Which epoxy to use to set tool steel into wood handles?

[Mark Goulais]

I wish to make wooden handles for hand tools. I need a way to set the tool steel into the handles. There are SOOOO many adhesives out there to choose from, it makes my head spin!
So I've come to the association for a solution that works well for others here. I appreciate recommendations!

 

[Matt Friedman]

In my experience, very few tools that you buy use any kind of adhesive, it's just friction fit. When I make tools, if I feel epoxy is needed, I just use basic 5 minute. I've used both of these and they work very well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5CLHXW..._k0_1_6&=&crid=3UHNE5OC5H8A2&=&sprefix=starbo & https://www.amazon.com/Bob-Smith-In...012507&rdc=1&sprefix=bob+smith+,aps,95&sr=8-4

 

[hockenbery]

Like @Matt Friedman
On turning tools I just hit the bottom of the handle on a bench a few times this seats the tool for the life of the tool about 95% of the time. If a Tool gets loose it usually happens soon. I’ll tap again with a half dozen drops of thick CA.

 

[John Whitley]

I generally agree with Matt. That said, if you have a more challenging disparate material bond, perhaps where you're not able to get a really tight friction fit, then my go-to is West System's G-Flex. This is an epoxy designed for flexibility, and with a longer open and full cure time. The flexibility is specifically so that the bond can withstand materials which move differently: wood which moves with humidity (and not so much with temperature) and metal (which moves with temperature but not with humidity). I've successfully (with appropriate part prep) used this to create durable bonds between wood and Delrin, the latter a notoriously hard to bond plastic ("low surface energy"). I'll note that there are similar epoxies from other brands (e.g. System Three) and flexible adhesives in other chemistries (ala flexible CA glues). So feel free to look within your familiar product lines.

As a concrete example relevant to your question, I prefer G-Flex as extra insurance when assembling modular tool handles, for example when making custom handles using Robust's or other similar systems.

 

[Richard Coers]

Every epoxy adhesive will do the job. The forces are low that try to remove the steel from the wood. I’d wager to say that no adhesive is needed if you have a good fit on the wood that resists rotation.