Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Proper Wood For Tool Handle
Tom Colligan, Peoria
>When a tree is taken down there's quite a bit of 5 or 6 inch round branch material that's very straight. Can this wood be used for a lathe tool handle after it's been properly dried?
Or, is any wood having pith in it - even for tool handles - unuseable? Tia, Tom
Its usable...
Jay in TX
>If it can be made in to a comfortable handle its good to go. Use it green if you don't mind rust eating away at you tool tangs. As for splitting, use a ferule or "hoop" as some chisel users call them and it shouldn't be to much of a problem at the ends, but the middle may develop fissures or surface checks that may pitch your skin. Usable yes, but I'd just as soon use it for kindling.
Re: Proper Wood For Tool Handle
adrien
>if it's 5-6 inches, why not split it through the pith. You should be able to get handles from the halves since a 2" diameter handle would be oversize.
BTW, there are other uses as well for branch wood of that size.
Re: Proper Wood For Tool Handle
Leo Van Der Loo
>Hi Tom
Yes you can use limb wood to make tool handles and rolling pins, candle holders, spatulas etc. , but I would split the wood and take the pit out, you will have a lot less problems with splitting and have more usable wood in the long run, you can try to dry a few ends without splitting in half, and depending where and how you dry it, and also the kind of wood, makes a difference, you might be able to get some usable pieces, do seal the ends though, no matter split or not.
If all fails you still can use it as fire wood (grin).
Have fun and take care
Leo V
Depends
Georg Waldhof
>a lot depends on the kind of wood. I would avoid using oak as it has a tendency to split under repeated blows. Obviously, softwoods are right out.
Hickory, Maple, even Ash (which is kind of like oak) and some other woods make the best handles. Beech is very good, but one generally doesn't have a Beech tree in the yard (at least not around here).
Good luck.
Re: Proper Wood For Tool Handle
JL work
>You did neglect to mention the sort of tree that the branch came from. I am assuming it is a standard deciduous tree like oak. If it was white oak, hickory or pecan - I would say yes. Red oak, sweet gum, poplar - no.
Re: Its usable...
Carole in VA
>Is a piece of copper pipe suitable for hoops or will it corrode? I notice that most are brass, but copper is much more easily obtained here.
Re: Its usable...
Bill Howatt
>I have some copper pipe fittings that are made to join one pipe to another for use as ferrules. I haven't used them yet but have seen them on other turner's tools. I don't think corrosion is anything to worry about. If you should get some from turning wet wood then just apply a coat of varnish to the copper.
Bill
Re: Its usable...
Bill Ryall
>Well...
I have recently made a few turning tols that use copper pipe couplers as ferrules. I never thought about corrosion. I figure with all the contaminants in water, being epoxied to a piece of wood should not be a problem. It will probably tatnish over time, but it can be polished.
Being that I am about the worlds worst woodturner, these tools with the copper ferrules have held up pretty well. the chandles are maple or ash, depending on what I had as scrap at the time.
Bill R, Loving the 85 degrees and bright sunshine in downtown Portland, Maine...:>)
