Hand tools for handle making.

godfrd824 · Feb 20, 2013

So I'm trying to remake a handle for a French knife, so far I have a Dremel and some cutting bits, and it's just not working, the bit jumps around too much, I can't consistently remove material. What hand tools do I need to make this happen? I bought some Poplar scales, I figured it'd be easy to start with.

r-winter · Feb 20, 2013

A four in hand rasp for removing the wood( the name is actually "four in hand"), some sandpaper of say, 100x 220x 400x grits.
Three sheets of each should be fine.
Forget the dremel for now.
That should cover your basic needs.
Also feel free to correct me anybody.
Cheers!
-Owen

OHALLUM · Feb 20, 2013

The only thing you might add is a good coping saw to get the basic shape down before the filing and sanding. Will save a lot of time. Slow and easy is the key.

Blessings,

Omar

Rich S · Feb 20, 2013

As said, a coping saw to rough out design; wood rasps/files for rough shaping. I use a Dremel with the sanding drums with great success; then sand paper of decreasing grit to finish.

Rich

Zemapeli · Mar 2, 2013

Rich S said:
As said, a coping saw to rough out design; wood rasps/files for rough shaping. I use a Dremel with the sanding drums with great success; then sand paper of decreasing grit to finish.

Rich

The things i could make with a dremel.. :thumbup:

BIG MAC · Mar 2, 2013

I'm a third on the Coping Saw. I just made a handle for my Ontario RAK. Make sure you saw them together and sand them together, as one unit, that way they are perfectly even. I also used a Wood Planer to take material off quicker, going with the grain. I did not have many power tools, so it was a lot of hand work, but very satisfying in the end. I even used stainless steel hardware I found at my local hardware store to secure the handle. Good Luck.

pmeisel · Mar 2, 2013

I use a wood rasp and power sander to get to rough shape, then a combination of mill bastard files and hand sanding.

Just remember you can take material off but you can't add it back on. So take your time.

phillipsted · Mar 3, 2013

I found a really nice brand of Japanese rasps - they are manufactured by a company called Iwasaki. They call them "carving files" or "plane maker's floats" and are actually like little tiny block planes milled into the surface of the file. They remove material as fast as a rasp, but leave you with a smooth surface like a file. Absolutely great tools. I've accumulated a set of more than 10 over the past couple of years. They are fantastic.

TedP