[Rodney]

I think I actually have a recognizable Cardigan Handle in the works.





This is from the same block of maple I used for my market stick handles. Some nice spalting on the one side but nothing on the other. I still have a long way to go but it's going to have to wait until I have a suitable shank ready for it.

That nub at the top will go away. I left it there for clamping and reference purposes.

This is at least my third attempt at a cardigan handle. The devil really is in the details on these. On my other attempts close wasn't near close enough.

So far I'm pretty pleased with this one. It should be a nice handle as long as I don't mess up.

Rodney

 

[Batakali]

Looking good! If at first you don't succeed and so on..

 

[LilysDad]

I don't know what you have for a shop, what is your method for making that handle? Starting with a line drawing on wood.

 

[Rodney]

Yes. I drew it on the block first. Several times actually while I was working out the shape. I drilled the hole for attaching it to the shank while I still had a square surface. Bandsawed out the rough outline. Roughed out the outer curves on a disk sander then the rest is all hand work with rasps, files and sandpaper.

I have a pretty much fully equipped shop but most handles have so many compound curves that hand tools are the way to go for me.

A bandsaw is really nice to have for this kind of work. You can do it with a coping saw or a handheld jigsaw but the bandsaw makes it easy.

Rodney

 

[cobalt]

keep posting pictures coming along well

I like the cardigan shape, done a few mostly with animals heads on the front always the fiddler me cant leave things alone just given my brother two I had which was made for some else .That's the trouble with some people always want them then they don`t always collect them or pay