02-05-2015, 04:07 PM
Finally finished a trio of kits using primarily gift wood (African Blackwood from my Secret Santa, though I did have to buy a little bit for the scratch awl handle since it was a bit fatter than the rest. Anyway, here's my trio of Czeck Edge kits nestled along with the marking knife I had purchased several years back (I think it's cocobolo).
Close-up of the burnisher (handle shape largely borrowed from Bob's site):
The birdcage awl (had a major error with the first attempt at this and had to cut the blade and ferrule free for a "do-over"):
I chose it's handle shape based on one that the Schwarz recommended once in his blog.
Finally, the most recent addition to the family, the scratch awl:
For this one I combined the sweep at the end of the other two with a knob similar to the one on my jack plane.
I know they are not perfect, but they were fun projects and good learning experiences. I really haven't turned all that much stuff, so every attempt is a lesson of some kind. The Blackwood is really nice, and my quick pictures don't really display the color and figure well. Bob's finished tools are very nice, but if, like me, you enjoy making your own handles, I encourage you to give it a try. The kits are affordable, the accompanying instructions are clear, and you can customize a matched set! The only thing I may yet do is to sand a flat onto opposite sides of each handle so as to keep them from rolling off the bench, but I admit I am reluctant to do so at this point.
Close-up of the burnisher (handle shape largely borrowed from Bob's site):
The birdcage awl (had a major error with the first attempt at this and had to cut the blade and ferrule free for a "do-over"):
I chose it's handle shape based on one that the Schwarz recommended once in his blog.
Finally, the most recent addition to the family, the scratch awl:
For this one I combined the sweep at the end of the other two with a knob similar to the one on my jack plane.
I know they are not perfect, but they were fun projects and good learning experiences. I really haven't turned all that much stuff, so every attempt is a lesson of some kind. The Blackwood is really nice, and my quick pictures don't really display the color and figure well. Bob's finished tools are very nice, but if, like me, you enjoy making your own handles, I encourage you to give it a try. The kits are affordable, the accompanying instructions are clear, and you can customize a matched set! The only thing I may yet do is to sand a flat onto opposite sides of each handle so as to keep them from rolling off the bench, but I admit I am reluctant to do so at this point.