Anyone made oval turnscrew handles?

I think...

Jim Reed @ tallahassee

>I think the technique for turning ovals is to first turn it round and then offset both holes and turn oval side #1. Offset again at 180 degrees and turn oval side #2. Obviously something that you need to do in scrap first. I like to use soft, knot free construction lumber for making patterns. Sounds like a fun project. Good luck.

Re: Anyone made oval turnscrew handles?

John Aniano in Central NJ...

>Mike,

If I were making an oval handle I'd turn it as usual and when done simply knock off the 2 opposing portions of the round cross-section and make it oval. Maybe use a scrub plane or a drawknife to waste away the excess and then even out the oval using a rasp and file. Finish shaping with coarse sandpaper.

Yes, you could do offset turning as already suggested, but to me, this seems like overkill. Might try the offset turning as an exercise if you've never tried this technique, however, if up to me, I'd just round the sides off and make it oval.

Just my $0.02,

John

Re: Anyone made oval turnscrew handles?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>You don't really need to turn these, instead you can shave whatever shape you want. Good idea to rough out the shape first, say a rectangle for oval handles, then shave, with drawknife and/or spokeshave, to oval.

Pam

Re: I think...

Mike Hamilton

>I'm intrigued by this one. The existing handles have a definite center mark at the top. They appeared to be round at the ferule but checking with a straightedge, they are a tapered oval, so close as to appear round at the ferule end. Given the way the tops are shaped, there had to have been some hand shaping as well as turning going on - just to get rid of the offset centers.

Curiouser and curiouser,

Mike

Re: I think...

Warren in Lancaster, PA

>Mike, I think these are turned on an eccentric lathe. The centers move slightly as the stock is rotated to make the oval shape. I think the turning starts with no eccentricty at the ferrule end and gradually increases as the handle widens. I don't think you will see any evidence of hand work.

Re: I think...

Mike Hamilton

>Hi Warren.

So does an eccentric lathe do this in one setup or two? I imagine a single setup would require some interesting gearing at one end of the lathe,

Regards,

Mike

Re: I think...

Warren in Lancaster, PA

>I looked at an antique lathe for this type work years ago, but I am not familiar with what is used today. You might be happy with some of the suggestions others have made, but I don't think will get the same smooth elliptical curve without a lathe made for the purpose.

Re: Anyone made oval turnscrew handles?

John Veerkamp

>Another method. Glue up your handle blank with a 1/4 inch filler in the middle. Use brown papeer between the pieces and white glue. then turn your roung profile. Then split out the center filler and glue the remaining halves together. Simple and quick.

John

Re: Anyone made oval turnscrew handles?

Mike Hamilton

>A winner of an idea - not requiring new tooling (is that a sacrilege?) and within my competencies (wth a little practice).

Many thanks,

Mike

Re: Anyone made oval turnscrew handles?

Phil Joines Krum Texas

>I've made some. There are two types, parallel sided using offsets at both ends and tapered using one center on the blade end and two on the other. With the parallel sided the offset needs to be 1/2 of the difference in the width. With the tapered you need to adjust the offset for the extra length. You need a cup drive with a small point and a pointed tail center because the offset will usually be less than 1/8" or you can make a small double spur drive. After turning the sides and drilling the blade hole a pin chuck can be used to turn off the other end.

It's a lot easier to turn them round and flatten the sides.

Mr. Smartypants

jim reed @ tallahassee

>That's a downright clever idea!