Awesome, Patrick! Fantastic bench. One suggestion- I'd bolt down the lathe by the bolt holes that are at the 4 corners of the lathe. It will help dramatically with vibration.
I just finished turning my first brush handle and this is fun. I bet it has been 20 years since I have turned anything. I believe this is a scrap piece of western red cedar. I wanted something soft to start off with. The handle is a little thicker than I like but I'll get it honed in on future handles. I temporarily set a 24 mm knot to see what it looks like. Y'all take care and thanks for all of the encouragement.
Nice classic shape! Vintage handles tend to smaller knots; 18-22mm. Guess you have to hold it to know if it feels too thick. The proportions look right.
The handle feels great in the hand but I would like the part around the knot to have a smaller outer diameter. Since this was a soft wood I made the diameter larger. When I turn some hard wood I'll decrease the diameter and slim the entire handle down a little. Thanks for the kind words.
Danny @Hembree - Andrew @Linuxguile mentioned flutes ala R-400. I've thought about that. Just might have an idea. I can drop it here, or PM if you want it as a hush-hush trade secret. Let me know!
Awesome handle, Danny! If that is your first handle, you have a knack for it. I know what you mean with the diameter of the top. That’s one of the reasons I like drilling out the hole on the lathe- you can then tailor the outside diameter and sidewall thickness exactly the way you want it after the hole is done.
Drop them here. Someone else may want to know as well. These are my thoughts on the flutes. ********* You could take your blank and find the center. Mark the six flute centers out at 60 degrees and bore down into the blank with a drill press. You would end with a blank that would resemble a square revolver cylinder. Turn it on the lathe till the flutes appear. The only problem I see would be that the flutes would chip out easy. ********
Thanks Gary. Thanks Jason, I need more pratice. That would be the best way to do it but I am limited with this old lathe. I turned the handle and then bore the knot bore with a drill press. I do not have a jaw set up for this lathe.
Thanks..I may give it a try tonight with some hardwood and see what happens. I have got to get my parents yard cut when I get off work.
I was thinking of using a drum sander to carve them out off of the lathe Sent from my Galaxy using Tapatalk
