The Turner's Handle

You take your time carefully selecting your lathe tools. What kind of steel? HHS? Carbide? Cryogenic? What is the Profile? Weight? But do you give the handle the same scrutiny as the carefully examined gouge? How the handle performs in your hand is as important as how the tool handles the wood.

The Bennett Handle

I have been a furniture maker for 45 years and a fulltime architectural woodturner for 20 of those years. I have had my tools loosen, snap, and bend. I have permanent calluses on my hands. I've had tools chatter and flex.

I decided to produce a straight-forward workmanlike handle. It had to solve all of the above problems, but most of all, I wanted it to be comfortable in my hand. I took apart numerous wood-handled lathe tools and discovered the main problem: Only about one inch length of the tool is secured in the handle. No wonder I could feel them flex while taking deep roughing cuts. No wonder the tool came loose!

The main shaft of the Bennett Handle is 6010 Aluminum drilled to fit the lathe tool and secured with two set screws. Then it needed a comfortable grip. I spent much time experimenting with grips – vinyl, wood, NPVC, EPDM – finally, I came up with the foam handle that I use now. It is the perfect combination of durability and comfort.

The tool is held 2" into the shaft. Double setscrews hold the tool firmly. Best of all, I make the Bennett Handle at a reasonable price, so you can afford one for each of your favorite tools.