Today in the shop (home made lathe tool(s)

[terrydowning]

Nice looking tool Ed. Good job!

[teacherman]

Here is some other information that might interest some of you. Especially if you like wood handles on your lathe tools. You could save some money if your time is free and you don't mind the efforts.

If you don't feel like turning your own handles you can buy them pre-turned but you will need to drill your own hole to fit the tool. Here is a reference for some ash ones in 12", 15-1/2" and 17".

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/7/2 ... ool-Handle

Two sizes of ferrules are here if you want to go that route.

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/7/2 ... le-Ferrule

These are the ferrules I've used in this thread.

If you want the wood and the ferrules here is an example:

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/2/- ... dle-Blanks

You can also buy unhandled tools. As an example I'm looking at a Easy Detailer, the mid-sized one costs $94.99 or $118.99 with the handle.

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/7/2 ... y-Detailer

These are only examples and there are a lot of options to chose from out there.

Ed

How about an old shovel handle cut into several pieces?

[BuckeyeDennis]

How about an old shovel handle cut into several pieces?

Naah .. it's much more fun to turn your own handles. I haven't done very much turning yet, but a while back my wife bought me a silicone grille-basting brush with a plastic handle that I absolutely hated. In addition to being ugly, it was way too short for use on a hot grill. So after I got my Shopsmith, I grabbed a stick of cherry wood that I had saved from a dead tree, and turned a nice long handle with a profile that pleased me. I finished it with wipe-on poly, and it looks much nicer than anything you could buy. Great fun!

[rpd]

I just watched this video, 16 RJF Making High Speed Steel Tools, that was recently posted by Richard Ford.

I found it very informative and thought this would be a good place to bring it to the attention of others who are interested in making their own lathe tools.