Commiseration please

robloveday

robloveday

Joined
Jul 19, 2008
Messages
199
I had promised a customer that I would have this camp knife done and ready for him to review by the end of May. When 6/1 rolled around all I had to do was put the finishing touches on the handle which was a beautiful piece of Don Hanson's primo walnut that he sells here on the forum. Now in my defense, I had just finished a 30hr shift at work and so had not slept for a day and a half. While using 220grit on the KMG, I somehow got it into my head the the handle behind the guard was too thick. The next thing I know I'm wondering why there are sparks shooting off the grinder. Just like that, I had ground down to the tang and ruined the handle. :grumpy:

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What was I thinking?
 
Take heart; this is a good opportunity to be inventive. This has happened to me also.
My solution was to mill a recess into the top of the handle for a name plate.

I had the persons name engraved along with the date it was presented.

We had spoken prior to my taking this step and he was understanding and delighted with the results.

Fred
 
I feel your pain, having done that myself.

I advise following the HALT principle: don't grind if you are too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. Lots of dumb mistakes can happen under those conditions.

Contact your client with Mr. Rowe's idea. If he doesn't want that, you'll just have to grind the handle off and build a new one. I know that sucks, but we gotta make the customer happy and sometimes that means eating a goof. :( At least the blade and guard are in fine shape! (Incidentally, I love the "stacked" guard, it looks really cool.)
 
A few wraps of electrical tape will cover that right up.:rolleyes:
I alwaysget mad at my self when I say "just a little more" hopefully you will find a way to fix it without totally replacing the handle.
Stan
 
SBuzek said:
A few wraps of electrical tape will cover that right up.:rolleyes:
I alwaysget mad at my self when I say "just a little more" hopefully you will find a way to fix it without totally replacing the handle.
Stan
Click to expand...

I was thinking some krazy glue and saw dust, should match right up. :)
 
I already ground off the handle and removed the guard. Today I started on a new handle from scratch. I'm hoping to have it done this week. I figured that in the long run this would be the easiest thing to do.
 
You could have boiled it to loosen the glue and then remove the old handle and then put on a new one. You could salvage the old handle by cutting off where you you ground into it and adding a spacer of ivory or micarta to make up the length difference.
 
Man, at least isn't only ME that makes mistakes like that.

You say to yourself... just a little more touch up - and you KNOW you are going to jack something up.

I am not a grinder - but make sheaths - my mistakes are cheaper. I feel for you.

TF
 
If you don't screw up you'll never learn anything!!!! :D
Just make sure you don't screw up and hurt yourself! Your fingers and eyes and such can't be replaced!
Working with belt grinders and especially buffers when you're tired is dangerous and should be something you avoid!
That's a fine looking knife!!!
Why did you remove the guard with the handle?
I sure would like to see some pix of the knife when it's finished!!!
 
Bummer Rob!

But please allow me to say thank you...for having the nerve to post that snafu here, thereby reminding the rest of us to stay as mindful as we can.

All the best, Phil
 
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