| Project by MC Creations | posted 634 days ago | 1479 views | 1 time favorited | 7 comments |  |
 |
I can’t remember exactly how the cheap plastic handle on my table saw fence lock broke, but the exposed threads cut into my hands one to many times.
Found a scrap piece of square walnut stock, drilled a hole in the end pretty deep, used a metal tap to cut the threads, chamfered the corners and then locked it into my drill press with the tap all the way threaded in. It took a bit using a file and sanding block, but it ended up fitting my hand perfectly. The extra handle length make locking the fence super easy and comfortable. Long over due.
Finish is Tung Oil and satin poly.
Lessons learned:
1. Gotta make sure that hole is in the dead center of mass when doing the turn-on-the-cheap drill press method. I had no tool rest to force it into being perfectly centered, which caused a lot of vibration.
2. Put as much of the handle over the metal bar as possible. The thread on the fence lock is only about 3/4”. I didn’t think that was enough for repeated locking. So I tapped about 1” of material, which was about 1” past the opening of the handle. It fits REALLY tight and isn’t going anywhere.
3. Use a lathe if ya got one….....
Hope this inspires those without lathes, lol.
-- MC Creations, www.creationsbymc.com, www.beer-claw.com
| Pin It |
7 comments so far
Jim Jakosh
home | projects | blog
7639 posts in 1302 days
#1 posted 634 days ago
Pretty good for not using a lathe. Thanks for sharing…..............Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!
PurpLev
home | projects | blog
7814 posts in 1845 days
#2 posted 634 days ago
so much better than plastic, cheap or expensive!
nicely done. turning on a DP is a challenge in itself.
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
David Grimes
home | projects | blog
2065 posts in 836 days
#3 posted 634 days ago
I like that. Looks custom.
-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia
hasbeen
home | projects | blog
87 posts in 882 days
#4 posted 634 days ago
Greetings from the socialist capital of America – California.
Why do you think they call it the ‘left’ coast?
Your turning is State – of – the – art neato
If your turning starts to split, you might consider drilling the hole large enough for a
‘coupling’ nut with the correct threads and then using epoxy to secure it to the wood.
Just 1 possibility to make it stronger.
Lee
jxr42@hotmail.com
Moreno Valley’s local has-been
Servant of the Living God.
-- I may not have a lot of good ideas, but some of them are just incredible.
Dusty56
home | projects | blog
10720 posts in 1885 days
#5 posted 634 days ago
Nice job indeed….now I might have to replace my handle even though it isn’t broken : )
-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.
StumpyNubs
home | projects | blog
5108 posts in 997 days
#6 posted 633 days ago
I just stuck a not dog on mine, but yours is nice too…
-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com
KnotCurser
home | projects | blog
1427 posts in 1265 days
#7 posted 633 days ago
Very nice!
A few years ago I ordered a ShopFox brand fence – Fantastic fence, but the handle was broken in shipping. The company sent me a replacement at no cost, but in the meantime I made my own from a hunk of walnut I found in my scrap bin.
My handle is still on the fence – the new, shiny, plastic one is up on a shelf still in the plastic bag it shipped in. ;-)
-bob
-- Man is a tool-using Animal. Nowhere do you find him without tools; without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all. - Thomas Carlyle http://www.ffrf.org
Have your say...