Woodturning Projects - Why a File Handle is a Good Place to Start

Most of us who turn wood come from a woodworking background in flat work. The wood lathe opens up a new world of woodworking with new tools that have their own learning curve and the preferred way to learn is to turn simple projects. A file handle meets the basic criteria of a woodturning project for learning purposes in being inexpensive, entertaining, and useful as a finished item as well as teaching important skills in basic woodturning.

All that is needed for a file handle is a square of wood and, if desired, a scrap piece of copper pipe for a ferrule. The tools that are used are the roughing gouge to reduce the wood square to round; a parting tool to determine the finished diameters, reduce the ferrule section and part off the handle; and a spindle gouge to leave a finger groove for comfort.

A trip to the woodpile should give a suitable piece of wood for the handle. In fact, since a square of about 1 1/4" will be sufficient, a piece of ash or maple will likely supply three or four appropriate blocks. Just a few minutes at the band saw or other cutting station and the wood should be ready to go.

Mark the centres on each end mount the wood between spur center at the head stock of the wood lathe and the tail stock at the other end. Make sure the wood will clear the tool rest before turning on the lathe. There will be some discussion among wood turners as to what the appropriate speed should be, but basically the speed with which you are comfortable is a good one to use. For things this size 1200 rpm is likely good to start.

The roughing gouge is used to turn the wood to a rough cylinder. In conjunction with a measuring gauge, the parting tool is used to determine the final diameters of the butt end, hand grip, finger grip, and ferrule. Either the roughing gouge or the spindle gouge can be used to cut to the final surface but the spindle gouges will generally give a smoother texture and can be used for all the shaping or for the final cut before sanding.

The finger section gives a comfortable feel to the tool and is coved with the spindle gouge. This is the section that really emphasizes cutting with the grain and is a valuable learning place for new wood turners. Similarly the ferrule section needs precise cutting with the parting tool to precisely fit the pipe section. After a quick sanding and finish on the lathe with a bit of shellac, if desired, it can then be parted off and another one mounted.

One of the delights of a woodturning project like this is giving it away to a woodworking friend. Most commercial file handles are miserable to use and a poor fit to most hands so this is a welcome addition to any woodworker's tool kit. Also, the gratitude is usually more than sufficient to inspire the next one and the one after that. After all, in woodturning as in most other things, practise makes perfect, or at least close.