Feedback on Thunderstruck Scales

ThunderstruckStudios

ThunderstruckStudios

Joined
Jun 22, 2018
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Hi all,

I'm getting into the business of making made-to-order custom scales for knifemakers, and looking for some feedback from the knifemakers themselves. Specifically:
  • Which species of woods do you use most often?
  • What are your ideal dimensions for scales before shaping?
  • What information do you need before purchasing scales?
  • Do you need/want a certain finish/sanding grit on the scales before shaping?
  • How important is stabilized vs. unstabilized wood to you?
I'd appreciate any and all feedback.

Luke

@GermanyChris 19-3ben 19-3ben

scales1.jpg
scales2.jpg
 
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Very cool to see this happening. I hope this works out for you. Might get more feedback in the knifemaker section; not sure.
 
ThunderstruckStudios ThunderstruckStudios
I agree. The knife maker's section is where you're going to get the most traction on that. That said, you do absolutely beautiful looking work.

Is this work that could be done as a customization to existing scales? ie. if someone has a knife with wood scales, could they send those scales to you have have you customize the scales for them? or is this only something that could be done with blocks before shaping?
 
19-3ben 19-3ben It could be done to existing scales, with a few complications:
  • If the wood has been stabilized, our process likely won't work because the wood is no longer porous
  • Getting resin to set on non-flat or irregular surfaces is challenging
  • The finish that's on the existing scales would have to come off and be redone after
So, it could be done, but it's a much simpler process to make the scales before they're shaped and finished.
 
Hey ThunderstruckStudios ThunderstruckStudios , great to see you took the advice from your first thread. Many people come here and get soured by the rules and/or advice from members and it ends up being a bad time. Looks like you took the suggestions of this forum to heart and are making things happen. While your work is not my cup of tea, it is still strikingly beautiful and I hope and suspect you will be very successful here! Cheers!
 
As a single whole piece the 1st sample looks better to me but if I where to imaging it cut and shaped the 2nd probably has more to offer. Both samples look great and good luck to you.
 
P PirateSeulb That's kind of the fun of it, every piece turns out totally different and we only have so much control over it. I just tried to upload a few more but got "the file is too large for the server to process." I'll do some digging around about image uploading and get back to it.
 
They're both roughly 6" x 3" x 5/8". There are dimensions on our site; I assume that's an important specification that a knifemaker needs to know before purchasing.
 
I think you'd do well if you offered a couple scales for popular models for people to purchase directly. It'll need some R&D of course, but if you have woodworking tools I'm pretty sure you can do quite a couple models. For example the Zero Tolerance 0562 comes to mind, since it doesn't need too much work, compared to say a nested Spyderco Para Military 2. The 0562 is pretty popular and still in production so it could be a good first run. Just a thought.
 
ThunderstruckStudios said:
b00n b00n Like offer pre-shaped scales? Is there a big market for that? Not sarcasm, I just don't know.
Click to expand...

Yeah, finished scales, you could make small batches for popular models, that would make it cost effective and you wouldn't sit on too much inventory. The Scale in question:
15935414096_a53a65e08e.jpg

(Not my picture)
It's flat on the bottom, 5 holes, all countersunk and the edges contoured/rounded. I'm sure somebody could provide the OEM/Original Scale (or the entire knife for test fitment) to you for measuring/as a template until you made a prototype. If I were to try my hand and making a custom scale it would be the one I'd try my hand at first.
 
Thank you for the photo, I see exactly what you mean now. That mostly flat shape would work well with our process.

That looks like the Zero Tolerance 0562, right? If someone were to offer up a loaner blade in exchange for free scales when they get it back, I would jump on the opportunity.
 
ThunderstruckStudios said:
Thank you for the photo, I see exactly what you mean now. That mostly flat shape would work well with our process.

That looks like the Zero Tolerance 0562, right? If someone were to offer up a loaner blade in exchange for free scales when they get it back, I would jump on the opportunity.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's the ZT 0562, I felt it's a good choice because it is a popular model (there are at least four basically the same versions released over the past couple years 0562CF, 0562 G10, 0562 Orange, 0562 BLK and it's still currently in production) and the shape of the scale and that it's just one scale that is needed for the model and no reason to deal with the internals.
@GermanyChris , might have one? I'd offer up one of mine, but international shipping would make it unnecessarily expensive, and I think just sending the scale might be less than ideal.
 
That makes sense.

Are those removable bolt and nut style pins? Or would I have to destroy the existing scales to get down to the blank?
 
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