donnyc

I have a 1951 Gazelle bike out of the Netherlands. It has (had) wooden hand grips. Does anybody know how I could identify the type of wood used so I could hopefully replicate them for my refurbishment project?


Wooden hand grip

Korina

Have you tried taking them to a local woodworker?

iab

I'd just search maopole legno on Italian ebay, ciclismo - https://www.ebay.it/sch/i.html?_from...no&_sacat=7294

Or, if you want to step up your game, an upgrade would be bone, or manopole osso - https://www.ebay.it/sch/i.html?_from...o&_osacat=7294

Moe Zhoost

Is it important that you have the same species of wood? If so you might avail yourself of the Forestry folks at the U of Alberta. They may be able to identify the wood microscopically by taking a thin slice of your sample. Also, if you could plane a clean flat surface on the grip, most woodworkers should be able to give a good opinion.

If you don't care about having the exact species, there are a number of options. I've made wooden grips from both black walnut as well as maple. These are readily available in North America. The grips, by design will have fairly thin walls so a close grain stable wood is what you will need. I'd stay away from oak and ash because of their open grain. I think if I made another pair, I'd try Sapele, which turns and finishes well and is fairly stable. I'd also consider browsing my stash of red and white mulberry harvested from storm-downed trees.

One thing to keep in mind is how the grips will be attached to the bars. The first few that I made I used silicone glue to fix them in place. This works well but you pretty much destroy the grips if you have to remove them. Subsequent pairs were made with a thin aluminum tube glued into the wood blank before turning on a lathe. These ones are still glued on the bar but can be removed without destroying them. I had a few ideas about adding a brass insert for a set screw, but never got around to experimenting.

Anyhow, good luck on your restoration.

donnyc

Moe Zhoost I don't need the same species of wood, it may be European Beech as that was fairly common back when the bike was built. I thought that if I could easily be identify the wood used and if it was readily available then using the same would be a nice touch. You have several valuable suggestions. I had not given much thought (yet) regarding how to fasten them to the handlebars, I appreciate your insights..

BTinNYC 

I think beech is a good bet.
It was common on European low end and military gunstocks, used instead of walnut.

Whatever you use, it should be completely dried and straight grained to avoid splitting.

donnyc

Moe Zhoost You said "Subsequent pairs were made with a thin aluminum tube glued into the wood blank before turning on a lathe. These ones are still glued on the bar but can be removed without destroying them."
Could you please explain a bit more about the aluminum tube that you put inside the hand grip? I can't visualize how you accomplished this.

Moe Zhoost

I was able to acquire some thin wall tubing with an inside diameter the same as the outside diameter of a standard handlebar. To make the grip, I drilled a hole in the wood blank to fit the outside diameter of the tube and then glued the tube in with epoxy. At that point it was easy to fit the tubed blank to the lathe using a mandrel and then turn it to the desired shape. I'll take some pictures of the materials and setup and post them tomorrow.

donnyc

Moe Zhoost Thank you, that would be appreciated.

Moe Zhoost

As promised here are some pics:

This is the tubing I use. It has an OD of 1" and a wall thickness of 1/16". Shown on end of handlebar to show the fit. It slides on easily but is not too loose.



Here is the tube glued into a partially turned wood blank:




Here's a picture of the mandrel I use on the lathe. It's ID fit's the tube and it has a shoulder that allows me to clamp the blank in.




The blank on the mandrel:




All set up for final turning:




Here's a whimsical set I made a while back. Maple and Walnut:

donnyc

Moe Zhoost Incredible!! Thank you so much for sharing. I will send these photos to my brother-in-law who is going to be making the hand grips for me.

Reynolds 

I made a pair of wooden grips for my commuter. To fasten them I put press fit dowels into the handlebar, then used wood screws to affix the grips. The grips are countersunk for the screw heads; I could have plugged them, but it wasn't necessary IMO.

tcs

Cerchio Ghisallo:

https://www.cerchioghisallo.shop/manopole

They can fix you up with wooden rims & mudguards, too.

Korina

Nice. What wood and finish did you use?

xiaoman1 

Oh... those are very nice....I see an opportunity for a gofundme here.
Best, Ben

Reynolds 

Thanks! The wood was recycled from a broken bench, so I don't know what it is. It's medium hard and has a nice grain. Finish is linseed oil.

Moe Zhoost

Great idea.