Entry Details

Every Stanley #45 plane owner needs a suitable screwdriver. Here is the finished product which is a perfect companion for the plane. The thin tip is only 1/32" thick and 7/32" wide. It was ground, hardened, and inserted into its heavy ebony handle. The top of the handle was finished flat so the screwdriver sits in an upright position on the workbench.

Woodcentral has been an important part of my woodworking education. I thought long and hard to come up with a unique idea for the tool challenge. My final project was something that I intend to use myself. Every woodworker should be challenged to make some of his own tools. I would like to send my hearty thanks to all sponsors for their encouragement.

The Stanley #45 screwdriver project began with three raw materials. They are:
1) a stick of O-1 high carbon tool steel for the shaft
2) a brass tube for the ferrule
3) a turning square of ebony for the handle

The tool steel was cut to size, custom ground, and then heat treated. I included it in a batch of plane blades finished at RC 58-60. I cut the ferrule from the brass tube using a standard plumbing pipe cutter. I turned the ebony and actually made two handles from the square. They met at the ferrule end in the middle. The finish is Crystal Hut. In spite of measuring, the ferrule portion of the handle was too large and had to be trimmed. I used a Stanley #93 plane held upside down in the bench end vise and rotated the ferrule portion on the blade. Ferrule was attached with superglue and then a hole was drilled for blade. The ground tang fit perfectly and after seating was sealed with Titebond III glue.

Here the finished screwdriver approaches its first turnscrew job.

Proud craftsman holds the finished screwdriver in his paw. The ebony is heavy and substantial. This heavy weight precludes travel and rolling on the bench. Even when the screwdriver falls over, it does not roll more than a quarter turn. The brass ferrule adds a touch of bling and prevents splitting. The ebony takes a high polish and feels good in the hand. The high polish and the heavy weight let you know that you have a real tool in your hand. And yes, it works great as a screwdriver.