How to make revolving grips for handles?

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

Anyone have a method for making cranks for handwheel that rotate in your hand as you turn them?

I have a concept where the handle is a tube running over a shoulder bolt but that gives a fairly large minimum diameter and I have to match the length nicely or it would have axial play (not really a practical issue but it would feel more amateurish to use).

Off the shelf I can buy them for about £5 upwards but why spend £5 when I can spend £4.50 and 3 hours of my time building one?

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I usually make starting handles for the hit and miss engines using a cap head bolt as the spindle. handle is drilled a nice running fit on the plain shank of the bolt and counter bored to take the head. No need for a shoulder bolt if you make the length of the through hole just less that the distance between end of thread and under the head. Screw bolt in until it runs out of thread and there is still a little lengthways play so the handle does not get locked up tight.

 

J

Edited By JasonB on 02/03/2018 19:58:35

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

Ooh that makes things a fair bit cheaper

My other concept which I'm sure I didn't invent was having a ball bearing retain it axially

Down side of course being I have to cross drill and tap the handle. Allows for thinner grips but needs thicker handles

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

I had to replace that type of handle on my mill a while ago and made a polished stainless steel one that did not revolve. Maybe I have self lubricating hands but it works just as well as a revolving one and a lot simpler to make. As long as the surface is nice and smooth it slides in the hand perfectly fine.

Doug

[JonParticipant @jon]

Nothing amatuerish about using socket shoulder screws you make the part to suit the bolts ordered, what can be easier and professional.
Benefit is they use a smaller dia thread rather than the dia of bolt.

Most applications theres no decent thread depth strength using normal Hex head bolts, ending it short against a stop even less so. If thread depths sufficient for the task could locktite bolt down to give desired tolerance on revolving handle, not ideal but ok if its not to be seen or taken apart.
What will happen if not screwed in far enough is the threaded hole will become elongated or enlarged.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

I make a shoulder screw with a plain diameter a few thou longer than the distance from the bottom of the handle counterbore to its undersurface. Not difficult, and works fine on salt grinders.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

I replaced the handles on my J&S grinder with something similar to JasonB's ones, the bolts were already there, but the handle bits were past their best.

I used black Delrin and turned it to be a close radial and axial fit on the bolts. I made the ends 1/8" longer than needed to clear the bolt heads and turned an internal 7.5° per-side taper in them, with the small bit at the outside. I then turned up plugs with a matching taper and the same dimensions.

Very gentle 70-80°C heating in the oven expanded the handles (on the bolts) to the point where the end caps just popped in with finger pressure.

Being Delrin, they turn smoothly and feel pleasant to the hands.

[Perko7Participant @perko7]

How about adapting the handles from fishing reels? The reels can usually be picked up pretty cheaply at garage sales/car boot sales. They are designed to withstand pretty aggressive conditions so should last a while on a bit of home machinery.

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Rainbows on 02/03/2018 19:41:42:

Anyone have a method for making cranks for handwheel that rotate in your hand as you turn them?

I have a concept where the handle is a tube running over a shoulder bolt but that gives a fairly large minimum diameter and I have to match the length nicely or it would have axial play (not really a practical issue but it would feel more amateurish to use).

Off the shelf I can buy them for about £5 upwards but why spend £5 when I can spend £4.50 and 3 hours of my time building one?

Your last paragraph/sentence – i like your way of thinking…

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

I made a couple for lathe feedscrew modification. Drilled thru' handle to suit cap head bolt, c/bored for the head, screw into the arm with a drop of thread lock. Just tighten enough, a bit crude maybe but works well.

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