Chopper - WIP + a folder. UPDATE CHOPPER FINISHED!

[jll346]

Absolutely awesome job on the folder!!!! Chopper looks like it is gonna be awesome also. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

Got a bit more time to work on my chopper.

pin and lanyard holes marked out

This kiddies is why you clamp things down.

A little bit of blood later. Holes Drilled (it was the lanyard tube hole that got me).

I pinned the scales together and shaped the front

Dry run

I drilled some shallow holes in the scales so the epoxy might hold stronger.

Then i coloured up the epoxy with some red stain and got gluing

Out of the clamps and cut down to size a little

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

Alrighty! nearly there.

Got the handle all shaped and sanded today and it's currently soaking in vege oil to waterproof it.

I know the plan was to have a light eucalyptus liner and jarrah scales but i thought i'd simplify it a bit. I ended up just using some Murray River Red Gum. I figure, it's been living in and around a river for hundreds of years so it's gotta be a little water resistant and i know its as tough as anything.

Shaped and sanded with 80# Unfortunately i found some borer holes. oh well.

Pre-oiling. Scales sanded all the way up to 2000# and the blade a 400# satin finish.

I'll soak the handle in oil overnight and post finished pictures tomorrow.

 

[stevenkelby]

Looking great Tim!

I use red gum as fire wood, it's a shame to burn such nice wood but that's what's here.

You could fill those borer holes with thick CA glue?

Does it feel like you hoped it would in hand?

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

Looking great Tim!

I use red gum as fire wood, it's a shame to burn such nice wood but that's what's here.

You could fill those borer holes with thick CA glue?

Does it feel like you hoped it would in hand?

Yeah i know how you feel. I work at a furniture maker and we throw out nice timber all the time and i think "surely i could use that" but you can only hoard so much right? As for how it feels. Mate, it feels better! I've never held a more comfortable piece of wood. It's tailored to my hand and feels perfect. Cant wait to test it. Public holiday tomorrow, maybe i'll get a chance then.

 

[stevenkelby]

Fantastic, congrats Try and get some video of it in action!

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

Fantastic, congrats Try and get some video of it in action!

will do. thanks

 

[jonnymac44]

Tim, that chopper is looking very nice my friend!! Your shaping work on the handles was excellent, very nice contours.

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

Tim, that chopper is looking very nice my friend!! Your shaping work on the handles was excellent, very nice contours.

Thanks Jonny!

 

[1066vik]

awesome job you've done on that -- definitely looking forward to some "in-use" pics!

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Tim that looks outstanding! I like everything about it, nice recurve and choil, awesome job on the handle. Nice wood choice, sounds like good stuff.

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

awesome job you've done on that -- definitely looking forward to some "in-use" pics!

Thanks bud. I'm going to go for a bush bash and take some "in use" right after i post these photos.

Tim that looks outstanding! I like everything about it, nice recurve and choil, awesome job on the handle. Nice wood choice, sounds like good stuff.

Thanks a lot Daniel. I love red gum and it looks really nice now that its oiled up. I'll post some pics now.

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

Woohoo! I finally finished this big sucker. Here are some photos. They're only cell phone pics because i don't have a good camera yet.

My little doggy giving it a final quality control inspection. Thanks Norm.

Once I've posted these I'm heading straight out to the mountains to test it out. When i get back I'll post some acting shots and maybe a video if i can manage it by myself.

Thanks for watching and helping me make my first chopper! I'll finish the Folder part of this WIP some time but I've got heaps of stuff on at the moment.

 

[Matt Brook]

Nice work Tim.

She looks a beauty. Well done mate.

Matt

 

[stevenkelby]

Looks even better, I didn't realise you had tapered the tang, that's right up town, classy job!

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

Thanks Matt. Thanks Steven.

As promised here's a bunch of pictures of the chopper in action. I took a video too, but i've gotta figure out how to edit it.

First victim!

Clearing a path

I've got a video of me chopping this one down. I've just gotta edit it down a bit. The tree would have been a good 9" round.

Still shaving sharp after the big tree.

Various other shots from around the mountain.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

excellent.

 

[giant1]

That's a great looking chopper. :thumbup:

 

[Tiiiiiiiim]

Cheers guys.

 

[stevenkelby]

That's freaking awesome, you must be very pleased with it

Did you find any hotspots on the handle?

Did you feel like it could use a lanyard?

Anything you would do differet next time?