Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
24 inch long handle for my Carter and Son 1-1/4 inch spindle roughing gouge. Had it for a while and have been using the C&S aluminum handle, but I needed another purple heart tool handle in the shop.
The style is a London pattern tool handle. The blank was shaped to a hexagon on my table saw. The ferrule is 1-1/4 inch outside diameter and 1 inch inside diameter aluminum tube affixed with Starbond 5-minute epoxy and turned to clean up the outside diameter. The working end is center drilled to 3/4 inch diameter by 3 inch deep to accept the C&S tool. The center is further drilled 8 inches at 1/2 inch diameter and a brass tube affixed with the same epoxy to strengthen the narrow throat of the handle. Two holes for 5/16-18 grub screws tapped in the ferrule to allow change out of the tool.
After center drilling, when starting turning, found that the blank had warped slightly, but this ended up providing a nice register for short gripping the handle. The hexagon provides a pleasant register for gripping as well. The weight ended up being well balanced.
Sanded to 320 grit and then used Ack’s Abrasive Paste and Ack’s Polish/Restoring Paste.
Final dimensions - handle length 24 inches (not including the tool) with major hex diameter 1-5/8 inches (minor hex diameter 1-1/2 inch). Throat minor diameter 15/16 inches.
24 inch long handle for my Carter and Son 1-1/4 inch spindle roughing gouge. Had it for a while and have been using the C&S aluminum handle, but I needed another purple heart tool handle in the shop.
The style is a London pattern tool handle. The blank was shaped to a hexagon on my table saw. The ferrule is 1-1/4 inch outside diameter and 1 inch inside diameter aluminum tube affixed with Starbond 5-minute epoxy and turned to clean up the outside diameter. The working end is center drilled to 3/4 inch diameter by 3 inch deep to accept the C&S tool. The center is further drilled 8 inches at 1/2 inch diameter and a brass tube affixed with the same epoxy to strengthen the narrow throat of the handle. Two holes for 5/16-18 grub screws tapped in the ferrule to allow change out of the tool.
After center drilling, when starting turning, found that the blank had warped slightly, but this ended up providing a nice register for short gripping the handle. The hexagon provides a pleasant register for gripping as well. The weight ended up being well balanced.
Sanded to 320 grit and then used Ack’s Abrasive Paste and Ack’s Polish/Restoring Paste.
Final dimensions - handle length 24 inches (not including the tool) with major hex diameter 1-5/8 inches (minor hex diameter 1-1/2 inch). Throat minor diameter 15/16 inches.
