Wood for saw handle?
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Tagged: Eucalyptus, Saw Handle
- This topic has 15 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 2 months ago by
Larry Geib.
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Folks,
I have a 10″ groves brass back tenon/dovetail saw that needs a new handle.
I usually do pretty much all of my woodworking in pine…
However I have a couple of small logs that have been drying for a couple of years or so that were given me by a pal…
Eucalyptus, from his sister’s garden in north west london!Is Eucalyptus a suitable material for a saw handle?
Thanks in advance,
Regards,
Matt
Hi,
No idea about that kind of wood I’m afraid, but a couple of tips:
1. How thick are the logs? I’d say you need 2 inches of wood after you have removed the pith, sapwood, etc.
2. Make sure you orient the wood grain in the right direction so the handle will have maximum strength. Someone here can advise on grain direction better than me.
3. I think beech is the preferred wood for daw handles? That’s certainly what I was advised when I repaired the handle on my Groves saw, and it seemed like a good match.
Hope that helps
Darren.
Thanks Darren.
I think I’m OK on the points you raise…
Just don’t want to waste my time making it from this if it isn’t going to be suitable!I do have some apple wood, from my own garden drying out that I could use, and I know this would be suitable, but
a) it’s nowhere near dry enough yet
b) I’d rather use it for something else!Thanks though…
Any more observations on the suitability of Eucalyptus from anyone else?
Regards,
Matt
Thanks for that…
But to clarify, what I’m after is functionality…. I’m not really bothered about “authenticity”…
What I wan’t to know is whether or not the Eucalyptos would actually work? It’s not a wood I’ve used before at all.
(I made a saw handle out of meranti once… it was rubbish for that!)Thanks,
Matt
1 March 2020 at 9:53 pm #651311The Eucalyptus genus has an estimated 700 specie, 16 of which are listed in the wood database as types commonly used for lumber. They range from rose gum, which can be soft as pine to White Box , which is harder than ebony. If you have ever tried Jarrah ( a eucalyptus) , white Box is twice as hard on the Janka scale.
My guess is you have an ornamental if it came out of a garden. I would have no idea which of the 684 remaining species that might be. You will have better luck on a gardening site if you post pictures of the tree in flower.
But even of the 16, they share lots of shrinkage during drying, movement in use, interlocked grain causing tearout, and silicates known for rapidly dulling even carbide. I wouldn’t use my auriou rasp on it.
Look in the database to see if there is something you recognize.
Google:
“Wood database eucalyptus”Or just try it and see. You might get lucky.
Some Vegas odds are better, though.-
This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by
Larry Geib.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by
Larry Geib.
2 March 2020 at 10:45 am #651372I read this on the internet Uses. Eucalyptus is used for all types of construction, fine as well as utilitarian, light and heavy. It is often made into flooring or objects such as bowls, and traditional Aboriginal didgeridoos are created from eucalyptus logs that have been hollowed out by termites.
It seems to be a general purpose wood depending on what type of eucalyptus it is. Try sawing it to a useful size and that should tell you whether you want to work it or not.
Well, I’m quite pleased with the result.
And it’s now fitted, and the BLO is curing.
I had the same issue as Paul in a recent blog, and had to recess the bolts slightly. The important thing is that it fits my hand nicely and it’s a lovely saw that cuts well!
Matt
Thanks all.
I made the initial shape with a bandsaw, (my previous effort was with a coping saw… but I didn’t have a bandsaw then!), having made a template by drawing round another handle on another saw…Then it was just shaping with a couple of rasps; a crude one that came in a cheap set of “files” from somewhere, and then a nice auriou, ( a birthday prezzie a couple of years ago)… finished off with some 120 sandpaper and 2 coats of BLO.
I’m quite chuffed, and really quite surprised at how difficult is wasn’t!
Regards,
Matt -
This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by
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