Checkering knife scales?

[TRfromMT]

Any of you pro's do this - hand checkering on knife scales? I am starting and just a very little practice (on some materials I've scrapped out for other reasons). I am already convinced of 2 things.... it is way harder than it looks, and that if I figure it out it will make for some amazingly grippy panels!!

Questions - how do you keep from going off line? Seems like the slightest variation off line and things go south, fast!

How do you do tight turns for the border? Both my V-edger and the 2-line edger just wont turn very tight.

I bought a basic kit (Gunline), but I'm wondering if I need to add a couple smaller/tight radius tools.

I also know I need a much brighter work light. The table lamp wasn't doing it. Maybe magnification, too (or 20 year younger eyeballs)

(The worst of the mistakes here were after I made just a couple errors and just wanted to see what different tools would do, just hogging out material.)

 

[Richard338]

I doubt that it's harder than it looks...it looks pretty hard!
Done perfectly it looks awesome. I have thought about getting the tools after seeing some of John Doyle's work. I hesitated to try it because I could imagine a lot of frustration.
If I did try it, I would certainly wear a 2x magnifier.
Please post your progress. I'm sure I'll get inspired if I see you get the hang of it quickly...

 

[TRfromMT]

^^^ that's right... would love some pointers from the master, @J. Doyle

 

[Richard338]

There were a couple old threads about it. The first is a Jason Fry WIP.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/knife-handle-checkering-wip.1215059/
The second one had some good discussion including some comments from John Doyle and plenty of photos.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/hand-checkering.1609302/

 

[David Mary]

Do you have a checkering file?

EDIT: Never mind, I see it's already mentioned in one of the links above.

 

[Hengelo_77]

This is a self made EDC.

Tight curves with a border tool will be hard, those tools are made for gun stocks wich are a lot larger.
Ajust your design to the tools you have and what they'll do.
Take your time, zoom out of this world and in to that small piece of wood infront of you and don't be distracted.
Have more light!
I have a 3 line cutter, that helps a lot. Let it ride in two lines, cutting only one.
Don't cut your lines to deep, you'll do that with the 90degree cutter. And don't be tempted to already do some lines with the 90degree before all 60degree lines are cut.
Take your time checkering isn't something to rush. It's pretty unforgiving, no way to hide mistakes.
I enjoy the process and yes it gives a nice grippy handle.
The next knife I'll start will actualy have a checkered handle.

 

[TRfromMT]

Hengelo_77 I am going to try a simpler diamond pattern next. I'll do a simple edge along the spine and belly, and let the sides of the diamonds span in a V above and below the front and back screw holes.

(Heeding your advice to create a pattern based on the tools)

 

[john april]

ben seward also does some awesome checkering on handles, check the web for photos.

 

[TRfromMT]

Second attempt. The tight radiuses are eliminated in this one. Fixed one problem, but I have a looonnnggg way to go. Several errant lines, several overruns. Most of my issues were with the 3-line spacer. Seemed to have better luck with the 2-line spacer, with a much lighter touch and more passes.

 

[WValtakis]

That looks much better already! I imagine it's a lot like unpowered "push" engraving...you basically have to do everything with hand muscles, trying to put your arm into it just leads to slips and overruns In my head I'm imagining a lot of light shaving strokes with either a thumb or finger planted on the work for stability.