T-shaped knob

Dave Richards · Apr 12, 2007

Closer? I only cut off one side of the turning this time.

I had a thought while I was drawing this. Supoose the cylindrical stem was a separate piece. It and the handle could be rotated independently to suit the user.

Norman Hitt · Apr 12, 2007

Dave Richards said:
Like this?

Yeah, Dave, that's getting there. I would probably slice a little less off on the front side,(where the heel of the hand would fit) in order to round it out with the file giving a thicker part in the middle and thinner towards the ends of the "T" to fit into the natural curve of the palm/heel of the hand.

When I get the old planes finished I'm reworking, I may have to drag out the old HF lathe and try one of these. If fitted properly, they would probably be more comfortable than the normal knob.

I'm thinking that a good way to fit one of these to the individual's hand would be to make a "T" out of two dowels and then wrap the top with some childs clay/playdough or something and then grip it as you would in use and then use that profile, (minus the ridges between the fingers) to file and sand a turning to final shape.

Dave Richards · Apr 12, 2007

Is there any need for more drawings?

Norman Hitt · Apr 13, 2007

Dave Richards said:
Is there any need for more drawings?

You Done GOOD, Dave. I think anyone interested in making one should have the idea by now from your Sketches. :thumb:

Thanks for humoring us "No Talent Gazooks".

Dave Richards · Apr 19, 2007

Norman Hitt said:
You Done GOOD, Dave. I think anyone interested in making one should have the idea by now from your Sketches. Thanks for humoring us "No Talent Gazooks".

Thankee sir. It isn't that you have no talent. It's that yours lies elsewhere. I still can't sharpen a plane iron very well.

Mike Henderson · Apr 25, 2007

I made a couple of T shaped knobs for my Stanley planes. The pictures aren't the best and I sold the planes so I can't take any more pictures. The second picture shows some planes from above and you can see the general shape of the knobs a bit better.

Bill Antonacchio · Apr 26, 2007

Thank you, Mike. I just got a couple of scraps and this is good motivation.

Norman Hitt · Apr 27, 2007

Tote Question for Mike

Mike Henderson said:
I made a couple of T shaped knobs for my Stanley planes. The pictures aren't the best and I sold the planes so I can't take any more pictures. The second picture shows some planes from above and you can see the general shape of the knobs a bit better.

Mike, did you make that Tote, too? That sure is a beauty, what is the wood? If you made it, how about a picture "Tutorial" when you make another one of those Totes.

Mike Henderson · Apr 27, 2007

Norman Hitt said:
Mike, did you make that Tote, too? That sure is a beauty, what is the wood? If you made it, how about a picture "Tutorial" when you make another one of those Totes.

Norman - I made two of those knobs and totes, one for my #5 in cherry and one for my #7 in walnut. The rough shape is created on the bandsaw and then it's all done with rasps - sort of like sculpture. You think of what you want and then remove all the wood except what meets your vision. Of course, the overall height and general shape are taken from the original tote. Once I had a rough shape, I traced my fingers on the rough blank to get the locations for the finger grooves. One problem is that it's only for a right handed person - wouldn't work at all for a lefty - but I was making it for me, not the general population.

I decided I didn't like the handle on the #7 and sold it to a guy at school. Then, I sold the #5 and the #7 to someone just recently through an ad on SawMill Creek (advertised only the #7 but he bought both). I just never used those two planes.

For the knob --->The general shape of the knob is created on the bandsaw and then the bottom of the knob is turned to shape on the lathe. The top is worked with rasps to the shape you like. The concept was really my wife's. I was going to make the top like a big dowel mounted to the bottom (sort of like a "T") but she visualized the top "like an egg" (her words) and I took it from there. Note that it fits a "high knob" plane - it might look squat if it was only as high as a low knob.

Mike

Norman Hitt · Apr 27, 2007

Mike Henderson said:
Norman - I made two of those knobs and totes, one for my #5 in cherry and one for my #7 in walnut.

The rough shape is created on the bandsaw and then it's all done with rasps - sort of like sculpture. "You think of what you want and then remove all the wood except what meets your vision".

Mike

Oops, I think that "Sculpture Reference" might have "Culled" me out of the pack, 'cause it would probably end up like my attempt to carve a Bird. By the time I finished removing everything that didn't look like a bird, I guess it must have flown away, 'cause there was NO bird left. :huh:

Thanks for the procedure though.

Ed Nelson · Apr 27, 2007

Norman Hitt said:
Oops, I think that "Sculpture Reference" might have "Culled" me out of the pack, 'cause it would probably end up like my attempt to carve a Bird. By the time I finished removing everything that didn't look like a bird, I guess it must have flown away, 'cause there was NO bird left.

Thanks for the procedure though.

Norman, I don't think you should give up on the idea. The knob is a lot less "sculpting" than a bird. Besides it is a small scrap scrap of wood. Give it a try and, who knows, one day you might find that bird again!

Mike Henderson · Apr 27, 2007

Ed Nelson said:
Norman, I don't think you should give up on the idea. The knob is a lot less "sculpting" than a bird. Besides it is a small scrap scrap of wood. Give it a try and, who knows, one day you might find that bird again!

I agree. It's much less complex than a bird. You can think of the shape at the top of the knob as two bottom ends of an egg back-to-back. You can tell people that you know what came first for your skill development - the bird or the egg.

Mike

Norman Hitt · Apr 28, 2007

Mike Henderson said:
I agree. It's much less complex than a bird. You can think of the shape at the top of the knob as two bottom ends of an egg back-to-back. You can tell people that you know what came first for your skill development - the bird or the egg.

Mike

Good Idea! :thumb:

(That would sure have some of my Friends Guessing) :rofl:

I think I could manage the "T" handle, it's those finger grips on the "Tote" that I can really Imagine my lack of skill on.

Frank Fusco · Apr 28, 2007

To me, the most amazing thing about this thread is that a discussion about a wooden knob has gone on so long.

Mike Henderson · Apr 28, 2007

Frank Fusco said:
To me, the most amazing thing about this thread is that a discussion about a wooden knob has gone on so long.

I guess it just shows that with a little imagination, you can have fun with anything.

Mike

Bill Antonacchio · Apr 28, 2007

Hi Frank,

I would guess we are about the same age. Medicare ready, but the arthritis in the hands causes one to look for things like a t-knob if you still want to use hand tools and especially hand planes!

Norman Hitt · Apr 28, 2007

Bill Antonacchio said:
Hi Frank,

I would guess we are about the same age. Medicare ready, but the arthritis in the hands causes one to look for things like a t-knob if you still want to use hand tools and especially hand planes!

Yeah, and Carpel Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists don't help much either.

Frank Fusco · Apr 29, 2007

Norman Hitt said:
Yeah, and Carpel Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists don't help much either.

My "Medicare ready" days are years behind me. I'll be at my Biblical allotment in a few months.
Fortunately, my health is good and I'm grateful for that.
I understand the need for a good comfort knob. Just surprised that so many words can be expended on a simple wood knob.

Dave Richards · Apr 29, 2007

Here you go Norman. Your knob might as well be personalized.

T-shaped knob

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