I've long thought that this little tapometer isn't the finest tool stocked by Workshop Heaven, in fact IMO the dumpy little handle is hideous and not particularly comfortable in use.
In addition, I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to using skew chisels on the lathe as they've got a pretty fierce reputation as being 'difficult' to use. A pal the other day though, recommended I try some of Colwin Way's German style skew(s) from Axminster, so SWIMBO got out her cc last week and got me a couple.
As a little exercise to practice with the new 32mm skew, I decided to make a new handle in Ash for my little 'ammer.
I had to knock the original apart with a slightly bigger 'ammer...
...and then rough out a 50mm sq blank of Ash;
...marking out the limits of the handle with beading tool.
The blank was then rough turned with the roughing tool and the new skew...
...after which I started to refine the shape with the skew. Carefully
I was surprised that the new skew straight out of the packet wasn't particularly sharp, so a few licks with an mdf strop and some green Veritas gloop soon put on a much better and workable edge.
With a really sharp skew and small spindle gouge, it was now simply a case of refining the shape and checking that the slim end was a snug fit in the head.
It was then sanded through the grits and finished with Yorkshire Grit and Hampshire Sheen;
Once it was parted from the blank, the bulbous end of the new handle was cleaned up on the bench and polished. I then cut a slot in the neck to take a Boxwood wedge, refitted the handle, knocked in the wedge and pin, sawing off the waste and sanding/polishing afterwards.
The new handle is a lot more elegant than the nasty little original thing and the completed hammer has more 'heft' as the handle is gripped around 100mm away from the head. I found the big skew fairly easy to use (with no 'dig ins ) but it's well worth looking at the video to see how Colwin uses them - Rob