I want to make my own knife handle (sticktang)

[Dinus]

So far it has been very easy. However, right now I have a block of wood with a knife at the end of it. How do I get this thing shaped like a knife without scratching up the bolster or blade. What kind of tools do you use? It seems like sand paper or oven files take forever.

 

[JBaker]

Hey, sounds like your new to knifemaking (I'm also very new, but I've made one knife). For my first knife I used a stone grinder to shape my knife from a file. It got the job done, but I think that it's a little bit hard to use.
I see most of the experts using belt sanders. They'll start out with 60 grit to shape the profile and then they'll move into finer grades as they progress.
That should get you started.
Hope it helps.

 

[stephanfowler]

files should work very quickly, but they will load up often so keep a wire brush handy

what you want to do is saw as close to shape as possible using a good quality coping saw (or bandsaw if you have one) then refine the shape with (in order)

Rasp
Bastard Cut File
Second Cut File
120G Sandpaper
220G Sandpaper
400G Sandpaper
(keep going up in grit till your satisfied)

 

[stephanfowler]

Hey, sounds like your new to knifemaking (I'm also very new, but I've made one knife). For my first knife I used a stone grinder to shape my knife from a file. It got the job done, but I think that it's a little bit hard to use.
I see most of the experts using belt sanders. They'll start out with 60 grit to shape the profile and then they'll move into finer grades as they progress.
That should get you started.
Hope it helps.

I used to use my grinder for most all of the shaping but I found I have more consistent results using files.

I rough out the handle on my grinder with a 36G belt and do all of the contouring and shaping by hand with files/sandpaper

 

[tattooedfreak]

Use a coping saw, after you have the hole fit but before you glue it down, to get it to shape and then you can switch to files and paper. Depending on the type of wood, you can use carving tools (powered or nonpowered but I would stick to non) to get to rough shape if it is already on. After the rough cut though, switch to higher grits for finer shaping or if you get worried you might remove too much. It sucks when you are shaping and realize the shape doesn't work or it's too thin and you can't add wood back on.

 

[tryppyr]

Personally, I would worry less about scratching the bolster and the blade, and spend my mental energy on making the perfect line between the handle and the metal. To my way of thinking that means you preshape the handle (making sure you get a flat perfct line where it contacts the metal), but leave a small margin of extra material around the outside. You bond the handle to the knife and do the final finishing as a single unit. Sand the handle and metal together, and insure a perfectly smooth join. Whatever scratches you impart on the metal can be sanded and polished out while you are sanding and polishing the handle.

 

[jawilder]

Put masking tape where on the blade so you don't scratch it.