My Pen Pro

[bitshird]

I recently did a trade with Neil "Wolftat" and I think I got the better of the trade, I got a bunch of Bog Oak blanks a slew of other blanks and a piece of Camphor about 1-3/4 square and about 5 inches long Neil had turned a handle for his Woodchuck Pen Pro and I commented how pretty it was. after looking at this for a couple of days I couldn't resist, I took my pen Pro, which is THE first one ever made, and sawed off the handle, In accordance will other loyal Woodchuck tool owners I made my tools handle with the tool it's self with no handle, mine is one of the old style with a 7/16 tang and this was a decent size chunk of wood. In order to use the entire piece with few or no ugly scars, I lightly center marked the back end, drilled the front end with a #6 center drill, the camphor was mounted between a dead center and a live center with the live center, the tenon was cut first at the live center end.
Then I changed to my drill chuck in the tail stock and my 4 jaw on the headstock and drilled a 7/16 hole, I changed jaws and grasped the copper ferrule I had fit with the chuck and turned this "Proper and fitting handle" it's proper because the wood is beautiful and fitting because it fits my crippled hand like no handle I have ever held.
The handles I am starting to make are much longer, this is just 5 inches from end to end, I like the control and I really want to thank Neil for such a wonderful piece of wood, I couldn't be happier if it were HRB or Amboyna,
With out further yapping may I present !!!

Yes I know it has one of the old screws, I'll put a Stainless screw and a new insert on tomorrow​

 

[PaulDoug]

Awesome job on that handle, it is a beauty. Can't wait to receive mine to go with my Bowl Pro. Right now I'm making a set of handles for the complete set of Lee Valley's screwdriver shanks. There are nine of them. The handles are going to be rose wood. Handles are fun.

Again, nice job. Something that nice should have your name engraved in it. By the way, I turned the handle for my Bowl Pro with the Bowl Pro, no handle on it.

 

[Pioneerpens]

Sweet!!

 

[el_d]

Nice Job Ken. Thats a really nice piece of camphor. You did good my friend.

The handle reminds me of some of my grandfathers tools. He always had them really nicely spit polished and razor sharp. Come to think of it his whole tool box was in very good shape. He said "a carpenters tools reflects the mans skill." but he would say it in spanish....

 

[bitshird]

Nice Job Ken. Thats a really nice piece of camphor. You did good my friend.

The handle reminds me of some of my grandfathers tools. He always had them really nicely spit polished and razor sharp. Come to think of it his whole tool box was in very good shape. He said "a carpenters tools reflects the mans skill." but he would say it in spanish....

Thanks Lupe, I saw some tools that were made in Europe in the 1500s through the 1800s the tools, like block planes and spoke shaves even large planes were all engraved and you could see that there was some wear from hands lovingly using them. They were in an exhibit galled the Green Vaults of Dresden, We saw it in San Francisco in the late 70s.
I think now the closest thing like you father said is "it's a poor craftsman that blames his tools for his shoddy workman ship" I think what you father said would have sounded nice in Spanish, I thought about engraving it but I'm making a silver button for the back end where the live center indent was. Now it's so pretty I have to make a tool roll or something to keep it off the floor.