Things You'll Need:
- Block of hardwood
- Wood lathe, bits and tool guide
- Center marking tool
- Wood punch
- Roughing gouge
- Parting tool
- Sandpaper
- Mineral oil and gauze
- Screwdriver hardware
-
Step 1
Mark the center of your piece of wood. Measure accurately and mark your wood with a lathe punch.
-
Step 2
Measure and cut the block to accept your hardware. Use calipers to measure the inside and outside diameters of your hardware pieces to accept the hardware you've purchased. Remember that a tight fit is essential, so accurate measurement is necessary.
-
Step 3
Make the cylinder. Use your tool guide and roughing gouge to rough your block down to a cylinder. Set your lathe rpms to about 1800 for roughing a cylinder. Be sure to set the bevel of the roughing gouge flat on the piece, then raise the handle of the cutting tool until you get a shaving. The idea is to try not to cut too much at one time.
-
Step 4
Rough cut the handle. If your hardware comes with a feral, measure with calipers, cut the dimensions with a parting tool and cut the required dimensions to mount the feral and mount it.
-
Step 5
Cut the handle in a shape you prefer. Some like to have a wide end with a small shoulder, and others prefer a few shoulders down the length of the piece. Start the cutting with the roughing gouge; finish with skew. Start the parting cut so that you have access to the majority of the surface during the finishing process.
-
Step 6
Finish the handle. Remove the tool guide and sand with 120- and 150-grit sandpaper. Stop the lathe and apply mineral oil liberally with gauze. Start the lathe and burnish the finish. Cut and remove the piece.
-
Step 7
Insert the screwdriver hardware. Using a wood mallet, hammer in the hardware. Be sure to check for proper direction before installing, because you cannot remove and reinstall the hardware after you install it.
