Bolster and handle seamless construction?

[tedtf]

Need some advice on combining handle materials. Whats the best way to "line-up" the bolster material and rest of handle material? Looking to have seamless look. Example in pic.

Thanks

 

[Jason Fry]

Main issue is to have everything flat and square, so you have no gap between handle elements. Easiest way to do that, IMO, is to set the work table on your grinder, and grind all the 90's or dovetails without moving the work rest. Doesn't matter if it's 30 degrees, or 43.6, if you don't move it, they'll be the same.

 

[Grayzer86]

I prefer to true all surfaces on a disc grinder since I find it produces a flatter surface than the belt. What I do for non dovetail, is align my two scales, and drill them, then hold them together with temp pins. After that I square up the face on the disc with them together, as well as square the back of my bolster material. Then I clamp them and glue the bolster and scale together. Having the scales drilled, pinned, and ground together makes sure my seam is identical on both sides of the knife. I leave the bolster pieces long and after pinning the cured sections together I finish the bolster faces together to make sure everything is identical.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I true up the mating surfaces on the flat platen and glue them together with medium CA. No need to worry about any other angles. After a 24 hour cure, I flatten the backs so they are perfectly aligned. Next, I put a liner on the back. .030" black G-10 works well for me ( it comes in many colors). I use T-88 for attaching the liner. Once the liner is cured for 24 hours, I fit the assembled scale to the knife. When shaped and sanded smooth all junctions will be seamless.

 

[tedtf]

Thank you for the info and replies.