Print

[HellomynameisJ]

I've recently purchased a couple of Replacement handles in the aim of learning how to do rehandles, I received them today and am a bit concerned as a few things seemed unusual. There are some pretty sizeable gaps within the handles themselves, this being the first time working with replacement Handles I'm unsure if this is a normal thing or whether I should be sending these straight back. Thanks in advance!

[Komdotkom]

I too am attempting to learn how to re-handle and purchased a replacement yesterday, it's got a couple of gaps in it but not as bad as that. I'll grab a picture for you.
I'd be interested to see your jigs if you end up making some, I did the handle removal yesterday freehand and was not happy with the results.

[HellomynameisJ]

It's a strange one, I'd assume that gaps would be a significant point of structural weakness but hearing that yours has a gap and the fact that the handles were actually sent out to me like this really makes me wonder if it's not a normal thing.

I'm working on a few ideas in regards to splicing, but I'm definitely going to invest in a cheap band saw at the very least for the cutting, I definitely don't trust myself to do it by hand haha.

[Komdotkom]

Yeah, my confidence in my ability to cut the splice straight was misplaced. Now I've got a butchered splice in the bat but no cane in the centre which will make a bandsaw blade walk around all over the place. Good thing I'm doing it on a bat I don't really care about!

[Seniorplayer]

Are we referring to gaps in the splice after re handing

[HellomynameisJ]

I'm referring to the replacement handles themselves having sizeable gaps between the layers of cane around the base of the handle and the top of the splice, unfortunately I couldn't get the photos down to a reasonable size but I'm definitely talking about the handles pre re handle. Apologies for the convoluted explanation haha, it's quite hard to explain

[Seniorplayer]

Got it thanks couldn't see the photos there shouldn't be any gaps  as this can cause the  inserts to loosen and also create vibration into hands and can you see the inserts and are the handle  inserts tight  in the handle.
What can happen if the cane  strips are not cut evenly ( flat ) once it is glued back together it leaves gaps.

[Komdotkom]

Once I cut the splice there were no voids in my replacement handle. This didn't prevent me from making a complete disaster of the process though, I'm too ashamed to post the results.
My tip (for what it's worth) is to make a jig, cutting free hand is way harder than I first thought.