Tool time.

[squbrigg]

I spent the past week making tool handles. I recently purchased a set of Henry Taylor micro gouges "without" handles and made my own handles for them. I have a set with the handles and they work great for relief carving, but I tried using them for small hand held carvings and found the handles too awkward. These handles I made, I can use the tool like a pen, fingers only and works great and much stronger than the Dockyard micro's. Just need to work up an edge on them next.

Also bought two "Hook-Skews", with stubby/palm handles and immedately cut the handles off and made my own. Much better!!!

Bob

[Iowa Carver]

Good looking tools there Bob! Dang I love those rabbits you do! I think you touched on it, my only complaints about Dockyards are the weeny handles. Thanks for posting them!
Corey

[Ron T]

Hi Bob,

Everything you work on reflects quality of craftsmanship and, care and attention to detail, from your ships, to your big game reliefs, to your grandchildrens rabbits, and now, these handels.

Are the two handles with the black stripe ebony sandwiched between cherry? They're very beautiful.

[Iowa Carver]

Bob, do you just drill a hole in the handle blank to match the tang and then turn it and epoxy in the chisels?

Corey

[bygeorge]

There you go doing those rabbits again! Every time I see them, I just smile! They have to make just the greatest little gifts. Oh, nice job on the tools too!

Chuck

[squbrigg]

RonT ..... thank you for your kind words. The handles are an African hardwood, I forget the name, and yes, Ebony "spacers' are used. I turned the handles first to size, then cut them down the center on the bandsaw (made a jig to hold them) then cut out the shapes of the handle into both sides of the handle and the Ebony spacer. The spacers are cuy to the shape of the handles and fit. Then epoxied the whole thing together, clamping till set and then sanding smooth and final shape using the Foredom and sanding drums. Dip in finishing mixture and wet sand, wipe dry and let dry. Dip and wipe dry again after 24 hours.

Corey .... the only ones I was able to just drill a hole and insert and epoxy , were the two "hook skews". Because I was shortening the blade length, chokeing up as it were, the middle of the Henry Taylors had a enlarged tang, so I had to carve the inside of all 12 handles for each, plus the spacers, to fit. A lot of work, but really worth it.

Bob

[Irishman]

Making your own handles....great idea, which I had the knack for it. Was wondering about the HT micro tools as I just purchased some more dockyard micro tools as I need smaller gouges I find. How do you like the HT brand?
Patrick

[squbrigg]

Patrick, they are super, stupendious, amaizing and work really well!!! They are expensive, as you can only buy the full set, I I had to send for mine from Traditional Woodworking Tools ( Traditional Woodworker - Set of 12 Micro Carving Tools by Henry Taylor )
the only place in North America that I could find them, at the time. The handleless blades, I ordered direct from Henry Taylor, at a reduced cost. Only drawback was the blades didn't come fully sharpened, so I have some work to do there, but the original set comes ready to use, and well sharpened.

Bob

[Joy]

Working wood and collecting tools.....makes my heart go pitter patter! You did a very nice job on the handles, Bob, and the rabbits. Those little rabbits have evolved dramatically. I remember the first ones being very simple with few details.

[squbrigg]

Joy ..... the bunnies do seem to multiply! LOL They are the sweetest little critters to do, and I never complain about waiting any more. I take my little kit with me where ever my wife takes me ...... shopping, doctors, etc, and carve away. I also sit and enjoy the morning and evening on the deck with my dog and a cup of tea and a cigar, and carve bunnies. The serious stuff, I do in my shop: ships and relief, etc. But with so many babies being born lately, it's getting difficult to keep up!

You are right about detail, I'm practacing creases and folds of clothing on them now.

Patrick..... here's a pic of the set-up I've been using for the handles. It;s pretty self explanitory.

Bob