turning some handles

[Dennis Taylor]

I have a few of the flex cut tools without handles and would like to make my own handle for them, thought I would turn them on my lathe, and the cut them to prevent them from rolling, but how do I get the slot in the wood to slide the tool in, and should they be epoxied in place?...tks....Dennis

[CarverFromNoWhere]

I just use the Flexcut handles for my interchangeable blades, but a simple solution would be to turn the handle shape you want then get some 1/2" dowel or whatever size fits the blades tang and drill a 1/2" hole in the handle the cut a slot in the dowel and insert blade into dowel then into handle you will have to trim the dowel by hand to get a snug fit but the tang of the blade will work like a wedge and force it tight into there. Adding some glue or epoxy wouldn't hurt either
Carl

[TreeWizard]

How do you drill a 1/2" hole in a 1/2" dowel?

[TreeWizard]

I didn't mean that last question to be a smart "ask" answer but I've thought about doing the same thing with my flexcut gouges and I just can't picture what you've described.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

You drill the hole in the handle not the dowel . better a smart ask then a dumb ask
Carl

[Dennis Taylor]

drill hole in handle to fit the dowel, then split the dowel? fit into hole with tooling and glue?...Dennis

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Would you like me to make one and take pictures as I go?
I am not sure what size dowel exactly but you will need some dowel just larger or the same width as the tools tang. Turn and finish your handle, drill a hole into the handle just over the length of the tang and the same size as the dowel. Then cut a piece of dowel the same length as your hole is deep, cut a slot in it, don't cut all the way through just like 9/10 ths of the way through. Then put the tools tang in slot slip dowel into hole and you will need to trim to fit as the tools tang will be like a wedge and it will spread the dowel open as you fit it into the handle. Once you have a good satisfactory fit add some glue or whatever then pound it all the way in so it's nice and snug.

Does this clear it up and do you have any more questions?
Carl

[Dennis Taylor]

Does to me, it looks like the SK handle is made very similar to me, it has some type of insert into the handle and the handle slides in place...it looks hard and flexible to me, it cleared the tunnel for me anyway!....Dennis

[TreeWizard]

I understand now, but if you want to make the handle and do a step by step, it can be put into the tutorial archives and flex cut users for years to come will be able to avoid cut fingers changing blades.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

I have a number of different SK handles and they are all made different most have a little leaf spring inside to hold the blade when inserted.

Another thing is that what I described is aimed to be a permanent handle not interchangeable, also it will glue or epoxy better if you rough up the tools tang with some extra coarse sandpaper or a file.

If I find the time I just might make a tutorial for this I do have one Flexcut I have modified and should make a handle special for it.
Carl