How to make a metal handle on your lathe. With only basic tooling. Part 5 of Post Drill Restoration.

[@joell439]

Nice experiment and great results using basic tooling. 👍👍😎👍👍

[@EnoRestoration]

First time is always the most interesting….! I look forward to doing it again sometime and making some improvements. Thank you!

[@justgoballistic]

Screw a stud into the end, mount it in a hand drill and go after it on the stone and the Scotch Brite wheel. That's how I sharpen my center punches and awls.

[@EnoRestoration]

Good idea, thank you!

[@moosesmachinery]

If you kept after it with the file you could have saved yourself some time. A proper lathe file is a god send. For stuff like that I use coarse emery paper on the lathe to clean up after the file. With a little care and practice you will have next to no time on a grinder.

[@EnoRestoration]

My file(s) didn't seem up to the task so I switched over to the grinder... Although I just picked up a file brush at the New England Dragway swap meet last weekend so I'll try and clean them a bit and see if their cut improves. I'm looking forward to making my next handle, it will be easier for sure.

[@moosesmachinery]

@@EnoRestoration I've always used a brass rod to clean the stubborn bits out of my files. It works well but is still slow. Better files don't seem to load up as bad, but talc or soap stone rubbed in reduces loading quite a bit.