Handle Material

What is the strongest wood to handle a knife with? Uncle Bill, what is the strongest wood available through BirGhorka?
Matthew
 
I have still another question, does anyone know where I could get a handle cast out of steel? I want an evil looking claw thing, I am sure there is someone who could do this but it probably would cost quite a bit, but I would still like to have it done. I am assuming I would have to have a wood model made first then have a cast made of that-or is this a complete pipe dream.
Matthew-I am still the ugly one
 
D

Dan K

Joined
Oct 4, 1998
Messages
677
LR,
Cast steel.....could be quite a problem. A one off job like that would probably run about $500-$700, IF you could find someone to do it along with another pour that they had going. If they had to do a mold and a whole setup and a melt and pour just for that, my guess is it would run around $2500 or more.
If you want to do aluminum or Brass or Bronze, you might be able to get a "one off" for less than $200.
Dan
 
$2500, thats it. WHAT! That's crazy, I guess the process is much more complicated than I thought. Why is the steel so much more expensive than all the other metals? Man, I really wanted an evil looking handle too. Oh well. Thanks for all the info.
Matthew-the ugly one
 
Matter of fact I rec'd in this morning's mail a MKK housed in the work of a certain ding-a-ling.


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Longrifle,
have you considered doing a casting yourself? Not too incredibly difficult using aluminium, which has, IMHO, a good feel for a khukuri handle (think Singapore Police... Also looks very pretty. Durable too.)
Think of the happy hours you could while away making a wax model of your perfect dream monster-ugly handle...
You've got me thinking now, dammit!
First step: cruise your local library, or search the net for educational sites.
This is real easy. I can remember (still!) making golfclub heads in school. Like I said, real easy.
Good luck.
(Hey! I just saved someone about $2480!
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)
David

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"Kaphar Hunno Bhanda Marnu Ramro"
 
The strongest wood I know of is lignum vitae- also known as iron wood. It used to be used to line propellar shafts in big ocean-going vessels. You might think about cocobolo, blood wood, purple heart, cordia, and maradillo. They're all very beautiful and durable.

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"To know and to act are one."
 
Thanks for the info David! I may have to give that a try, although my casting may be quite laudable. Sounds like a frustrating project that I will have to try.
Matthew-the ugly one
If I could come up with $2500 I don't think I would spend it on a knife handle anyway.
 
Casting steel is expensive because the melting temperature is so high. Casting zinc alloy aka "pot metal" is much more reasonable -- by the way, it's not used to make pots; it's called that because you can melt it in an iron pot. That's something you can do yourself or you might be able to find somebody to do it for you at a reasonable price. There are a lot of zinc handled knives around, balisongs and fixed-blades, so you can see what it's like ... it's not as hard as steel but it has a similar look. It's also much lighter than steel. If you really must have it in steel it would be more practical to machine a one-off than to cast it ... it would be very heavy, though.

-Cougar :{)
 
LR:
A solid cast steel hilt would be tough, but there is always a way.
I have a friend who does steel sculpture. He welds small bits together to make big ones. You could do the same with a khuk handle...starting with a piece of steel gas pipe, say...and adding other pieces to fill out the shape roughly. Then a long session with a grinder, files and sanding to give the shape and finish you desire. It would be a lot of work, and heavy, but it's do-able if you have the determination.
Look around Maumee for a welding shop...maybe the auto shop at your local High School. It may be possible to enlist the help of students, or even the instructor. I've accomplished similar projects in this way. The secret is to ask nice, and get the helpers involved and interested. Every metal shop I've ever been in has a scrap box full of 'parts' that can give you ideas.
Ken

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The sword cannot cut itself, the eye cannot see itself.
 
LR,
The cost is not a rip-off. It cost quite a bit just to fire up the furnace and then there is a minimum amount of steel that can be melted without ruining the stuff. Your handle would use maybe .05% or less of the smallest pot load. Besides making the mold and getting it ready, the actual cost of your knife handle would be incidental compaired to the rest of the process. That's why I suggested an alternative or two.
Dan
 
Hey there! I think this is my first post here, but i'm not sure. I just ordered my first from UB this week, a refurbished BAS. I bought it to try out at wood sculpture. Anyway, I'm in school now, as an art major. I do a bit o' welding myself. If you give me a drawing, i might be able to whip something up. Or, if you send me the blade, I could give you my version. It would have to be a spare time thing, so it might take a while, but it would come out pretty damn well if you give me time to do it. Actually, I have to make something in the next few weeks, a container, and I might be able to pass that off. I'd have to charge for my time, but I'd be more then reasonable. Let me know if your interested, and we can figure something out. Best of luck, and welcome to myself to the forum. There, now no one else has to do it
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[This message has been edited by afee (edited 10-18-2000).]
 
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