How to avoid damaging etch installing scales?

T

ten-six

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Mar 11, 2017
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I'm working on a full tang blade that will be sandblasted and acid etched for a dark gray, almost parkerized finish. How would you install the scales and finish them to match the profile of the blade without damaging the etch on the tang?

I'm thinking of finishing the scales off with temporary pins as though they were already epoxied in place, then sandblast, etch, and glue the scales in place carefully removing the squeeze out. Thoughts?

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I actually had your knives in mind when I decided on this finish. Any words of wisdom?
 
I tend to drill my pin holes slightly oversized in the tang so I usually use a dab of superglue under the scales to make sure they don’t shift on me. Use slow curing epoxy since you have so much to area to keep clean. I can’t think of much else!
 
When I do this I use close fitting holes and pins, if the permanent pin isn't suitable for some reason I'll add hidden alignment pins solely for indexing the finished scale profile back onto the blade profile during assembly. Something like 3/16" dowel pins and holes reamed to .188".
 
kuraki said:
When I do this I use close fitting holes and pins, if the permanent pin isn't suitable for some reason I'll add hidden alignment pins solely for indexing the finished scale profile back onto the blade profile during assembly. Something like 3/16" dowel pins and holes reamed to .188".
Click to expand...
Solid idea. I like the idea of indexing it perfectly. Thanks!
 
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