Machining a wooden handle with grip

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Joiner1998
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Machining a wooden handle with grip

Post by Joiner1998 »

Hello

Has anyone had any experience in machining a hand grip onto timber. Maybe with a spindle moulder? I'm looking at making an umbrella handle.
dewaltdisney
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Re: Machining a wooden handle with grip

Post by dewaltdisney »

For a one off I would band saw a flat blank to the shape and hand carve and sand to the shape required. You could use a rounding over bit in a router to get it more rounded before the hand work stage.:thumbright:

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Re: Machining a wooden handle with grip

Post by Dave54 »

Unless you absolutely have to make something to a particular design, you generally try to make things the easiest way.
So I'd use the lathe to turn a round section handle if possible.
If you must have square, or other non round sections, then for a one off, or even for a few off, I'd do what DWD suggests and make it / them by hand.
All sorts of work is possible with spindle moulders and routers of various types, but you're looking at a complicated setup to machine small pieces safely.
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Re: Machining a wooden handle with grip

Post by dewaltdisney »

I pictured a 'j' shape handle in my mind Dave:thumbright:

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Re: Machining a wooden handle with grip

Post by Dave54 »

dewaltdisney wrote:I pictured a 'j' shape handle in my mind Dave:thumbright:

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Hadn't thought about that mate. Unless it was made from laminated wood, or bent, it's be weak on the cross grain. Those handles are often made of bamboo, which is apparently easily bent with heat. (Seen it done on the telly. Guy soaked it IIRC, then bent it over a gas burner. Never tried it myself though)
I was thinking more of the knob type of handle.
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Re: Machining a wooden handle with grip

Post by dewaltdisney »

I think I would pop into Sports Direct and get two for £6 :lol:

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Job and Knock
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Re: Machining a wooden handle with grip

Post by Job and Knock »

My old man used to grow "walking stick cabbages" when he was alive. He would bend this into all sorts of shaped items then dry the stems and polish them. Started out as a way to make sticks for himself and spiralled from there
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