Making octagon shaped handles- tips? jigs?

butcher_block said:
nope but it will get your the 45 degree angle and you jsut grind and taper the angles till the sides are even (if thats what you are after )
or keep your 45s and make the sides taller then the top/bottom
Click to expand...

That's unneccesary work if equal sides are what your after, cutting it right to begin with would be a lot easier.

To get an equal sided octagon. Looking at your cross section of a 4 sided piece, find the center by drawing a line from corner to corner creating an X. The length of half the diagonal is what you use to measure across the face from each edge, each direction. Now connect those dots and you will have an equal sided octagon.

If you want it tapered draw out a smaller square on the opposite end to the size you want and repeat the steps above. So you can set your goal and not have to constantly measure your sides. Make your cuts as if it weren't tapered, then sand the taper to the marks.
 
Just for show this is the handle Ive done. Gonna try a few more and test out some different sizes and methods.

Crappy sell pic - Rosewood, Copper, curly Maple

IMG_0486.jpg
 
st8yd said:
That's unneccesary work if equal sides are what your after, cutting it right to begin with would be a lot easier.

To get an equal sided octagon. Looking at your cross section of a 4 sided piece, find the center by drawing a line from corner to corner creating an X. The length of half the diagonal is what you use to measure across the face from each edge, each direction. Now connect those dots and you will have an equal sided octagon.

If you want it tapered draw out a smaller square on the opposite end to the size you want and repeat the steps above. So you can set your goal and not have to constantly measure your sides. Make your cuts as if it weren't tapered, then sand the taper to the marks.
Click to expand...

That is how these were done. The closer to dead square you start with, the better, and use a sharp pointed pencil for the lines.

Picture115.jpg


Picture049.jpg
 
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