Custom Screwdriver Handles

Nice screwdrivers, I didnt know you could purchase the inserts, may have to try it.

Robert

-- "I gotta have more cowbell"--------Bruce Dickinson

Nice screwdrivers.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Wonderful screwdrivers,
(the spark plug no four is that for the radio?).
Best thoughts,
Mads

-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.

This is another great little project and they will now mean more to you because you have expended your time and effort on them to customize them. They will mean a whole lot more to you than even an expensive ready made set. Good work, Doc.

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

they looks great Doc
and great recycling :-)

take care
Dennis

everything home made and custom is always the best :)
they look good!

-- Flemming. It's only a mistake if you can't fix it.

Doc,

I just received a set of these in the mail from Lee Valley. How did you drill out your handles and manage to get the “wings” on the end of the shaft down in there?

I’m considering splitting the handle blank on the tablesaw, mortising out a spot for the wings, clamping the two halves back together, drilling them out, gluing the two halves together with the shaft inside, and then turning it.

James

James,

Do not split the blank. It is not necessary. I simply drilled the hole the appropriate size for the shank (BTW – they are metric in size – 5, 6 & 8 mm if memory serves).

Turn your handle and fit a/the ferrule. I purchased the brass ferrules from Lee Valley, but you could easily make ferrules from a piece of copper pipe or any other possible sources. Drill your hole, then drive the handle onto the shank. The little wings will drive into and wedge into the wood. This is what creates the tight fit necessary to prevent the shank from spinning in the handle.

The tricky part to me was getting the hole for the shank drilled straight. When I made these, I did have a drill chuck for my lathe nor did I have a live center with a large enough cone to center on the pre-drilled hole. Now that I have those, I would chuck the blank into my 4 jaw chuck, then drill the hole with my drill chuck in my lathe. Then I would install my 60 degree cone live center and turn the handle accordingly, fit and install the ferrule, drive in the shank and “Bob’s Your Uncle.”

Doc

-- Hey, woodworking ain't brain surgery. Just do something and keep trying till you get it. Doc

For any others that migt be interested in doing this project, here is a website that is filled with good How To info. The article is specific to making a handle for a chisel, but the process is the same.

http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/jThompson/chHandles/chHandles-01.asp

-- Hey, woodworking ain't brain surgery. Just do something and keep trying till you get it. Doc

why didn´t you use the drillpress before you moved to the lathe
and then use a very little keyhole saw with reversed teeth
that how its done when you make knifes where the tang stop inside the handle
as well as if the tang goes trugh to meet a closed nut

Dennis

Dennis, the little wings/tabs that James refers to are only a millimeter or two. They are small enough that they will just drive and wedge right into the wood. That is exactly how the Lee Valley folks indicated to do it in their catalog. It works great for this application. As for the drill press, I only have a little benchtop drill press. There wasn’t enough room to clamp the handle blank vertically and drill with a drill press. It really is easy to do by chucking the blank in a 4 jaw chuck and then drill using a drill chuck in the tail stock of the lathe. It is also very easy to precisely control the depth this way.

Doc

-- Hey, woodworking ain't brain surgery. Just do something and keep trying till you get it. Doc

Ok to the small wings doc , just thought they were bigger :-)

and about the drill execise it just seems to me that everyone has a drillpress and I was the only
that hasn´t…..lol

take care
Dennis

Great job on the screwdrivers, the spalting is awesome. I bought that same set from Lee Valley (and ferrules), I just haven’t gotten around to making handles yet. How’s the quality of the tips? Any wear in the past year of use?

@Dan – Mine have been in use since around Thanksgiving last year – they’ve held up very well. I cannot tell much difference between how they look now and when they were brand new.

@Dan – Mine have been in use since around Thanksgiving last year – they’ve held up very well. I cannot tell much difference between how they look now and when they were brand new.