (and I have more of that spread around my shop.) In some cases, I used larger PVC to hold things like my buffing wheels, already assembled onto the shafts that attach to my lathes. Sometimes I used a large PVC pipe with a cap to serve as a bowl for little things...screws, or whatever. I actually have been planning to add two more to the same workbench pictured above, to hold my tubs of Acks abrasive paste and finishing polish (which are always getting lost or knocked off my bench.)

I find this approach to be immensely useful, and the great thing about it is the sharp gouge ends are never exposed, and I don't have to waste time looking for some kind of cap to put on them. I just pull out a tool, use it, and slip it back in when I'm done. No time wasted! There was another benefit, too. The Rockler tool holder always had to be removed from the lathe, whenever I needed to take the tailstock off. Which ended up becoming a huge chore, since I had to pull out all the tools, take anything else off of it (the center area of the tool holder was slightly depressed, so it ended up gathering a lot of other stuff. Finishes, drill bits, pen blanks, other small pieces of wood I was turning, etc. Handy, but, taking off the tailstock became a hateful chore. With the pipe approach, all my tools are still readily available and handy, without any hassle.

 

[Darryl Fective]

I had an old piece of gardent hose in the back of my barn. It just happened to be 5/8" ID and short (~2") pieces stuck on the ends worked great for the big gouges. On smaller diameter tools, a full length piece had enough of a bend to it, to hold it in place.

 

[Doug Freeman]

Heat the end with a
small heat gun until the plastic softens, then squeeze the end together with some pliers.

Been using the same for years, but never thought of heating it and pinching the end. Will have to give it a try. I’ve also used rubber hose (automotive use) when it was the right size for a tool.

 

[Doug Freeman]

I only use tubing/hose to guard tool tips when traveling with tools. Regarding pvc pipe and storing tools handle up vs tip up, I decided when I started turning all tool tips would be covered, due to either my own or others potentially falling into them, etc. I do use a rack, at the end of the lathe, to hold a few tools currently being used.

 

[John K Jordan]

never thought of heating it and pinching the end.

May not be necessary, depending on the tightness on the tool, but that's the way I do it.