I also started exploring the possibilities with these tools. Like you, I was thinking about square and rectangular tool shanks and wondered if I could 3d print ER style collets that would work with square or rectangular profiles. So I tried it and after several iterations of collet design I find them to be quite successful. That led me to getting various sizes of tool steel and making a bunch of scrapers that I had been wanting. Several of them are double ended with a different style on each end. I went a little further with this and made my own collet chucks for tool handles on a metal lathe which was a good project for maintaining metal lathe skills. And then I stumbled onto the availability of collet chuck extensions, of which some are quite useable for ER collet tool handles and available at a very affordable price. So this all has been helpful for me with affordability for a bunch of tools along with efficient reduced storage space needed.

I like the idea of not round to keep the tool from vacating the work area!

I have the Rikon carbide set and love it. Change over is simple, tool less, FAST, and secure. 14mm shank I think, with a nub to prevent rotation. Just wish more tools were available to fit. Like high speed steel bowl gouges etc.

Great video

Thanks for the ideas and I will follow this also on your blog. My experience so far is the Crown system tool with two sizes and the handles from Simon Hope. I made one very heavy gouge 32mm wide and used ER32 MK2 adapter in an Aluminium tube. Normally too big and heavy, but with such a heavy gouge it works. In my experience the biggest advantage: when I sharpen the gouges, I don‘t need to fight with a big sized tool but can handle a nicely sized piece of steel.

Well done Alan. I am still experimenting with different shapes for my tool handles. I have some I like but more that I do not like.

Thanks Alan very good demo of your process. I have shied away from the one handle and many tools because when turning the tool you need is always NOT the one in the handle so it wastes time changing tools. Just the way I see it, so I made separate handles for the set I bought from Thompson Tools. The custom Aluminum Handle is available for travel since all four tools fit inside the Thompson handle. I would like to show you a picture but cannot post here.

...well done on the handle!...the oval shape is a great idea...👍 Not sure why the collet manufacturer doesn't offer one for square bars...shouldn't be hard to have four flat fingers on a collet...🤔 Maybe turn, file and split your own adapter out of, say, Delrin for this system...??? Matt

Great explanation. Very useful and well done.

Excellent video. Thanks! The first handle looks like a Stewart Batty handle. He was at AAW in KY, and he's back to making them again. Re square shanks: most of them like the Robust skews, have rounded edges. and would probably work in a collet. You might want to try one, and see how firm it holds..

Thanks, Alan!

Hi Alan, I also have the robust tool handle . I bought a second one without collets thinking I would enter change, works well. In your video you started making a hollow Handel and later you drilled out the handle. Did the hollow idea not work out? I like the oval idea for the handle, thank you for the. Idea.

Nice to meet you in Louisville

I have been looking for a system to allow a single handle to support multiple tools. I thought the Jimmy Clewes system would be it but I am not sure now. Is the Robust system still available? You didn't post a link.