Customising a Custom

As sad as it is to see the original burl pieces go, you did a fantastic job on the swap:thumbup:
 
Here is a shot of the spine I promised.
Richard

new
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old
BusseCustomASHJarrahdd.jpg
 
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Yep, I have to say that I was a bit sad to see the original scales go, too. I am very fond of a nicely figured burl and side on they looked great. But as the shots above show, they seemed thinner than the stock and even though I prefer the standard grips on my FBM, CGASH1 and BATAC's, they just didn't feel right. What the photo's don't show, 'cause I didn't take one to show, is that they also overhung the bottom of the handle, in the deepest part, by something like 1/32" feeling very precarious. And while I do have some customs that will probably never be used, I think that you have to at least feel that you would like to. This one now seems very similar in balance and general feel to my grex handled one, which is great.

The wood came from another good friend, a tree surgeon, who can tell you exactly from where in the buttress of the stump he cut it to show the compression waves and pick up the changing colours, so it has sentimental significance for us. It came from less than 10 minutes drive from where we live. If the original scales had to go, this is the way I wanted it to be.

And Tinbasher's idea of fitting the mosaic pins through polished hollow rivets has really worked a treat. It gives them a real lift, like a frame around a picture somehow. I couldn't be happier with the end result.
 
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Well sandgrouper's good lady didn't want them to have the shiny varnish look so the wood is ground almost to finished size then sealed with 50/50 mix of wood glue and water,left to dry for a few days then sanded back coated once more with a very thin mix say 70 /30 mix water and glue lightly sanded to 600 grit and very lightly buffed.
If you are going to try this method don,t over brush the first coat because the water will bring out the natual dyes in the wood and make it a little darker.
Richard
 
looks great both ways. The pins in the middle of the tubes looks great.

were you able to take the old handle slabs off without ruining them? If so I know a guy who might take them off your hands.........this guy!

Maybe my CG ash needs burl handles?
 
Bigfattyt said:
looks great both ways. The pins in the middle of the tubes looks great.

were you able to take the old handle slabs off without ruining them? If so I know a guy who might take them off your hands.........this guy!

Maybe my CG ash needs burl handles?
Click to expand...

Sorry,one curled it's toes up the other broke.
still have the bent one as a template.

Richard
 
Well no point of missing the old slabs now that they are dead :)

The new ones are gorgeous and spine shot shows they seem more comfortable.

Great workmanship.
 
Tinbashers work is incredible. The mod he did on my ASH LE has made it the pride of my collection!

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Total PIMPAGE! Love your work Richard!:thumbup:
 
Tinbasher said:
Well sandgrouper's good lady didn't want them to have the shiny varnish look so the wood is ground almost to finished size then sealed with 50/50 mix of wood glue and water,left to dry for a few days then sanded back coated once more with a very thin mix say 70 /30 mix water and glue lightly sanded to 600 grit and very lightly buffed.
If you are going to try this method don,t over brush the first coat because the water will bring out the natual dyes in the wood and make it a little darker.
Richard
Click to expand...

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing that.
 
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