A Simple CNC Rotary Axis Project. A Lathe Tool Handle.

Oak handle for a parting tool

This handle design is a close copy of one I made while in my first college furniture design class.  All students were given a tool with no handle, and challenged to design and make their own handles for them.  Mine was a parting tool.  This project is also for a parting tool.

Handle and Blade

All projects made from wood require some prep work, and this was no exception. First came finding some wood scraps long enough and wide enough.  Job done.  Next came gluing them together to get close to the final thickness I was after.  Job done. Scrape off any dried glue that oozed out, then joint one side square to the front and back faces.  Jobs done.  Next to my table saw to rip the block to just a bit wider than 1.5".   To mount it on my rotary axis I glued a 1.5" diameter circle of plywood to one end with some paper between the plywood and board end. The center was carefully marked on the other end.  Then a 1/8" hole, 1/8" deep was drilled in the center.  This for the tailstock to pierce.   

First step after mounting it on my radial axis was to turn the square block into a cylinder. That was done with a pocket toolpath at 0 depth, spanning across the surface. As the rotary axis spun this toolpath trimmed off the high corners, leaving a nice straight cylinder. 

The ferrule end was done with a pocket toolpath.  The contoured surface was done with a moulding toolpath and a ball nosed bit. 

Done with the initial slope.

Over the hump and almost done.

CNC is done.

Once the CNC was done with its work, I took the block out to my mini lathe to sand smooth and trim off the back end. 

Handle and the tool it will hold.

A 12mm hole was needed in the tip for the tool blade. Done on my drill press. 

I'll put some Danish oil or Tung oil on the handle to finish it, and I may v-carve my initials in the back end.   I'll update this post with final finished beauty photos when that is done.

The End.

4D
 

A Toolbox

Carpe Diem!

This toolbox I made as an example to show my Workshop One (beginning) furniture design students. It was the semester that the pandemic came to the states. Within a few days after starting on their own version all classes were kicked out of the building and held online after that. Sadly no student had a chance to finish their own toolbox design. 

The handle was turned on my lathe. End tenons join into round mortises drilled into the sides.  Plywood ends.  The sides join into the ends with pseudo dovetails cut using my CNC. The divider is walnut.  The text was V-carved into it using my CNC. A 1/4" thick plywood bottom is trapped in slots cut near the bottom edge of the sides and ends.  The slots in the angled sides are also cut at an angle. 

Pseudo Dovetails

One advantage of using the lathe to cut the handle was that the center grip was tested as it was being turned to make sure it was a comfortable grip. 

The divider helps separate box contents for organization or just keeping the oily tools away from the dusty tools. 

Comments and question always appreciated!

4D