Star roller handle

[mktacop]

Decided I needed a roller handle, so I set out to make one. Got a 3 foot piece of 3/8 steel rod at Lowes, heated it with my torch and bent a nice 90 degree angle into it. Took a piece of 1x2 oak and rounded the edges with my belt sander, then smoothed it the rest of the way by hand with 220 grit. Drilled a hole through it and slid it on the rod. Marked the rod for the length I needed and cut it off with my dremel. It works great! All I need to do now is thread the end of the rod and put a locknut on it to hold the handle in place. All I had to buy was the rod, the wood was left over from another project. Total cost...$5.37 and about and hour of my time.

[VHoward]

Cool! Good job.

[mktacop]

Thanks!

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Don't forget a washer on each side of the wood. Will keep your wood from splitting later on. Great job!

[mktacop]

Since my post yesterday, I took a washer and have secured it with JB weld on the inside of the handle (by the bend) to keep the handle from rubbing the steel rod. I've also purchased a 3/8 press-on cap nut (like is used on some axles for kids toys) and will secure the handle with it. I'll post another pic once the JB weld hardens and I get it all put together. Total cost of the handle will end up being less than $8 since I had most of the parts lying around.

[mktacop]

Here's a pic of the completed handle. Works like a champ!

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Perfect, looks great, now all you have to do is put some finish on the wood.

[mktacop]

Thanks! I think I'm going to just leave the wood natural and let it take on whatever color it will from usage.

[bbqncigars]

Nice modification. Roller handles make repetitive press motions way easier on us old coots. I think I'd give that wood a nice Deftoil finish myself.

[D Crockett]

I pick up junk all the time I got a computer printer off the side of the road took it apart for the scrap inside of it there was a 3/8 rod in there so I desided to make a roler handle out of it I made it as said in previous postsit works great only I have nothing but some time in mine it is great when we can make what we need for our hobbie D Crockett

[Thinktwicez71]

i always thought you had to have bearings inside of those grips ? if thats the case i might just try and make one myself . the wood just spins on the metal rod ?

[mktacop]

I pick up junk all the time I got a computer printer off the side of the road took it apart for the scrap inside of it there was a 3/8 rod in there so I desided to make a roler handle out of it I made it as said in previous postsit works great only I have nothing but some time in mine it is great when we can make what we need for our hobbie D Crockett

It certainly is!

[mktacop]

i always thought you had to have bearings inside of those grips ? if thats the case i might just try and make one myself . the wood just spins on the metal rod ?

Having a bearing inside would be ideal, but since I am not producing huge quantities of boolits, I think I'll be fine without bearings. If the oak splits, I'll just make a new piece to replace it.

[Frozone]

a Delrin insert might help. but then again a well polished piece of wood is pretty slippery.

Let's look at it a little closer -

The largest angle of rotation is Less than 180º.
The rotation through the greatest amount of force is only around 20º.
the time through that rotation is what ~ 1 sec??

No bearing is necessary, the wood will not provide enough friction to notice..

[mktacop]

a Delrin insert might help. but then again a well polished piece of wood is pretty slippery.

Let's look at it a little closer -

The largest angle of rotation is Less than 180º.
The rotation through the greatest amount of force is only around 20º.
the time through that rotation is what ~ 1 sec??

No bearing is necessary, the wood will not provide enough friction to notice..

Thanks Frozone.....way more technical than I had thought about it, but makes sense.

[rbertalotto]

Mine is simple wood on metal with a nice soft motorcycle handle.........



But every time I pull the handle I can't stop going ..."Vroom - Vroom!!!"