I have been wanting to learn about offset wood turning and I finally found a project: making a wood handle for a ball pein hammer head that I found in a thrift shop in Kerrville, Texas.
Wow! Heck of a job! Love the old wood and the knot. If you don’t trust the wood, hang it on the wall. I wouldn’t change a thing. Much character in that hammer. Subscribed.
Nicely done indeed. So good to see a hammer handle,or any handle for that matter with the grain layers running parallel to the axis of the tool. So many handles you buy in hardware shops these days have the grain layers perpendicular to the tool axis then people wonder why the split along the grain when used. Well done.
I like it Cip!!! Simple straightforward by you--why I like your stuff so much. You know you can buy a specific type of wood-it's not illegal to buy wood!
Howdy Lee! Yes, this was a good learning experience for me and I think it turn out well. I always hope to do more video but it sometimes takes me a while. Cheers.
Howdy Webslinger! Often it is difficult to find a project that holds my attention long enough to finish production. I am always looking for my next project. Kind Regards.
This was a very useful guide, overall. Thank you! It ought to save me a whole mess of time over carving and shaping each one with hand tools, that's for sure... I frequently find tools without handles, and it's been a hobby of mine this year to give them new life. I don't get enough use out of my wood lathe, and this will be good. Again, my thanks!
Howdy Eltearbor! This was interesting for me. I watched many off-center turning videos. I wanted to do something practical that I could use in the shop. Cheers.
Greeting Robin! I too was wondering how it was done and I was sure I could figure it out. The next one should be easier and I get better wood. Kind Regards
A good video - it is a nice job to do to restore an old tool. I have made three of these now out of ash and I find it useful to leave an inch or so at each end, bigger diameter than the handle will be, to make plenty of room for the offset centres to be spaced out but still not too near the edge of the turning. These bigger end pieces are just sawn off to finish the job.
Howdy Bill! An excellent idea and something am considering for the next handle. The small end was my problem. It was barely large enough to turn safety. All the Best.
Greetings Bram, I hope you enjoyed the video. It has been a while. I have a difficult time finding good projects. I don't what to do the same thing everyone else is doing. I will be looking for the next project. Cheers
Thanks for the informative video. I just made a dead blow mallet for my wife. For the handle, I used rectangular teak. The small dimension was the same as the handle small dimension. I'll give offset turning a shot for my next hammer or mallet project.
Hi Cip, I just found your channel and really enjoyed your video. There's a tip I'd like to share with you that I learned back in high school shop class. My dad had an old ball peen with a broken handle. It was a big ol' hammer probably about 2-1/2 to 3#. Anyway, I took it into school to make a new handle for him. I was just going to make a round handle but the teacher showed me how to do offset turning. And here's the tip he gave me... when marking for the centers, use a drill to cut holes for the centers. For the drive center, use a band saw or hacksaw to cut grooves for the drive flanges. It'll give them better purchase in the wood and keep the centers from jumping and/or drifting if the offsets are too close to the other holes. BTW, I just subscribed and I can't wait to see your next project.
Greeting Mike! Good tips. I hope to make at least one mode video this year(2017). I do have a gallery of 83 videos. You may find a video of interest there. Kind Regards.
Cip I notice a safety action that you use that NOT many do these days. That you removed your ring before starting the machine work, thank you, I enjoy doing interesting lathe work, I viewed a channel of a gent that turned a Knife on a metal lathe his channel is "Mehamozg"
Good job Cip! I enjoyed the turn and especially the way you walk us and yourself through your first off center turn. I've played around with it a couple times but never on a real project. I use a small Jet midi lathe and am wanting to buy a larger machine. The DVR is one of my top machines.machines. They are better than VFDs in my mind. Happy Thanksgiving.
Hey there Charlie! I greatly enjoy my Nova DVR. The speed control is fantastic: Rpm is constant. It never slows down. I still have my Jet mini lathe. It does not get much use. Take care.
Excellent! I really enjoyed this/your video. It quashed just about all of my doubts and anxieties.... Now, it's time to grab a stick and whittle away. I found a hammer the same weight, length, etc....: the dimensions are the same as the ones that you laid out. I wondered about the different styles of handles: whether it's for a "machinist", "engineer", "blacksmith", silversmith, etc. I guess there are reasons for the differences. Also, in that line of handles, I've noticed that oak is the species, most called out.??? Maybe because of its stiffness??? ...higher degree of control...at the cost of vibration (causing carpal tunnel syndrome...I heard was common to blacksmiths). I ain't no tradesman.
Howdy Joseph! Yes, there are differences. The claw hammer handle comes to mind. Claw Hammer handles need to be strong because through leverage they are used to pull nails. Machinist hammers rely mostly on velocity. Blacksmith hammer handles rely on brute force; thick handles with heavy heads, cheers.
This is awesome! What would happen if you had a sacrificial half inch at each end to cut some off for each turning? You could do all of the measuring at once, maybe drill tiny pilots to guide and keep the measurements? The center pin hole thats left would be to center it for sanding with a band sander maybe?
Very interesting, always wanted to turn oval , you could put some Swel -lock in the end of the handle to swell the wood to hard on tight. Check it out.
Would it help to draw a pencil line lengthwise down the high sides as a reference? You'd know your offset cuts are deep enough when they get to the line...
What about using calipers, set to the diameter you need? Just let them ride in the groove while using the parting tool. When the caliper slips over the wood it has reached the correct size. No need to stop the lathe every time to measure.
Nice job with the hammer handle Cip. I’m a neophyte turner and appreciate you sharing your techniques. I noticed the computer drawing in this and your super clamp video. Would you mind sharing the name of the software that you use? Thanks
Howdy Dave! I did these drawings with Serif DrawPlus X8. The program was replaced by Serif Affinity Designer. These are drawing-art programs not CAD engineering programs. I can send you a PDF. Send an email to cipmendez19@gmail.com Cheers
Howdy Darren! I did sharpen the gouge during the offset turning. I have to confess I am out of practice. I have not turned anything in seven months. Cheers.
Well done Cip. Thanks to you and your videos I've learned a lot. I'm 70 and just learning wood turning. It's a lot of fun, and with your help I've learned a lot. What computer program do you use for your drawings? Thanks again. Bama Gord.
It didn't turn out to bad for your first time at offset turning. The only thing that I have noticed the you use all of your tools as scrapers, you are not running the bevel and use the cutting edge.
Howdy Bruce! That is very true about me and scrapers. I learned to turn wood in Jr. High and we only had scrapers and parting tools. Every time I pick up a gouge I have to practice and learn it again. I am by no means an expert. Cheers.
