Easiest way to put a handle on ferro rods?

Stormstaff

Stormstaff

Joined
Dec 14, 2007
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I bought some blanks awhile back and I figured I'd just cut some pieces of dowel down, drill them, epoxy them and ta dah, handles.

What's the best way to "shape" them? Just wondering if there's an easy way to do it that for some reason I can't wrap my poor little brain around.
 
Find some ice fishing foam rod handle blanks and use those! Hole already in them, and lighter than wood.
 
I epoxied one to the side of a spy capsule, giving waterproof tinder storage and providing a handle. I let the rod over-run the end of the capsule, so the full length can be struck for sparks.

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Stormstaff said:
I bought some blanks awhile back and I figured I'd just cut some pieces of dowel down, drill them, epoxy them and ta dah, handles.

What's the best way to "shape" them? Just wondering if there's an easy way to do it that for some reason I can't wrap my poor little brain around.
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have you got a belt sander? That would be the easiest method.
 
I drill a hole in the end and put a key ring through them so you can even hang them around your neck. I dont like the moulded grips they have on them and just cut them off.
 
Here is one C Bryant did for me, the most comfortable handle I`ve used. Shoot him a PM, he can tell you how to do it.

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How about putting the dowel in a drill (clamped to a bench) and using it like a lathe? I've thought of doing this for a few things that I haven't got around to yet.

Sandpaper wrapped around a screwdriver shaft would possibly make a good tool then for working the dowel. Just don't go too fast.

If the dowel is large, it might take some inventiveness to get it in the chuck though...
 
Go to a hobby place or craft section of a large store and check out their large beads. I found large wood ones with a 1/4" hole that fit small rods.
 
Trentu has the easiest way. If you want something more rustic - find a stick the right size (dead but not punky) and cut of a section - whittle it into the shape you want - and then drill out a portion (1/4 inch works) and epoxy it in place.

TF
 
I tend to recycle stuff. I cut this from an old broken pool cue handle.
Shaped it on the bench sander but a belt sander would do the same thing.
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I need to drill a hole for a lanyard but it works well. I left it a little bigger for use with gloves on.
 
Stormstaff said:
I bought some blanks awhile back and I figured I'd just cut some pieces of dowel down, drill them, epoxy them and ta dah, handles.

What's the best way to "shape" them? Just wondering if there's an easy way to do it that for some reason I can't wrap my poor little brain around.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kick in the butt I needed to get this project off the ground....I've been thinking of doing this long enough, so this morning....here we are.
Somebody say big bead?.....this is gonna be one big bead...the rod is a big ole honker, 5" x 3/8".
I cut up some Osage scraps, drilled the holes a wee bit larger than the rod, epoxied everything together, and vised it....now we try to leave it alone for a few hours...
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24 hrs. later, 10 min. on the belt sander, some hand sanding, Danish oil, all done....
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If you have the tools you could drill a hole then thread both the rod and the handle. That way you could change handles if you wanted or even replace the rod. I don't know if it would be necessary since they tend to last so long but it's a suggestion.

David
 
You don't need any special tools. Just an SAK! (And some superglue or epoxy). Just pick your wood, carve out the rough shape you want (you can sand it by hand if you don't want that rustic look), then use the awl on the sak to drill the hole. (The Farmer awl drills a hole that is the perfect size for both the smaller sized ferro rod and for paracord.) Then glue it up!

Here's one the awl drilled, but the wood was a little thing I got at Micheal's. Cheap and easy.
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rayban said:
Thanks for the kick in the butt I needed to get this project off the ground....I've been thinking of doing this long enough, so this morning....here we are.
Somebody say big bead?.....this is gonna be one big bead...the rod is a big ole honker, 5" x 3/8".
I cut up some Osage scraps, drilled the holes a wee bit larger than the rod, epoxied everything together, and vised it....now we try to leave it alone for a few hours...
Click to expand...

That is gonna look great! I have several branches from my parents osage trees in my basement waiting to do the same!!! I like the multi-layered idea. :thumbup:
 
Here is how I do it. I cut up scap wood into little blocks, draw a rough shape on them, and cut them out on my band saw. Drill the hole for the blank. Then I just use really gritty sand paper taped to a piece of steel conduit (you can use anything cylindrical). Once I have it shaped with the rough sandpaper I just switch to finer and finer paper until it feels done. A little mineral oil, and presto!

Block with shape drawn on and block after cutting out the shape.
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Finished Product
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I find that turning them on a lathe gives really good results. Here is one that I recently made:

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I found that the hardest part of dong the whole thing was drilling the hole straight. I find it helps to have two people, one to man the drill and one to get down and look at it from eye level to make sure the drill is straight. A drill press can also make this way easier.
 
Spooky that's one of those wooden eggs I saw last time I was in there! I got them last year for the laying hens, 1 per nest gets them thinking about it!
 
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