Handle on a knife with filework on the tang

T

terrinecold

Joined
Oct 3, 2016
Messages
113
The knives I make (I am at my second real one with one practice one out of mild steel) have file work on the tang.
I have had the following issue with getting the finish to look nice on the filework:
  • It is nice prior to handle assembly
  • I pin and glue the handle after rough shaping it. I use excess epoxy to make sure all the file work holes are covered, the file work is covered in epoxy
  • I finish shaping the handle and sand away the epoxy until the file work shows up

That last steps usually ruins the finish.

So I have a new plan and I wanted your opinion.
Basically I will do the finish shaping and sanding on the handles prior to gluing, the handle will just be held by pins, then I will pop the pins away and glue everything together but instead of putting excess glue and planning to sand it, I will wipe the excess so there is just enough to fill in the filework holes.

I wanted to know what you who have more experience think about it, all videos I saw had people gluing prior to finishing the shaping of the handle
 
Finish sand after you glue everything up. I finish sand the front edge of the scales, where the scale meets the blade, then do the rest of the handle work after the glue has set up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
2fe57226444dfe00a5d03f81ed2ed48d.jpg
ce6eb0fb922ecccd0cb977b3f709909a.jpg
89a9b001a6396326af2f1c3ecd9cab22.jpg
.
This was my first attempt and what I did was shape scales to match the tang then made sure all my file marks were deep enough then glued it up with a black epoxy the n sanded off excess glue. I went a little over board with the glue but it worked for me.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
That is basically the technic I wanted to use. I am not very happy with the epoxy I used, it is 2hours epoxy that I picked up at home depot but it didn't really become hard enough to sand well, it was kind of gummy and would come out of the holes when being sanded.
 
Last edited:
Used just a normal two part epoxy with an epoxy colorant and it definitely took much longer to get hard. It stayed gummy for much longer than normal. I might of had to much colorant was my thought.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
The epoxy stands a good chance of coming out of the file work at some point.
Why not leave the epoxy out?
Polishing your file work makes it look a lot better than filling it.
 
the 2 hour epoxy from home depot is 2 hours for set time, most epoxies need 24 hours for a full cure. maybe thats why it was gummy and came off ?
 
I did wait 24 hours. Also to answer why not leave the epoxy out. The problem is then how to completely remove it. What looks bad is when the holes are partially filled.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Only use a light coat of epoxy, or use none at all. You can peen the pins to hold the scales on
A q-tip with rubbing alcohol will clean unhardened epoxy up.
 
terrinecold said:
That is basically the technic I wanted to use. I am not very happy with the epoxy I used, it is 2hours epoxy that I picked up at home depot but it didn't really become hard enough to sand well, it was kind of gummy and would come out of the holes when being sanded.
Click to expand...

It may have been the cold.
Epoxy doesn't set (good) in the cold.

You can put some wax on the file work to prefent the epoxy adhering there
 
I have done file work with out filling the the gaps and to me it is all a preference of what you want. When I did it that way I used very little epoxy when gluing the scales. As the epoxy dried I would continually dig out with a cloth soaked in acetone and tooth pick. The only problem I see with not filling in the file work is if the knife is truly used then it gets harder to clean all the file work. Example skin a deer with the knife you will get blood in every little crevice. Just my opinion.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
TG custom blades said:
I have done file work with out filling the the gaps and to me it is all a preference of what you want. When I did it that way I used very little epoxy when gluing the scales. As the epoxy dried I would continually dig out with a cloth soaked in acetone and tooth pick. The only problem I see with not filling in the file work is if the knife is truly used then it gets harder to clean all the file work. Example skin a deer with the knife you will get blood in every little crevice. Just my opinion.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I think I'll try that. We don't hunt and the knife is intended as an eating implement. I am making a set of 4 steak knives with the same blade shape and filework but different handles for our family to use.
So it will be used but not an intensive use.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I have been filling the filework on my tangs with epoxy for over 8 years and have had none come out., Use a better epoxy and make sure you use enough hardener when your mix it. Try G-flex, blade bond, or K&G epoxies and use K&G powdered colorant. Just my opinion. Larry


NCDINR4m.jpg
 
Last edited:
It may not be the "look" you want but using screws to keep the scales on would certainly solve many problems.
Frank
 
I like file work when it's filled becaus if it's empty it collets gunk under everyday use.
 
TG custom blades said:
Make sure to post some pictures. I would like to see the file work.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I definitely will. I am on a 3 weeks business trip so it won't be progressing until after that.
5d4217e952de4dc5b7ff14f29112cbed.jpg

Above is a previous knife's filework. (The left side of the handle wasn't finished hence the asymmetrical look.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Finally back home. I did get the filework and heat treat done on the knife I was talking about in this thread.
Here are some picture after a quick clean up following the tempering
d269194f642d91df2cbceb7082208f20.jpg
5fc28ec8c4b33380f0c05513af44ee85.jpg
20ee1866475906803303315f4b107022.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top