Hand Cranks

On some of the things I make I need a handle to turn a shaft, so I started making wooden hand cranks.  

These hand cranks are usually made from plywood or you can also use a piece of oak flooring, generally tapered in shape with rounded ends.   One end has a hole that goes over the shaft I need to turn, the other has a handle with a roller.    

Parts of a crank handle   This one is made from 1/2" plywood to turn a 3/8" shaft.   Note the 7/16" bore for the 3/8" dowel in the 1" roller handle.   The 1/4" bolt, nut, and star washer to clamp the handle to the shaft.   Also the #8 screw with washer to hold the roller onto the crank.

Other end of the roller, note the 1/8" bore for the retaining screw.   I chamfered the end of the roller.

Half inch hardwood plywood, large end, drilled, slotted, ready to slip over the shaft.   You can see the 3/8" bore for the shaft and the 1/4" bore for the clamp bolt.   The slot through the shaft hole allows the crank handle to clamp down on the shaft.   The flat cut on each end of the clamp bolt give a good platce to tighten the clamp.

Crank handle assembly ready to install.