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I didn't like too many of my screwdrivers for doing woodworking, so I took matters into my own hands. I turned the wood from scrap, of which the origin and type of wood is uncertain, however it appears to be porous the way oak is, but not smell like oak. I had the shape to where I wanted it, however when I put the skew to it to polish it up, I gouged a nice chunk out of it, and the diameter is considerably smaller now, more like a chisel handle (still very new to turning, 3-4 pens and 2 bowls and a few creatively shaped practice spindles). The metal piece is a brass plumbing coupling that I filed round, and screwed on with CA glue. I purchased a fastcap taperlock bit holder and pressed it into a hole the diameter of the flats on the shank with some CA glue as lubricant. Finished with a couple of coats of CA glue rubbed in while it was turning on the lathe.

That fastcap bit holder is amazing, should probably do a review. It securely grips the bit with magnet and some kind of compression. It slides in, but you can not pull it out unless you release it by pulling that red band part. I wanted a screwdriver where the bits did not stick in the screw rather than in the bit holder.

I have yet to really push the screwdriver too hard, but I really should have found another scrap and turned a heavier handle, it is a tad nose heavy. Since I don't want to mess with breaking the bit holder free and rounding another brass coupling without testing it out further, I am leaving it as is for the time being. I am concerned about the lack of girth taking away from some of the torque, but I always drill a pilot hole and countersink on the nicer things (by my low standards) I build, and too much torque can strip the wood or the head of a brass screw.

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Comments

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Love the hand made hand tools! Nice job!! Where did you come up with the bit holder, it looks very nice. How far down in the wood is it. I really think you should use epoxy to glue the bit holder in the handle as CA is very easy to break loose with any 'shock' load applied. I pre-drill mine 9/32" or little less (before glue-up) and turning and use the bit adapter hole as my tail-stock center hole. After turning and finishing I fill the hole with 5 minute epoxy. After the epoxy has set about 30-60 minutes I drill a 3/32" hole through one side of ferrule, wood, and bit and glue in a brass or stainless pin (overkill maybe). Have you seen my screwdrivers? I hid pin under the ferrule on the first ones. http://lumberjocks.com/projects/97298 if you care to take a look. I like Danish Oil for my finish as it does not show wear so much. Without the bit holder they make great chisel and file holders too! Keep on turning and making the chips fly in SoCar there Spur!!
 

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Thanks for the advice dr byte! I was worried about the CA glue holding the bit holder in. When it fails I will reseat it with epoxy. I like the laminated wood you used. I am gonna have to try that for gifts. Didn't think to use a pin, but I may give it a whirl. I love the way the stubby looks too!
 
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