Bill Siegle
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2000
- Messages
- 6,836
Well I finally got time to do a little scale work for my B11 tonight. Figured since I make knives I would save a few bucks from buying the micarta scales. I dought I saved a penny after it was all done but I did have some fun 
The hard part was creating the little pieces that fill up the handle cut outs. Not easy to work that small of a piece of G10 on the Bader. Then there was drilling the 3/32 holes.......turns out my drill press chuck doesnt hold that small of a diameter drill. Out comes the Dremel and away goes the happiness of a true 90 on my drill press. Glad I didn't have too much Mt Dew today so I still had steady hands. Oh did I forget to mention the screws are just a tad larger in diameter than a 3/32 drill? OK use a little side action with the Dremel to open the holes up! OK holes are drilled and true enough through all the parts. Now how to shape these little scales to contour? Oh I know.........hold on tight with the tips of the fingers on the fast running Bader grinder! That worked Now to counterbore the through holes for the scew heads...........proper sized counter bore or 1/4in drill and pray? No counterbore so let's use the 1/4in drill 
Finally getting close. Now to just make those hex head nuts into circular nuts so they will fit a 1/4in conterbore. Hold that 3/4in long screw still while it heats up and keep it spinning so I don't facet the nuts.......WOW! It worked! Cleaned it all up and put it together with some Loc Tite so the scales don't loosen. Great feeling little blade now and I probably only spent about $100 of shop time to save what $35? OK I am done whining. I am very happy with the results. I won't be doing more but I would highly recomend anyone thinking of scales for this tiny beast consider buying the Kabar scales
The hard part was creating the little pieces that fill up the handle cut outs. Not easy to work that small of a piece of G10 on the Bader. Then there was drilling the 3/32 holes.......turns out my drill press chuck doesnt hold that small of a diameter drill. Out comes the Dremel and away goes the happiness of a true 90 on my drill press. Glad I didn't have too much Mt Dew today so I still had steady hands. Oh did I forget to mention the screws are just a tad larger in diameter than a 3/32 drill? OK use a little side action with the Dremel to open the holes up! OK holes are drilled and true enough through all the parts. Now how to shape these little scales to contour? Oh I know.........hold on tight with the tips of the fingers on the fast running Bader grinder! That worked Now to counterbore the through holes for the scew heads...........proper sized counter bore or 1/4in drill and pray? No counterbore so let's use the 1/4in drill Finally getting close. Now to just make those hex head nuts into circular nuts so they will fit a 1/4in conterbore. Hold that 3/4in long screw still while it heats up and keep it spinning so I don't facet the nuts.......WOW! It worked! Cleaned it all up and put it together with some Loc Tite so the scales don't loosen. Great feeling little blade now and I probably only spent about $100 of shop time to save what $35? OK I am done whining. I am very happy with the results. I won't be doing more but I would highly recomend anyone thinking of scales for this tiny beast consider buying the Kabar scales
