I was just curious if anyone has ever bent up a handle for a saw... I've got a bunch of cases that need handles... went to the dealer and got sticker shock-$150 a pop! I'm a tig welder by trade, aluminum mostly, so I figure it can't be that hard, just have to figure out pressing the flats for mounting might need some special dies. Picked up some .84"OD tube at the scrap yard, figure I might give it a shot.
Fabricating Full Wrap saw handle
- Thread starter Alvareri
- Start date
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Ive seen 1 regular top handle grip sacrificed (ie cut down) and welded to another one to create a full wrap.
Mark Heimann also makes a very nice L-hand and R-hand full wrap handles for the 10 series McCulloch. Mark uses a type of steel though.
Mark Heimann also makes a very nice L-hand and R-hand full wrap handles for the 10 series McCulloch. Mark uses a type of steel though.
Gave it a quick shot a work today.... definitely need to come up with a solution for the pressed portions by annealing most likely. Got the bends fairly close, the die I have is a different radius however so it looks a bit different.
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mad_mat222
ArboristSite Member
FYI, a nifty trick to get nicer bends. Fill the pipe with fine sand. Pack as much in as possible. Can’t be loose. A bit of moisture can help. Tape or plug the ends to stop sand coming out. Bend away. The sand doesn’t compress and you get really good bends. I’ve done it on alloy pipe which did dint from cheap bender up to 2 in steel for my rock sliders. The sheet metal bloke asked who bent them because they were pretty and no welds.
Some "How things are made" show I saw a long time ago said that the places that make brass musical instruments (tuba, horn, etc) fill the pipes with soapy water and freeze them prior to bending. I can't remember what the purpose of the soap was, but I've kept that little tidbit filed away in case I decide to custom build a wrap handle.
rabbit box
ArboristSite Member
That is how a copper worm is made for a still. You crimp one end. Use a small funnel to fill the copper tube. Figure your measurements and design. Wrap the tube around a small tree. Cut the tree and lift the worm out. Cut the crimp off. Shake gently to get the sand out.
