I ask from a position of total ignorance - Why the length? I can see wanting two hands on the wood handle part to brace against the machines torque. The metal with carbide tooth is also long. Is it to keep your hands away from flying wood chips?
You can brace a longer handle against your hip/torso. This helps with making a smooth pass sometimes- you can sway your body rather than just push a tool. Plus, the longer the tool is on your side of the tool rest, the stronger your position if you happen to catch. The 5 to 1 ratio is kind of the standard...for every inch over the tool rest you want 5 inches on your side for leverage. This really comes into play with bowls or hollowing a vase.
Piece of cake! I understand leverage. (It was a good thick Sci-Fi book, but a low grade script for the movie)
I read the book and really enjoyed it. I heard all the bad reviews so I never bothered with the movie. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Also, a hunk of wood spinning at over 3,000 rpm can be a bit scary! Length - and heft - in the tool helps stabilize things.
I know these are not wood handles but I hope Y'all don't mind me showing these off. I finished these tonight on my dad's small metal lathe out of 1/2 inch aluminum rod. I press fitted the Schick's splined area into the bore I drilled into the aluminum stock. The DE handle was grooved for the o-rings. The Schick was put back in service. It had a case of the Schick handle rot when I got it Sunday.
Machined a handle from 1\2 inch amber colored acrylic. This was the first and test for the threads. The threads will work out fine. I just don't need to over torque the handle but that us true with any handle. This acrylic can be had in almost any color and in clear.
