How To Make A Knob Without a Lathe

[@davidcoxon1914]

That looked almost impossible until I saw you do it. You have inspired me to make more use of hand tools on my projects and my few bits of projects over the. Last few days have been a lot of fun and more successful than I expected. Thanks for the “enjoy the journey” message

[@romulusclay6697]

I really like that you have to channels, one video with no narration is very enjoyable to watch and then if I have a question I can bounce over to the narrated channel. I think that's a great set up Bravo

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks. I think it's working out pretty well I'm looking forward to making the full change over here soon.

[@gohawks3571]

This is perfect! Gotten into crafts lately, but having an issue with knobs. I didn't know how to do it, so thanks!

[@michaelgardner9394]

I’m super glad and happy that I got the chance to somehow be involved in this process. I’m really liking the Wood by Wright II channel. And to hear how happy you were to do this project just solidifies that I made the “Wright” choice by asking you to take on this project. You da man!!!!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks man. This is the phone one. Hope you have fun with it in the future.

[@benjaminfrayser4392]

OMG! I have a similar project that on a lathe would go real fast (probably). Now I can stop putting it off! Thanks, James!

[@paulhasser625]

Thanks, James, I have been wondering how to make knobs without a lathe. This is perfect!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

thanks Paul. my pleasure!

[@soofihasan]

You are amazing, whatever i want to make, you have a video on it. God bless you man, thank you for everything you do here

[@Thom4123]

Beautiful work James. When you pulled the knob out of the blo it just brings it to a awesome finish. Take Care

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I love what BLO can do to wood. Just brings out the best parts.

[@MabruBlack]

This is actually great for me! I want some custom wooden knobs, but haven’t found any that I like. I do have some solid wood poles that I might try this on, thanks for sharing!

[@bbrachman]

I have been waiting for a video like this. The secret; blue painters tape on the saw. Simple. Why didn't I think of that. The depth of cut is consistent all the way around the cylindrical shape. Thanks James. (PS: Shellac is my favorite finish. Those little bugs sure know how to make a great finish)

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks man. I can't remember where I saw the tape on the saw trick but it sure does make it easy.

[@nikmabc]

Just a thought on grain orientation. Having it perpendicular to the length of the plane might look odd. A tip I read about wearing a tie clip is to angle it down. It doesn't "cut" the tie in half and focuses on the vertical. Also it blends the jacket line to the tie a bit. So in this case, would having the grain follow the length or have it slightly angle have a better look?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

traditionally that would be the way to go. but it would look odd with zebra wood. that one looks better to see the stripes on the side. or at least to me it does, but in the end structurally it does not matter it is just aesthetics and that is up to the user.

[@selsyn73]

Thanks for sharing this video. I was searching for ideas on making a handle for a drill bit awl. Now I have a plan!

[@alexanderralph2504]

Having a lot of fun with rasps at the moment! They work so quickly with none of the waste just using sandpaper results in! Few more diff shaped rasps for me to keep a look out for. The blue tape on the saw, crazy simple, buy had never thought of that!! Always getting new tips and inspiration, thankyou!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

thanks! they are so much fun once you get a handle of them. LOL pun intended.

[@RonMack07]

That was awesome I feel like I can tackle that task I want to make a tote and handle for my # 4 Stanley plane to replace the knarley ones that it came with that's the last step in the restoration process.

[@inukpak]

"Everything in the shop is just a jig for a chisel..." 🤯... Seriously, the simplicity of that is mind-bending. Beautiful work! I'm just starting to restore my grandfather's depression-era planes, so I've got a couple questions: Why put BLO on under the shellac? and how long did it have to dry in between applying the BLO and the shellac? I used tung oil on the first plane I restored with nothing over it. The remaining planes had shellac on them, so I've scraped it off and am planning on putting some fresh shellac on, but want to maintain the color of the wood. Should I put tung oil under it or just straight to shellac? (I've heard tung tends to darken the color of the wood less than BLO.)

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks. I like the way BLO brings out the natural color of the wood. So I tend to use it on most of my project. The Shellac alone just leaves the wood a little bit dull in my opinion. So putting that underneath brings out the color a little bit more. As to tongue oil that really depends on which recipe you have. Historically tongue oil has many many different mixtures. Most of them are just BLO plus something else.

[@brianross6818]

This video will be very useful to me! I just picked up a Stanley 4, and 5 1/2 with no knob or tote.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Sweet. Next week I'll probably be doing the tote.

[@brianross6818]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Looking forward to seeing that video.

[@jwydubak9673]

Thanks, a lot. I am making a tote for my No.5 from plum wood. (I bought the plane for half the price because the plastic tote was broken.) I've got enough wood to make the knob too and now I know how.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Glad I could help. Don't have too much fun

[@vinzwec]

Thank you for this video 🙏🏼 I'm about to finish my own knobs ...I wonder how much time passed between the application of the linseed oil and the first application of shellac?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Between the BLO and the shellac was a couple of hours. Once the blo is mostly dry to the touch, the shellac can go on. You can actually put it on wet if you really want to.

[@vinzwec]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo allright! ..it´s my first time using shellac.. thank you very much ❤

[@nichellewalton2926]

Looks incredible! What can I use instead of linseed oil? My child is allergic to it.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

You can use any finish you want. Stanley used shellac.

[@KipIngram]

That's absolutely gorgeous. James, you've made a boiled linseed oil lover out of me, for sure. Now you've got me thinking about making a replacement stick shift knob for my Porsche Cayman. :-)

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That sounds like a fun little project.

[@ericstoever9577]

Thank you for sharing! Theres always something to learn, always something to share.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Right on. Thanks Eric.

[@taab7]

How long should one wait for the boiled linseed oil to dry/cure before applying the Shellac?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

With shellac you can put it on as soon as it's dry to the touch. Sometimes I put on in just a couple hours.

[@justplanebob105]

My Stanley 45 came with an extra fence that has no knob. I have some rosewood cutoffs from Marimba bars that will make a very nice knob. But how can I make the threads on the inside of the old style (no screw) knob? I don't have a tap that big.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That is very hard to find. There are a few taps out there designed for it but they are hard to come by. I do not know of anyone right now who has one.

[@justplanebob105]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo So is it wrong to just epoxy the knob on permanently?

[@markharris5771]

This is an incredibly useful video. It’s incredible how often you need a cylinder, I want to make some customised bench dogs and there’s lots her for the basic construction. I was going to try and use my drill press (power tool sorry) as a lathe, but my skill level and confidence isn’t there yet. Great hints for how to use shellac as well. As always a really enjoyable and valuable video. Thank you very much.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks Mark. It's amazing what you can do with a little bit of time and effort.

[@artrobert0875]

Thats an awesome plane! Never seen a knob function like that!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

It is a fun one. I'll be showing it off more on Thursday.

[@artrobert0875]

looking forward to it!

[@censusgary]

Putting tape on one side of the file to make a “semi-safe edge” is a good idea. I hadn’t thought of that.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

wish I could take credit for it. not sure where I first saw it but it works well.

[@alexzioek9680]

Good work! A joy too look at the process and results are amazing!

[@Musicpins]

This is great, I love hand tools, thanks for inspiration James :))

[@sj_harris]

Bravo that man :) I picked up a knackered Stanley 5 1/2 the other week. Had to completely regrind and sharpen the blade, and works like a charm now. Buuuut the handles (‘knob’ and ‘tote’ I’ve learned this morning ) are plastic :( Just gross! This has got me thinking... have some oak planks upstairs.... Thanks James!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Sounds like fun!

[@woodworkerroyer8497]

This may be a dumb question, but were there hand powered drill presses? I feel like there had to be, but I dont think I've ever seen or heard of one.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Yes. I actually have one. Their generally called post drills. But in this case it's just faster to drill a hole by eye then to use a drill press.

[@woodworkerroyer8497]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Cool. Thanks for the info. Maybe that will be my next purchase....

[@matthewezell1911]

That is some beautiful work and not nearly as extensive as some folks think it is. I can't wait to see the tote completed. I have an idea (that has probably already crossed your mind, but I'll say it anyway). When you finish the tote, why not go ahead and do an instructional video on that plane? I had never even heard of a Stanley 10 1/4 before I saw this video. Again, great job.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks Matt. I will probably be demoing this tool on Thursday. It definitely needs an entire video.

[@billtiffin8298]

Thanks for the video James

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

my pleasure!

[@soberlivingwithbrianfrankl8254]

Loved the edit of how u showed u stroping the gouge but u could tell that the knob wasn't to that point... you was shaping the bottom and in the shot the top of it wasnt even rounded yet haha. That was slick hahahaha. I wonder who else noticed that 🤔 hahahaha very nice tho. I jusy glued up a blank for the making of my new knob.

[@phildodd9942]

These wonderful adventures are always so inspirational ! Now all I have to do is to go to the secondhand tool supplier in Leominster, buy a Stanley 10 1 / 4 plane, and throw away the knob so that I have to make another one ! Zebrawood ? A native hardwood of Central America ? Some made it all the way to Canada ? That might not be so easy in the UK ? About these dad jokes that you keep telling - I'm scratching my head about those ! Then I end up with my fingers full of splinters ! Thanks for another great video !

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

LOL thanks Phil! ya I have to special order in zebra wood.

[@reforzar]

Nice work. Love the wood.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

thanks Brian!

[@domainmojo2162]

That wood is beautiful! Looks chocolatey... What is that?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I was Using Zebra wood. the old one is rose wood.

[@clarencemeyers9078]

why did you cut the groove on the bottom inline with the glue joint?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

because I wanted to show the "eye the grain created on the front. and with the glue used in this wood it really does not make a difference which direction it goes.

[@thegingerdrumtech4253]

great video

[@Zogg1281]

Wow, I love how you just sum it all up at the end and say how you love how you can use any you have to make it and you can end up with a nob that lools just like the original..... except in Zebra wood......... so, umm, all I have available is pine and I can make a nob that looks like the original but in Zebra wood!!! Sweet!!! 😋😂👍👍

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol thanks. I have seen pine knobs and totes. They sent easily but work well.

[@feltonite]

That zebra wood is beautiful!

[@Hengry-hn7rb]

What wood were you using for this knob?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That one was zebra wood.

[@Hengry-hn7rb]

Thanks bud beautiful work👍

[@hassanal-mosawi6049]

Well done, thanks for sharing that

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

my pleasure. thanks!

[@FredMcIntyre]

Nice work James! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks Fred.

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

Love the shellac finish! I like shiny woods :p

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

It is a very satisfying finish.

[@HeartPumper]

Yummy, that zebra wood reminds me of ... a zebra cake ... 😀 It's gonna be aesthetical feast with matching tote. Lovely baked... yeah, so you see, people got even culinary connotations with your videos 😁. Bravo!! Great little project!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol thanks. Never thought about that but it sounds good.

[@lildragon9743]

is your lathe foot powerd

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Yes all 3 of mine are.

[@censusgary]

“Every tool is just a jig to hold a chisel.” Come to think of it, that’s true. Well, not every tool- not a hammer or a tape measure- but it’s pretty much true of every tool that cuts anything.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

LOL I should clarify. Every tool that cuts the wood.

[@tonyminehan2323]

I couldn't find this video (talking) and just went ahead with a handful of files and made a knob. Mistake number 1) I cut the knob to length ( I was being cheap with the wood). Other than that it turned out pretty well, so well, I'm just know I'm going to end up making a couple more ( leaving a bit extra wood this time ) Next will be the handle (tote).

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Sweetness. Sounds like a fun time.

[@sean9462]

another no lathe person here, so thank you.

[@davogifman542]

You're not sure why you've had an increase of inquiries about knobs for planes. My guess is because a new plane around $150.00 an a used one is $10.00 to $20.00. That would be my first guess!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

LOL something like that!

[@icespeckledhens]

It looks very good and nice to see it all done, like we did 50 years ago, by hand. However, many of these vintage planes are antique and worth a lit of money, as long as they have all original parts and have not been subjected to abrasives. I see too many which have been renovated with deep abrasive scratches and some have noticeably thinner sides or even repainted, they are now worthless to collectors.

[@Ham68229]

Next time, don't cut the knob off the block before you drill the hole. Use the entire block to help mark the hole and drilling becomes a bit easier to do. Plus you don't have to worry about "blow out", hole is drilled, just simply cut it off afterwards. I like the color of the wood used, really pops. Cheers :)

[@strenyaletus9621]

Wow, how on earth did you make that in less than 14 minutes? Just incredible.

[@QlueDuPlessis]

That "dad" joke at the end... My house needs door knobs. I don't have zeebra wood but I do have plenty of garden refuse.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

that sounds like a fantastic idea!

[@BogdanKhmelnitsky-r3m]

Прикольная зебра и ручная работа!

[@ChrisStCyr-gnt7]

This popped up as a suggested video. Kind of scary Google knows how much I’ve been using my quarter century old Stanley #5 since I’ve learned to sharpen it well. Last night, I was thinking about replacing the plastic knob and tote with wooden ones. Note the question is what kind of woods do I want to use.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Has two type of wood it is really up to you. Most any hardwood will work fine traditionally Rosewood was the wood of choice but a lot of people like making something special that speaks to them.

[@donttouchmycoffee]

Less than an hour??? With my inferior tools and know how, I've already spent 6 hours and am just now about half way! I'm not giving up though. Once this mahogany knob is done, I have to do a walnut one too!

[@davogifman542]

In other words. Get the bottom as spot-on as you can,and get the rest; comfortable for your hands. Nuff said!

[@neilbrowne-ty9zl]

thanks I dont have Mc. Caffery-esque workshop...not even a shed.

[@AndreiIR000]

Excellent work as usual. However I find it amusing that you used a "power tool" -> 02:30

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol one of these days I need to get a dial caliper

[@AndreiIR000]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo next phase would be candles instead of electric lights :)))

[@WoodByWright]

@@AndreiIR000 LOL I already have a hand crank camera!

[@KJLord-zy5yq]

I actually have a Miller's Falls #4 that's missing a knob. Thanks for showing me how to make one!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

thanks. don't have too much fun!

[@maineiacacres]

SWEET!

[@myrawright282]

Ok Zebra wood is 🤯❣️

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I know right!

[@TheLizzardlicks]

zebra wood mmmmmmmmmmmmmmyummy as !,where do you get it from ?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

it is cool stuff! the guy I am making it for sent a block along for this. but it is generally something you have to order in.

[@soledude]

👏👏👏

[@steveakka]

👍

[@mattf9096]

You could've used your spring pole lathe for this job. I don't think it would've come out any better, but I feel that with all the work you put into that tool you should use it more on camera. I do understand that not many people have a lathe and this way is more useful to a lot of your viewers... but you built that lathe and there's no reason you shouldn't use it for applicable tasks. That's just my two cents.....good job tho.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I would have, but I have had several questions recently on how to do it with out a lathe, and there are so many videos out there doing it with a lathe that it would not have made for a very good stand alone video. plus with setting up the lathe and everything involved with that this was actually faster in the end.

[@Xorobabel]

I have to wonder if Mr. Sellers himself didn't get a few tips from this video.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol his would have been done much faster and been a much better finish.

[@Xorobabel]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo You should see the video he made a few weeks ago about making a knob without a lathe. Obviously Paul is Paul ("the master"), but I think he actually pulled some ideas from your video.

[@henners9901]

I made a zebrano knob for a no.5 and it's the most horrible looking thing! Old rosewood ones are ubiquitous and gorgeous

[@matthewsnowdon8530]

I sat and restained the whole workshop today and after I finished i was just fiddling around with scrap wood chiseling just random crap for no reason was so fun but pointless lol

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I love those times in the shop!

[@stevebettany8778]

A lot less scary than turning it on my pillar drill.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol yes so true. Those videos always freak me out.

[@glitchyglitch1235]

It would probably be faster to make a bad lathe with a hand drill than that. Still a nice video.

[@adri1leusha]

10 minutes into the video, still wondering what car he's gonna put it in

[@walterrider9600]

thank you James neat stuff . lol depressing

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol thanks!

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

-or you could make a lathe. A functioning wood lathe is a simple machine.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have 2 wood lathes and one metal lathe.

[@dinobianco4929]

Ma perché gli statunitensi amano parlare tanto?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Ho un intero canale in cui faccio questi senza parlare. Ecco qui. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYTViKKheJ2qd6c

[@karelgericke3858]

Time is money my friend, what if you must make ten of those. The time wasted what you could use to make a profit on other project would have paid for a good second hand little layth. 🤔

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Who said anything about making a profit. This is just for the fun of it. sometimes you do things the hard way because it's more enjoyable. Oddly enough I have three layths, but generally this is the way I do it instead.

[@karelgericke3858]

The hard way can be the last way if you loose a hand with that unsafe chain, grinder monster saw. Why would you risk your safety for doing things the hard way. The hard way only exists if there was no real chainsaw on the market.If the manufacturer of chainsaws which are highly skilled professionals thought it was safe to make an attachment for a grinder to convert it into a chainsaw they would have done so. The refs are different, the power are different and the safety are different, theres no automatic kick off switch on a grinder if the thing/monster hit a bad spot in wood.play safe Boet, don't play Macgiver stuff it's dangerous. 👍