Handle material?

[stanley62]

Anyone know what kind of wood the handle of this Utility Wrench Co would have been?  This one has seen better days.  I recently purchased a small wood lathe and I am going to try my hand at making a replacement handle.

Jim

[mikeswrenches]

Hi Jim, My 2 cents worth. Since it's not going to be original and you're  not going to use it, why not make it out of something you have or like? I made chisel handles out of all kinds of wood and in many shapes and finishes. I liked most of them, even the oddball ones.

Mike

[Lewill2]

Not sure what variety of wood it is, but this is mine.

[Bill Houghton]

I imagine birch would have been common, or perhaps one of the similar but cheaper woods like poplar.  The ones I own have a dark finish - generations of sweaty hands covered with oil and dirt can do that - so I'm not sure exactly what the wood might be.

[stanley62]

I have some maple that i think i will try for the first shot.

I'll send pictures as i progress.   I'm getting ready to head east for the MVWC Spring meet, so it may be a couple weeks before i have something.

  Jim

[Lewill2]

See you there, I'm heading West Tuesday morning.

[mvwcnews]

On original wood -- if not imported woods (like ROSEWOOD, etc for hardness & smooth finish) probably some tough & local wood  like hickory or chestnut.  Something that would turn to a smooth finish without too much difficulty but still be hard & tough enough to not fall apart on first use.  The next MVWC Newsletter has a piece about COLDWELL lawn mowers made at Newburgh, NY.  They got all their handles from Piqua, Ohio.  You'll have to wait for the newsletter to see who supplied the "cutters."

[stanley62]

Well....  It took me a while, but i finally made a handle.
I used Claro (West coast domestic walnut).  The shape is a little off, but it is pretty close to (what i have of) the original.

Jim

[stanley62]

I made another while I was at it.  This handle is made from a piece of an old Stanley Cherry level.  The level was in horrible shape when i found it.  I think it looks pretty good (if i do say so myself).

Jim

[Northwoods]

I was thinking the same.  Good repurpose!
I used elm one time as an experiment.  Elm is hard as can be.

[mikeswrenches]

That's a really nice job Jim!!  Particularly since it's your first effort. It looks like you've been doing them for years.

Mike

[stanley62]

I've been "thinking" of doing them for years...lol.  It is  good to "Actually" be making them.  Now i'm on the lookout for nice wrenches with broken handles.  I usually step right over them...

  Jim

[lptools]

Nice work, Jim!!