| Woodturners are compulsive tool buyers for the | | | | Handles can be made of metal pipe or, certainly for |
| most part and tool suppliers are more than ready to | | | | the woodturner, out of wood. It is necessary to |
| cater to the impulse as evidenced by the vast arrays | | | | make the handle large enough to hold the shaft, give |
| of tools in the catalogues. Some years ago, the late | | | | safe leverage for cuts, and be comfortable to hold. I |
| Knud Oland, a fine woodturner in his own right, | | | | like to choose a handle that is comfortable for me |
| developed a tool with the understanding that most | | | | and copy it, however there are lots of patterns for |
| turners would be able to make the tool for very little | | | | tool handles and they all seem to be popular for |
| cost in the home shop. This would at least double the | | | | someone. |
| enjoyment of woodturning by allowing one to turn | | | | A shaft is easily cut from cold rolled steel with an |
| their own work of art or craft and with a personally | | | | angle grinder, cut off wheel or hack saw. For a |
| made tool. | | | | quarter inch Oland tool, use five eighths cold rolled |
| As you look at the myriad offerings of the tool | | | | steel and drill a three eighths hole centered on one |
| suppliers one thing should eventually make itself | | | | end. Just one half inch back from the end and then |
| known, all the tools follow along the style of carving | | | | one half inch back from that drill two holes to be |
| chisels and gouges. After all, the wood rotates on | | | | tapped for set screws. I like to use six mill by one |
| the wood lathe and it is carved as it moves. The | | | | set screws so a seven thirty secondths drill bit works |
| difference is, the wood is moving and provides the | | | | here. Oland tools use an inserted bit. In other words |
| force for the cut while the tool is directed and | | | | a cutting tip is placed into the end of the shaft and |
| makes the cuts. Cutting tools such as this are divided | | | | held in place with the set screws. One of the hardest |
| into chisels, both straight and skewed; scrapers | | | | things to convince first time makers of the tool is |
| including specialized ones such as parting tools; | | | | that a square bit will work in a round hole. Not only |
| gouges with various curves and profiles; and | | | | do the set screw hold it from moving into the shaft, |
| speciality tools. | | | | they also prevent rotation. |
| All such tools have a handle for control, a shaft for | | | | Now all that remains is to fasten the shaft in the |
| reach and a cutting tip. In order to make your own, it | | | | handle which means drilling a five eighths hole in the |
| is only necessary to decide a use for the tool and | | | | end and gluing the shaft in place with epoxy. The tip |
| have the means to make the handle , shaft and | | | | is sharpened to forty five degrees and rounded on |
| cutting tip. The Oland tool is ideal for the woodturner | | | | the end. The Oland tool is completed and ready for |
| to produce in the simple home woodworking shop. | | | | use. |