Tool Handle Sleeves

[Burt Alcantara]

I've made a number of tool handles from black pipe. I like the heft, thickness and they are long. However, because I'm on the short side I tend to hold my handles under my arm, close to my ribs. After a few hours, the pipe gets to feeling very hard...too hard.

I've gone to a number of stores trying to find something to fit over them. Lowes has nice tubing buy none fits. The pipe is 3/4 OD. Bought the pipe at Loews so one would expect the tubing to fit but noooooooo.

Suggestions, ideas?

Thanks,
Burt

 

[Mitchell Cholewinski]

Burt
Lowes does carry pipe covering at that diameter. I bought some there twice. I use mine to cover galvenized pipe I used to make Oaland tools. Mitch

 

[GLENN ROBERTS]

Burt, try a fishing rod supply company. The grips they sell ( in all different ID's and lengths) are good. EVA foam and the like. Try Merrick tackle.
Glue on with epoxy. Soft on your hands and good grip.

Look up how to make fishing rods and you will find all the details.

I hope this helps.

 

[Rob Wallace]

Try a quality Bicycle Repair Shop

Burt:

Try visiting a good quality bicycle repair shop with one of your pipe handles. They may have closed cell foam cushioning insulation meant to be slipped over handle bars. There are several inside diameters available for this cushioned "tubing". I know people have used it to cover Glaser Gouge handles to insulate them and make them more comfortable to use for long-term turning sessions in cold shops.

Let us know if you find a suitable handle cover material.

Rob Wallace

 

[Griesbach]

Burt, along similar lines to Rob's suggestion consider checking into golf club grip tape. This, too, is cushioned.

 

[Joe Greiner]

Lowes, and similar suppliers, should have pipe insulation to suit the pipes they sell, especially in the frozen North.

Pipe size nomenclature is a relic of earlier times, likely the equivalent smooth-bore sizes providing the same frictional resistance to water flow. Actual dimensions are larger than the nominal sizes. The closest I see to 0.75" OD is 1/2" (nominal) at 0.840" OD. See if they have insulation for that nominal size. Insulation is typically about 3/8" thick, and the resulting final OD may be too large, of course.

Adhesive-backed foam tape for weatherstripping is another option; generally thinner, and you can wrap as many layers as you like. A variation may be available in the Tool Section for wrapping hammer handles and such.

 

[Gordon Seto]

Try "Tubes" in McMaster Carr - closed cell foam
They have all sizes, wall thickness and different hardness.

 

[Burt Alcantara]

A lot of good suggestions. I'll give each a try and report back. Making my own tools -- priceless!

 

[Mark Wollschlager]

I have used Lacrosse stick wrap.
Its a sticky backed fabric tape.
Comes is all sorts of colors. Pretty inexpensive and easy to replace.
Although it doesn't offer a whole bunch of padding I like it on Glaser handles to cut the winter chill.

Mark.

 

[moseley]

Cushioned tape from a tennis pro shop for wrapping racket handles will also help.

 

[Tony K. in NC]

try hairspray

do 2 things, warm up the tubing under a light or use a heatgun or even a hairdryer. then spray a good amount of aerosol hairspray in the tube, slide it on. this is an old bicycle grip trick, the hairpray lube to get it on, then when it dries you have to cut the handle off. My next suggestion, someone else mentioned already, put the grip on using the same process as putting a handle on a golf club. (speaking of golf clubs i should get mine out again here soon, NAAAAh i got wood to turn!!!!!)

 

[loberg]

Swimming pool supply stores have a tubing made out of foam like material. Try there.

 

[Richard Baker]

I turned and drilled some thin wall wood handles to fit my tools made from 1/2 inch pipe. I ground a cheap spade bit to drill the hole size required. Lots of good suggestions above for resilient handle material.