Socket Handles - Tutorial 2

Now that we have the tanged chisel handle done, let’s see how to make a handle for a socket chisel.

Here is a picture of one of my Stanley #750 chisels with its original handle. 

The first thing to do is determine the size of the taper which has to fit into the socket. I looked into the socket, and I can see that the small part is slightly less than 3/8”. So I use a 3/8” dowel to determine the depth, and mark it with a pencil.

Then I use an inside caliper to find the diameter of the large part of the socket. Now I have all 3 of the necessary measurements for the taper.

Now I transfer the inside measurement to my outside calipers so I can transfer that measurement to the handle. 

First I use the dowel to mark the length of the taper onto the handle. 

Then I cut the large and small diameters to size.

And now I take of the excess material from the taper.

Now I remove the handle from the lathe and check the fit. It needs to go into the socket further. 

I twist the handle inside the socket to mark it so I will know where to take off material for a good fit.

After cutting a little material off the marked places, I try it again for fit.  Sometimes I have to do this several times before I get it the way I want it. This fit is good. The socket fits tightly and there is less than 1/8” of taper remaining. If the wood should shrink later on it will still have enough material for a good fit. 

Here is the new handle beside the original. I like my handles to be a little bigger than the originals. They should fit your hand.

I have already shown how to install a Schlagring on a handle for a tanged chisel.  There is no reason you could not put a Schlagring on this handle as well.

Next will be a tutorial on installing leather washers on a handle. That will cover the whole gamut of handles.

Tutorial 1  Tutorial 2  Tutorial 3