how to cool buffalo horn without getting it wet

Dan Gray · Oct 22, 2006

OK, the scenario
you have homemade Purple paper Micarta / 303 stainless / stacked black spacer material and Black water buffalo horn .

the S/S will heat fast while shaping the handle which you don't want because if it gets to hot, it can mess up the epoxy bond, (devcon)
you don't want to put it water to cool it because of the Buffalo horn and possible unprotected Paper, that did not get fully saturated .

what do you do to cool this as fast as possible so you don't have to wait forever for it to cool between grinds??

My answer, a gal zip lock bag and a can of crushed ice and water..
once I got it to shape I sealed it all with super glue..then finished it off..

This is for a lady customer that designed it herself..thanks for looking..

not really my taste but she got what she wanted

David Wesner · Oct 22, 2006

Boy,that looks great Dan! My solution to the scenario you described has been a vortec cold air gun clamped close to the grinder and the willpower to NOT do one more pass on the grinder before cooling. I have to fight the urge sometimes,remembering it takes a whole lot longer to replace burnt material than to have the patience to go slow while finishing that type of handle. Slowing my belt way down along with sharp abrasives is a must too.

Dan Gray · Oct 22, 2006

David Wesner said:
Boy,that looks great Dan! My solution to the scenario you described has been a vortec cold air gun clamped close to the grinder and the willpower to NOT do one more pass on the grinder before cooling. I have to fight the urge sometimes,remembering it takes a whole lot longer to replace burnt material than to have the patience to go slow while finishing that type of handle. Slowing my belt way down along with sharp abrasives is a must too.

good points too.:thumbup:

holmsy · Oct 22, 2006

cool tip dan, i wouldnt have thought of that.
knife looks cool too. i like the home made micarta spacers. did you just use layers of purple paper and resin, puting them on layer by layer?

brett

Tanguay Custom Knives · Oct 22, 2006

Good ole yankee ingenuity! Right on Dan.

DC KNIVES · Oct 22, 2006

The best advice I can offer is slow sanding speeds like David said.I use it all the time and you can't go fast. Dave

McAhron · Oct 22, 2006

Good tip Dan and awsome knife too

the possum · Oct 23, 2006

Personally I would put it in the vise and get out a big coarse file or rasp.

And then finer files. Why do we have to use power tools? A really coarse rasp can chew off brass or wood (and I assume most softer materials) quicker than a 6" angle grinder, with no heat.

Dan Gray · Oct 23, 2006

scott
aw shucks

the possum said:
Personally I would put it in the vise and get out a big coarse file or rasp. And then finer files. Why do we have to use power tools? A really coarse rasp can chew off brass or wood (and I assume most softer materials) quicker than a 6" angle grinder, with no heat.

very good point
you can hog off most of it but the way I contour
( you can't see it in the picture) the slack belt works best for me.. I'm not by any means saying it can't or shouldn't be done that way, I've done it that way also..
Brett
On the paper Micarta . I made packs a certain thickness (paper count) coated each one, squeeze, then let set, then milled them square ..
layers of purple paper and epoxy
thanks guys

balibalistic · Oct 23, 2006

Wow!! what an awsome knife,i generally have little interest in fixed blades but that ones just to cool.love the profile...care to make a blade like that with a couple holes and tang pins :thumbup:

Don Robinson · Oct 23, 2006

Thanks for the great tip, Dan. And the lady has an awesome knife!!

Darrel Ralph · Oct 23, 2006

Dan,
Great looking knife. Very nice fit and finish.
Thanks for the great idea~!

Here is another way to cool them. Make two knives at a time with ivory or horn.
Sit one down for a while and work on the other one.

Dan Gray · Oct 23, 2006

Darrel Ralph said:
Dan,
Great looking knife. Very nice fit and finish.
Thanks for the great idea~!

Here is another way to cool them. Make two knives at a time with ivory or horn.
Sit one down for a while and work on the other one.

Darrell ,,ahhh the retirement knives trick

one for you one for him or her

I see some where some one was doing that and saving the 2nd knife for his retirement , so he could just stop making and sell what he's saved up with time..

balibalistic
sure if you have the time to wait for it and money:foot:

that knife was just over 5 bills..I can't give you a price right now where I'm out about 3 years in orders at this time... maybe I can fill it in between jobs next summer for you?

send me an email if you want to go ahead..

thanks Don and guys