Joey Butcher

[Joey Butcher]

Hi Guys

New to the forum, thanks for your hospitality.

I started woodturning to make hickory handles for my Tomahawks.

Heres the question: How do you turn a handle that isnt quite a round shape ?

Heres images of what I'm trying to do ( these are pro made handles ).

Any help ?

 

[Ed Davidson]

Joey,

Welcome to our little group. Here's a link to an offset handle making video tutorial I made last year. If you use this technique, be careful - best to use a full-face shield.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Ovals can be turned on three centers/both ends. That's what you normally see on an axe, maul or sledge. Triangular involves isosceles triangles, not in-line offsets.

Two free pieces of advice, based on Ed's tutorial. There is no need whatsoever to turn at 2K. Remember Newton's second law. Half or less speed than that will do the job, and it'll actually help you in getting a smooth handle, because you'll be taking a shaving, not dust. Second is to use a cup center, and tap it in to engage the cup. That 60 degree point may be fine for metal, but it will run if you have a catch and screw things up much faster than the point and cup. Of course, you'll have much less energy to rip it out if you turn slower, too.

Last piece of advice is to remember that you will get fairly sharp edges either end of the oval you turn. Expect to take that off by re-centering, then sanding the two minor ridges away.

Best choice of all, of course is to use a horse and shave.

 

[john lucas]

I turn hammer handles on 4 centers. Sketch the radius roughly. then set a compass so it matches that radius draw a circle. After you have drawn the circles you will have the center points for your turning. If it needs to be tapered then you may have to move the center points on the other end of the turning.

 

[Joe Greiner]

Except for the challenge of off-center turning, I second the motion of using a ["shaving horse"] and a [spokeshave]. Google is your friend, and so is [Roy Underhill].

BTW, and not trying to start an argument, I think axe handles, golf club heads, Olde Dutch shoes, and such, are usually made with a rotary cutter on a pattern-following contraption, turning very slowly.

 

[Joey Butcher]

Thanks Guys !

I appreciate all the helpful advice. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Joey Butcher

 

[Nowicki]

I'd like to turn some hawk handles too but I cannot seem to get the video to work???


Larry

 

[John Torchick]

I would shape them on a flexible disk sander. I do this with cigar-shaped cork fly rod grips.