handle scales

R

roknjs

Joined
Apr 15, 2005
Messages
298
I have a kindling froe knife with no scales or cord wrap on the handle. I'd like to have some micarta added to the handle. Anyone know who I can get to do it.
 
roknjs said:
Not much help are you. If I had the tools needed to do it, or the expertise, I would and I wouldn't have asked.
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All it takes is a drill, rasps or files, and sand paper. He wasn't trying to be a jerk, it's just a relatively easy thing for anyone to do. You'll save money and be more proud of it if it's done by yourself.

As for your initial question, I don't actually know anyone who typically re-handles someone else's knives, although I'm sure you'll find someone around here.

Edit: Almost forgot, you should probably get one of those disposable breathing masks, Micarta dust isn't a great thing to get in your lungs.
 
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I don't think any offence was intended. We respect people here who have the courage to try - and we tend to support them best because of the extra respect. The job probably only requires a file and an electric drill and some sandpaper and epoxy.

If you're just looking for a maker to do the job, that's fine, but don't be offended if someone tries to encourage you. It's not an attack here - just a nudge. :)

Rob!
 
Check out "JB Knives" WIP thread where he walks you through making his drop point hunter. He does a great job of coaching through the handle making. I think even I might be able to do it now!


WIP: HD drop point hunter/ utility fixed blade


Rob
 
roknjs said:
I have a kindling froe knife with no scales or cord wrap on the handle. I'd like to have some micarta added to the handle. Anyone know who I can get to do it.
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How large is the knife? Most of the froe knives I've seen were quite large, with handles extending 10+ inches. While it might be possible to fashion a handle, finding a large piece of micarta at a reasonable price may be a challenge.

Do you have pics, or dimensions?

If you want, shoot me a PM and we can discuss it.
 
KnifeMaker.ca said:
I don't think any offence was intended. We respect people here who have the courage to try - and we tend to support them best because of the extra respect. The job probably only requires a file and an electric drill and some sandpaper and epoxy.

If you're just looking for a maker to do the job, that's fine, but don't be offended if someone tries to encourage you. It's not an attack here - just a nudge. :)

Rob!
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I guess the offense comes from the fact that I asked who does it and not how can I do it myself. The answer wasn't helpful to me and I was looking for help. It's a little like yelling "Swim!" to a drowning man. He knows he can probably do it, but at the moment it's not going to happen.

Not really offended anyway, but I just don't find answers like that all that helpful. To me, a helpful answer with a nudge as well was Destraal's answer.
 
Just some helpful (or maybe not) advice not related to your original question: When you come on a public forum and post a question, you're going to get all kinds of answers. It's up to you to wade through the answers to find the best solution; it's not up to us to decipher what may or may not offend your sensibilities. Snide comments aren't usually found along the path to helpful responses.

--nathan
 
silver_pilate said:
Just some helpful (or maybe not) advice not related to your original question: When you come on a public forum and post a question, you're going to get all kinds of answers. It's up to you to wade through the answers to find the best solution; it's not up to us to decipher what may or may not offend your sensibilities. Snide comments aren't usually found along the path to helpful responses.

--nathan
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Thanks for making my point for me. I felt the anwer I got was a snide remark and was not helpful.

I guess I don't understand why it's ok for someone to give me a terse answer, but it's not ok for me to say it wasn't helpful.
 
I guess I wouldnt spend too much time on who made what comment. ;)

If you wanna do the handles yourself theres tons of tutorials out there and plenty of help here. If you're looking for a maker to put them on for you, theres several different makers that have their own forum here that could do it for you.

If you're still not getting the answer you like, then take a look at some of the work that has been posted, and contact the maker directly with your questions /request.

Larry
 
Shaughnessy said:
I guess I wouldnt spend too much time on who made what comment. ;)

If you wanna do the handles yourself theres tons of tutorials out there and plenty of help here. If you're looking for a maker to put them on for you, theres several different makers that have their own forum here that could do it for you.

If you're still not getting the answer you like, then take a look at some of the work that has been posted, and contact the maker directly with your questions /request.

Larry
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Larry,
Thanks for this answer. This is what I was looking for from the beginning.

You are correct. It really doesn't do much good to argue these things on a public forum. The answer just rubbed me the wrong way. I'm not a knifemaker and have no experience here. If someone asked me to recommend a Dentist for a specific treatment and I said, "how about yourself." I think that would be out of line.
 
As moderator, I encourage discussion, but discourage bickering.

Moving on....

As to your question, filling out your profile might help. Without knowing where you are located, many won't bother to respond. You might have a chap in your town who will have you over and do the job with you helping.

In defense of those encouraging you to try, a simple scale handle can be done with minimal tools and experience. Basically, a tennis racket style handle;e would work well for a froe.
 
bladsmth said:
As moderator, I encourage discussion, but discourage bickering.

Moving on....

As to your question, filling out your profile might help. Without knowing where you are located, many won't bother to respond. You might have a chap in your town who will have you over and do the job with you helping.

In defense of those encouraging you to try, a simple scale handle can be done with minimal tools and experience. Basically, a tennis racket style handle;e would work well for a froe.
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Agreed. Bickering doesn't help. Actually not trying to bicker. I won't keep harping on this, but again, I just don't see the first answer as a nudge, and it definitely wasn't encouraging. Several others on this thread have given me some info on my original question and have told me what I need if I want to do it myself. I see that as nudging or encouraging. Maybe I need to get thicker skin, but I just don't see what I did that is so much worse than the original one word answer, that I'm the one being chastised here.

Rant over.
 
Ahh, froes, gotta love 'em! Raise your hand, who had a 'fro back in the 70's? :D (Sorry, that was really dumb, but I couldn't resist. Yes, I know what a froe is.)

C'mon guys, not everyone wants to mess with this stuff. If they did, who the heck would buy our knives? ;)

The OP is looking for someone to do a little custom work for him, is that too much to ask on a subforum dedicated to people who do that kind of work? :confused:

Anyway, several places sell micarta in 12" slabs, in various colors. So the project is almost surely do-able. I have a piece of brown canvas micarta that's 3/8" x 5" x 12" on hand. As to pieces longer than 12", I honestly don't know where to get them.

My question is, how much is the froe worth to you, and how quickly do you need it finished up? The micarta, pins, epoxy etc. will run $20 or so, shipping to/from a maker will be more depending on locations, carrier and insurance, and any maker will naturally want a few bucks for his time.

You'll want to decide if you want the froe itself all prettied-up and shiny, which adds labor costs, or if you like the existing finish/patina etc. on it. Personally, I doubt it would be worth the cost to shine up a working tool like that. Just have someone put a good solid handle on it and use the dickens out of it.

The shipping to-and-fro (pun intended) will take much longer than the work itself.

I can and will do it for you, shoot me an email if you'd like a quote. james(dot)terrio@yahoo(dot)com
 
Thanks. Email headed your way.
james terrio said:
Ahh, froes, gotta love 'em! Raise your hand, who had a 'fro back in the 70's? :D (Sorry, that was really dumb, but I couldn't resist. Yes, I know what a froe is.)

C'mon guys, not everyone wants to mess with this stuff. If they did, who the heck would buy our knives? ;)

The OP is looking for someone to do a little custom work for him, is that too much to ask on a subforum dedicated to people who do that kind of work? :confused:

Anyway, several places sell micarta in 12" slabs, in various colors. So the project is almost surely do-able. I have a piece of brown canvas micarta that's 3/8" x 5" x 12" on hand. As to pieces longer than 12", I honestly don't know where to get them.

My question is, how much is the froe worth to you, and how quickly do you need it finished up? The micarta, pins, epoxy etc. will run $20 or so, shipping to/from a maker will be more depending on locations, carrier and insurance, and any maker will naturally want a few bucks for his time.

You'll want to decide if you want the froe itself all prettied-up and shiny, which adds labor costs, or if you like the existing finish/patina etc. on it. Personally, I doubt it would be worth the cost to shine up a working tool like that. Just have someone put a good solid handle on it and use the dickens out of it.

The shipping to-and-fro (pun intended) will take much longer than the work itself.

I can and will do it for you, shoot me an email if you'd like a quote. james(dot)terrio@yahoo(dot)com
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