Chisel Handles _OT- Sort of

[Dunc]

Got a set of old British Marples (I think) wood chisels .The wood handles are fastened to the chisels using a conical tang. While it is a good fit, the handles are loose- easily removed but no wiggle.
Are they intended to be this way? Pinned/riveted in place (no hole(s) in the metal or wood tho')? Glued? Epoxy or...

[Richard P Wilson]

Thats as they should be, just a tight fit on the taper tang. In use, the mallet keeps them tight.

[Gary Paine]

Richard has it right. If you find they do not hold in the socket when you withdraw them from a cut, a slip of paper in the socket will tighten it up.

[epicfail48]

Strictly speaking those are all right, a firm tap should lock the handle to the taper same as a machine taper. If you ever need to replace the handle you wont have to risk damagind the tool.

Non-strictly speaking though, they are your tools. No reason a spot of super glue couldnt be thrown in there. Biased though, i like tanged chisels better than the socket ones. Always struck me as a more solid design

[Baz]

The wood may be suffering from modern heating. When originally conceived a bit of rust in the damp shed probably helped friction.

[fjk]

Biased though, i like tanged chisels better than the socket ones. Always struck me as a more solid design

I think that the original idea is that with a tangled design, as you hammer on the chisel, the tang could drive into the wood handle and split it. The socketed design does not do that.

OTOH, if you are using the chisel solely by hand (no hammer) then the socket design is not so good.

[gambler]

the coned section should not bottom in the socket, if it does the handle will come loose.

[Richard P Wilson]

I think that the original idea is that with a tangled design, as you hammer on the chisel, the tang could drive into the wood handle and split it. The socketed design does not do that.

OTOH, if you are using the chisel solely by hand (no hammer) then the socket design is not so good.

A lot of tanged chisels have a collar (often brass) around the bottom of the wooden handle, to stop the tendency to split which you describe.