tang broaches? block size?

[AUSSIE BURLS]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if any of you use tang broaches to open up the tang hole?( does that sound right.lol). Also , what is a good size for a wood block to be - used for the oct handles and other types. 1 1/2 x 6" ?. The ones I use for hunters and edc is a min of 1 1/2 x 1 x 5"-Thank you-Mark

[apicius9]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if any of you use tang broaches to open up the tang hole?( does that sound right.lol). Also , what is a good size for a wood block to be - used for the oct handles and other types. 1 1/2 x 6" ?. The ones I use for hunters and edc is a min of 1 1/2 x 1 x 5"-Thank you-Mark

Not sure what a tang broach is? I use a drill press... Blanks I try to get in 1 1/4 x 1 1/8 x 5 minimum - that doesn;t leave much room for error, so a bit larger is fine, especially if they may warp during stabilizing. I have almost everything stabilized except for the obvious ones like ebony, ironwood or very oily wosewoods.

HTH,

Stefan

[Dave Martell]

Here's an example Stefan....

http://www.riversidemachine.net/item561596.ctlg

[apicius9]

Thanks Dave, I had never heard the word - my vocabulary in such specific areas is still a bit limited...

Stefan

[Bill Burke]

those broaches are all right but the ones tha MS John Perry sells are way better. The only problem being John's are harder to get and cost about 100.0 apiece.

[Michael Rader]

I use broaches all the time in my handles. Definitely worth making yourself at least one.


I made these as a gift, but if you went over to the forum-that-shall-not-be-named, I'm sure you could talk one of the other custom/forging guys into making you one with some of their scrap steel. You don't even need handles like this, just a little bulb on the end is all I have on mine. I have a long skinny one that is also used for scraping out the glue inside my sword scabbards. Quite useful little guys.
-M

[AUSSIE BURLS]

Ive made my own broaches and had some good results ( compared to how I used to dig into a block ) but MS John Perry's is hard to beat. Its worth the price!! Michael Rader those are some beauties!!-Marekz

[JMJones]

I just got a John Perry broach for 65 dollars from him because I just bought the shank and will handle it myself.

[AUSSIE BURLS]

Hello , so um, as far as the size block i would want is 1 1/4 x 1 1/8 x 5? I was thinking to be safe 1 1/2 x 1/2 x 6 would be optimal for someone trying out a different style handle. In general however, when you all look for blocks or cut your own is 1 1/4 x 1 1/8 x 5 abouy right. I also dont want to waste alot of wood. Most of my cut blocks are 1 1/2 x 1 1/8 x 5 but it seems like an odd size to try an oct handle- Thanks-Mark

[SpikeC]

My finished handles are about 1X3/4 and whatever length, so I shoot for just bit over that in the rough, I do the finish sizing with a hand plane for the most part so I can work pretty close. It kind of depends on how you work and what tools you use. Make some and see how it works for you! A little practice doesn't hurt, ya know!