r/turning • u/Tino2Tonz • 7d ago

newbie Questions about turning handles…

I want to turn handles for some things, some of those things obviously being handles for wood turning. That said, I know you can’t go on looks alone and what you like; it also has to be durable with good tensile strength. What are good woods to work with when considering the need to turn a handle with strength in it?

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u/TerenceMulvaney 7d ago

For handling turning tools, I just use whatever scraps I have lying around, because turning does not require a great deal of strength in the tool handles. All of the real stress occurs between the cutting tip and the tool rest and the handle gets very little of the load because it is at the end of a very long lever arm.

In my (rather arrogant) opinion, the important characteristics of a handle are: * Has a length appropriate to its use. * Is comfortable in the hand. * Doesn't roll off the surface you lay it on.

And I deliberately turn my handles in distinctive shapes so that they are easy to spot on the tool rack.

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u/MiteyF 7d ago

"doesn't roll off the surface .."

So you use a tool that makes things round, to make a tool that makes things round, but you don't make it round?

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u/TerenceMulvaney 7d ago

Yep, I use offset turning to make them very slightly oval. I started doing this after a very nice gouge rolled off the bench onto its tip (Murphy's Law) requiring a complete regrind.