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BK-Short, my Handle Project for the 16. UPDATE: DONE

gentemanndvm -- If I read the original post correctly (big if) you drilled out the screw holes, then used the forstner bit. Why didn't you just use the forstner bit after the original, smallest pilot hole? The center point on the forstner bit should guide straight along the pilot hole; no need for the countersink bit.

Two quick tool questions: One, does that HF belt sander have square wheels, or crowned wheels. My el cheapo HF 1" x 30" belt sander has crowned wheels, and it would be a lot easier to use if it had square wheels. Two, I hope you you're using one of the HEPA cartridges in the Shop Vac, because micarta (and G10, etc.) can be nasty stuff, and a simple mask isn't good enough. I think I've seen them at both Wally World and the home centers.

But mainly, DAMN, those are nice looking handles. You did a great job. Thanks for the post, and all the great photos.
 
marantz,

yep you read it correctly. using the original pilot hole to seat the forstner bit and drill that down to depth, THEN expanding the pilot holes that went all the way through WAS my plan A, just like you mentioned. but somebody got all excited that the plunge router thing worked to give straight vertical holes that lined up great on the 2 slabs, and completely forgot about plan A and jumped right into using the drill bits to expand the pilot holes. so plan B came into effect, which was the countersink hole to start and give the forstner bit someplace to sit so it didn't walk on me. plan A was better. my plan A's are usually better. they just never happen. i blame others. (i actually talked about both of these as options on that original BK16 mod thread i referenced/linked at the beginning of this one. somewhere on page 2 in that thread...)

tool stuff:
i checked, and my HF belt/disc combo sander also has crowned wheels just like yours. but it tracks really well, never been a problem. what's the benefit to the squared wheels?

micarta and hepa filter - yep. plus i put a hose on the outflow of the shopvac and send that out through the cat door cut into the door next to my workbench. thanks for the concern - i keep reading how bad micarta dust is, and want none of it in my lungs.
 
Congrats on the hex holes :thumbup:, I'd have never done that or thought of doing it that way. What kinda micarta is that anyway? Looks like burlap.
 
gentemanndvm said:
micarta and hepa filter - yep. plus i put a hose on the outflow of the shopvac and send that out through the cat door cut into the door next to my workbench. thanks for the concern - i keep reading how bad micarta dust is, and want none of it in my lungs.
Click to expand...

It definetly is, I've breathed a ton of it in cos I'm usually to lazy to put on a respirator (combination of being tired and the stupid hot weather...in summer). Probably have enough dust in me to build a new set of bk-2 scales.
 
CamH_16 said:
Congrats on the hex holes :thumbup:, I'd have never done that or thought of doing it that way. What kinda micarta is that anyway? Looks like burlap.
Click to expand...

it's called barbwire micarta. if you google it, it'll come up from a popular knife supply site here in the states. based out of texas. but they might be out of stock right now, i think they had a little run on their supply this last week or so. it glosses beautifully too, i just left it like this b/c i wanted the better grip from the rougher sanded micarta.
 
gentemanndvm -- The advantage of a square wheel grinder is that the pressure on the belt is more constant across the width of the belt, while the crowned wheel grinder has more pressure in the center than on the edges. All the professional grinder for knifemakers are square wheel grinders, but that takes more precision to track well, which means much more expensive. I guess I just need a lot more practice with my HF cheapie.

Again, great looking handles.
 
m,
thanks for the info re: belt sanders. i think i'm stuck with the HF cheapo, too. kids to pay for, retirement to save for, gas to go fishing on my days off, wife to keep happy. i need more money. anyone have any extra laying around?
 
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