I have just about completed the replacement of all my chisel handles. In the
beginning... well...

I had a bunch of beautiful apricot wood, and I used it to make a mess of
identical handles. That got really boring. And, after 10 or more years, all but
a few of them cracked. So I decided to go for all the beauty I could muster.
Many different woods, white, red, purple, brown, etc,. but just one style.
Schlagring handles. I like this better, and I won't get bored with the
uniformity. I haven't had time to take pictures of all of them yet, but here is
what I have so far.

https://plus.google.com/photos/102358420595488787966/albums/60426466884
33909009">https://plus.google.com/photos/102358420595488787966/albums/6042646688
433909009


On Aug 26, 2014, at 9:28 AM, Gary Katsanis  wrote:

> Maple is usually fairly hard, which is good for handles and allows for a
smooth
> finish.  Maple can be brittle, but the twists in the curly grain usually hold
it together.
> 
> If I wanted a maple handle for impact use, I would insure that it has curly
grain
> throughout to avoid splitting.  Jim Thompson got where he is with handles by
> making a ton of them.
> 
> Make your handles.  Make mistakes, make better handles, and use up all that
> maple!! Then come back and teach us all.
> 
> Gary Katsanis
> Albion NY, USA
> (Hoping to learn from others' mistakes as I won't live long enough to make
> all those mistakes myself.)
> 
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: 	[OldTools] Curly Maple for chisel handles
> From: 	Ron Harper 
> 
> 
> Have quite a few very old Buck Bros and Chas Buck chisels. A hodge podge of
handles.
> Turning a uniform set of handles is on my to do list. I love curly maple and
have quite a
> bit of it. Anybody use it for chisels? Comments?
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
> 
> To change your subscription options:
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
> 
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archi
ve/faq.html
> 
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/">http://swingleydev.com/archive/
> 
> OldTools@r...
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools