So I got a perfect handle wrench, thanks to Amertrac.

I want to make a handle for it, I just don't know all the steps. Any advice is appreciated.

black tape. I AM SORRY BUT I HAD TO SAY IT,, I know you will do a good job, it has to be perfect, it says so on the wrench /
just kidding  have a good time doing the job. We want to see pictures step by step,   bob w.

I believe ScottG noted this write up previously. I knw Scott also has one on the net, somewhere.

http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/jThompson/restore/perfHandle/perfHandles1.asp

Brian L.

Yeah that is my good friend Jim.
   dig this too.
http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/awl.htm

If you have more questions Partner? 
I'm right here.
  yours Scott

While we are talking about Perfect Handles, my question would be the metal polishing process.
What are the basic steps for the bright finish on these ?


Thanks


Brian L.

Both those sites are great!

I get the basic shaping but I don't understand the part were your put it in the vise. Nor do I understand hitting the rivet around the edges.

Another thing I forgot about is the wrench itself. Normally I don't clean up wrenches, however this one I want to "polish" before fitting the handle.

I have not re handled one of those but have done a lot of riveting years ago. You hit the rivet on the edge to make it mushroom. If you hit it like a nail it won't mushroom and hold anything tight. I suggest you get a few of the rivets and practice riveting 2 pieces of scrap together. I would use a smaller ball pien hammer. Start out tapping harder and harder until you see some results. Don't use more force than you need to. Go round and round the edge of the rivet until the pieces are tight. As I remember the rivet shoud not stick up more than the diameter of the rivet when you start. If it does grind some off. Hopefully someone with a better memory or more experience will add what I forgot. Could be some tricks for doing wood as All of mine was either sickles or harness and wasn't worried about marking the surface.

I suggest you try it on something you use just to practice. Start with two pieces of wood and  a piece of metal. clamp and bore holes thru all three . then get a piece of rod, brass is easy to rivet with - steel just a little harder.

Start peening the rod you choose with the 3 peices clamped together and place the new (rivet?) as it may be called on the top of your vise or anvil and start tapping the edges you will then see what happens to the (rivet???) Not only does a it have a mushrooming effect on the ends of th rod (rivet??) it will also expand the diameter of the rod on a small area at the outer edges between the opposite sides of the rod. Practice and you will see what I mean -- I prolly am not explaining this very well but practice and you will get the idea. Good luck --it's fun to do.

When you are ready to go on the wrench -- get some modeling clay and make a shape pattern from your wrench, this pattern will dry and be significantly smaller than your handle. But it gives you a guide. when the clay dries trace the shape onto your wood with a pencil and add 1/4 inch all around to the shape drawn. Then carefully sand  or what ever method you choose to match the size and angles required to finish the new wood pieces the rest you will figure out I'm sure.  Jst the way I do it if any others have suggestion so I can improve it would be greatly appreciated. LOL never to old to learn just too old to walk much.

Once you get your scales near the size you want to start with, you would clamp them to the wrench handle to make the wood fit better. You will see impressions in the pieces. The two sides will be different, so always remember which is which.

Quote from: Nolatoolguy on February 02, 2013, 05:40:40 PM
Both those sites are great!

I get the basic shaping but I don't understand the part were your put it in the vise. Nor do I understand hitting the rivet around the edges.

Another thing I forgot about is the wrench itself. Normally I don't clean up wrenches, however this one I want to "polish" before fitting the handle.

Electroysis  is easy on small items -- it does a great job without destroyng any of the properties if the metal. Just Google it there is tons of info on how to set up. Even many videos. It's simple just learn how to do it -- it's easy and very effective.

 Strip as much hardware off as you can get.
Use a fine wore brush on a grinder and clean all you can.
Now take fine sandpaper (100) and polish.
Polish until its nice and all you see are the marks from the paper.
Go to the next grit (220), and then the next (280).
I like a soft rubber 5" sanding disk and a drill. But you can do it by hand it just takes longer.
Believe it or not metal has grain like wood. One direction sanding makes for smooth and shiny.
The other direction only removes metal but it never gets smooth.

That was a secret, shhhhhhhh

Just draw around your frame.
Take a sharpie and lay your wrench on the wood and draw around it. 
Rough out the wood about 1/4" away from your lines.

Lay a piece of wood on each side of the frame, and make a sandwich.
Now pick up the sandwich and place it between vise jaws.
Yeah its a wiggle to get it all lined up. i usually reach up with my knee and turn the vise crank just a little until it will hold in place by itself.
  Now you can take a little hammer and tap everything until it all lines up.
Make sure you have a little wood sticking out all the way around each frame piece.

Now crank it in tight. Almost as tight as you can.

Let me know when you have finished this.
  yours Scott   

When your finished, Lets see the final results!!!

Thanks guys. I will be doing it this weekend after I go pickup wood at a woodworking supply place. Any advice on the wood itself. Do you use a regular polyyourathane.?

Pics to come

For a first time I would suggest black walnut. Its real pretty and fairly easy to work.
For this you will want 3/8" thick stock. So shoot for 1/2" if you can. Or get a little piece of full 1" thick stock and saw it in 1/2.
  Get extra wood, but you will anyway. Nobody sells so little wood unless you go to a knife supply place where they sell thin, short pieces of fancy wood.

Worry about the finish later.
  yours Scott