Official Luthiers Forum!

With all the talk of chisels in the other thread, I got curious about something....
A lot of times on sites like ebay and some antique tool places, I see a lot of fine socket chisels sans handles. Are there any places set up with a lathe that can turn a certain style handle for a price? For instance; one of the old Berg's I have could definitely use a new handle. I would love to have that handle replicated.
-John

There are scads of places that make handles.

Try this one: http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/default.php?cPath=39_351

Chisel handles are about the easiest things you can make, if you decide to buy or borrow a lathe and make your own. I have made a few different styles of handles for old chisels that I buy at flea markets and the like (the handles are almost always toast), but the ones I like best are just a simple ‘bulb style’. I make them different lengths for different tasks, and you can compensate for a blade that has been ground too short for your intended use by making a longer handle.

Here are some of my home made chisel handles (on the ones in the middle).

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

What Arnt said. Woodcarvers like to do the same thing as they can make them fit their hand as they like and they make them from different types of wood and shapes sometimes as it also helps them identify a certain chisel. You can also make the ferrules for them.
They look good Arnt.

Getting the size and taper right for a socket chisel is not easy on a wood lathe, especially since the inside of the sockets on most chisels are not machined and have some casting flash.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I bet you are right Howard, I never find chisels with sockets over here, so I've never had to try to match a new handle to one. But I suppose that means it would be even harder to buy a ready-made one with the right taper, though? With a lathe you can fiddle around until you get it right.

Actually, finding a used, old chisel with a factory handle over here is so rare that I suspect most of them were sold without handles back in the day. Carver's chisels and gouges are still usually sold without handles, for the most part. Is it the same over on your side?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Thanks guys. I'm gonna check out those links as soon as I can. Arnt, those handles sure are beautiful! Believe me, the thought of buying a lathe crossed my mind, but I already have limited space and that's just in regard to making guitars!! I've seen a couple of sites with pictures of handles turners have made. They are gorgeous. Similar to the one's Arnt has.
-John

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