Convince Me.......Please!!

Ok. I just ordered a Machax. Can't wait to get it. I may try that nail polish - acid etch treatment I saw somewhere here...... Btw, got this at a steal of a price..... $60 clams!!!! Ahhhh, my first Becker, even brand new!
 
Psyop said:
Im a big fan of the BK9

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Too bad she's not a fan of the BK13! I'm willing to donate one!
 
A late reply but here none the less. I received my Machax and promptly stripped it and polished the spine up to 1200 grit. It's an awesome chopper and I really like it. I also bought a BK16 and am debating doing the same thing to it. I really like the flat grind and overall blade shape and ergo's. I'm not too keen on the scales though. Although they are comfortable, they are slippery. I would love to see the scales coming on these knives to be made of canvas micarta or similar right off the bat. Otherwise it seems like it's going to be a fine companion to the Machax for woods working.
 
There are micarta handles available for the bk 16 for extra that you can get, from what I hear they are very comfortable. I had thought about switching but practically from day to day use I have not had a problem with the stock scales, it's only when I am sitting infront of the computer that the itch comes to buy a new set of handles.
 
If you're gonna do the acid etch artwork, I recommend you either buy good quality nail polish, or else use spray paint (my recommendation). The cheap stuff won't scratch off properly, and you'll have a devil of a time getting a good design to work. A couple coats of enamel spray paint works great, and comes right off with that paint stripper. Many of us make our own scales, and there are plenty of micarta scales available as well.
 
Becker blades etch up nicely. I use paint mask for my design (mask the area to be etched), then use spray paint for the resist. Let it cure on there, then peel away your mask. I then apply PCB Etchant in 1-2 hour intervals until it's deep enough. You can then gun-blue the etched area, force a patina, or just strip the paint off and leave it as-is. The etchant will darken the area a little anyway. I'm really eyeing up my Machax or BK2 for the next one.

Here's the last one I did:

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tiogatires said:
I received my Machax and promptly stripped it and polished the spine up to 1200 grit. It's an awesome chopper and I really like it. I also bought a BK16 and am debating doing the same thing to it.
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Oh yeah he is hooked!

I met Ethan at a outdoors store one day and after talking for about an hour I decided that I had to get one of the Campanions he was talking about. I was not displeased at all. About a month or two later, I was at a gathering at his place here in TN and Jerry Fisk was putting a killer edge on my BK2. I have purchased several and given away several as gifts to spread the madness specially to my son in law (E-5 in 82nd Airborne) and his brother (E-5 USN). They have both taken them overseas like Murph and all I can say about them is that I wish I had known about them when I did my three tours there in the 90's.

You won't regret joining the fun.
 
tiogatires said:
I'm not too keen on the scales though. Although they are comfortable, they are slippery.
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Glad you like them. I've put in a lot of work with Machaxen myself. My go to for when I have to remove trees. And The BK-16 is one of my favorite tools I've ever owned.

I had a thought about the slippery issue. Shy of micarta'ing them up (quite nice), you could have your grivory media blasted. I've seen it done a few times and the result is a matte and grippier surface. Also, some guys will ranger band their handles.
 
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