Just finished my first modded Opinel - show us yours!

[davek14]

So, is the polyshades one of those stains which isn't meant to absorb, coats the surface kinda like a dye?

I've had MUCH hassle tying to stain the beech in an Opinel. Never tried to stain after only rough sanding, have you? And did it work? I wonder what would happen if you rough sanded, stained, then fine sanded.

I really like your "scorching" idea. Bet scorching then using a dark stain would look nice.

Years ago I kinda mass produced basic Opi mods at work. I've given all but a couple I have left as gifts. I used to use a dark stain and rub it in hard with my fingers. It was probably dirt as well as stain which made it dark. Then coats of tung oil and done. It doesn't look as good as yours.

This pic has been on before...

 

[pertinux]

So, is the polyshades one of those stains which isn't meant to absorb, coats the surface kinda like a dye?

Had I coated my Opinel only, I would have said, "yes." However, I've since applied Polyshades to much more porous woods (cheap [basswood?] tray from a craft store, spruce and cedar guitar hole cutouts to seal them for use as coasters, etc.), into which it was at least lightly absorbed, sometimes moreso. However, once the first coat is on, a (recommended by manufacturer) second coat does seem to most sit on top, even if sanded in-between as per directions.

I've had MUCH hassle tying to stain the beech in an Opinel. Never tried to stain after only rough sanding, have you? And did it work? I wonder what would happen if you rough sanded, stained, then fine sanded.

It didn't occur to me to try this, and for now I'm out of Opinels for further attempts. Heh. Sounds like Pinnah hit on this method, to some degree of success.

I really like your "scorching" idea.

Thanks! It turned out okay, if not exactly what I had in mind-- I would have preferred it lighter, but things get dark rather quickly once it catches on fire(!). Should there be a next time, I'd be more patient, and go both more slowly and further away from the flame, throughout. I've sanded and rubbed down the handle some more since posting yesterday, and it's looking and feeling even better-- less "scorched," and more hand-rubbed.

Years ago I kinda mass produced basic Opi mods at work. I've given all but a couple I have left as gifts. I used to use a dark stain and rub it in hard with my fingers. It was probably dirt as well as stain which made it dark. Then coats of tung oil and done. It doesn't look as good as yours.

Oh, I don't know-- I really like the look of yours. I hadn't seen the picture before, so thanks for posting it again.

~ P.

 

[Humppa]

On Saturday I finished another Opinel mod. It was a Opinel #7. I reshaped the blade and made it to a sheepfoot-blade. The blade became much shorter, for sure. So I had to shorten the handle, too. I made the handle more slimmer, for sure.

Here is an in-hand-pic

It´s not finished til now, but I think it makes a good, small user.

Unfortunatelly I made some mistakes with the handle. I "dremeled" too much away, so that it is a asymethric. I can´t fix it. When I would remove the wood of the other side, nearly no wood would be there.

What do you think?

Kind regards
Andi

 

[smiling-knife]

Pertinux, I really like that scorched look and the new shape. I enjoyed your account and photos of the process. Thanks.

Andi, I like the sheepsfoot blade. I would not have thought of that. Looks like you could do some very controlled cutting with the smaller size.

 

[sitflyer]

Here's what your thread inspired today Humppa ...this little INOX 6 succumbed a bit of it's handle to the pen blade of my BOWER Solingen Barlow
keepin' it Traditional and all...

I like the natural grain of this one, seems to be the heartwood so no stain here...
so with the ring removed it is getting one of many liberal coatings of Danish Watco Oil...

it's a WIP, and when the handle is done I will move the point on the blade ever so slightly forward...till then.....

 

[smiling-knife]

That is a great mod. I like the new fishtail handle and the finishing of the wood.

 

[Humppa]

I really like the fishtail-"butt". Looks like it makes a good grip to the knife The varnish you added on the handle makes it look very nice. Did you use sealing wax for that?

Kind regards
Andi

 

[sitflyer]

Not varnish Humppa, it's Danish oil...it soaks in and hardens in the wood, not on the outside. It let's you feel the texture of the wood when done. It takes 3-4 coats to finish it.
The fishtail shape allows my curled pinky finger to nestle in the crook of the tail acting as a stop...it's a very secure three finger grip.

 

[Humppa]

Thank you sitflyer! I didn´t know the correct word for that, so I said varnish (Sorry for my english-skill). But I didn´t know it was danish oil. Seems to be good on any kind of wood.

Thank you for posting this

Kind regards
Andi

 

[sitflyer]

My pleasure, and Thank You for this thread:thumbup:

 

[davek14]

My pleasure, and Thank You for this thread:thumbup:

Yeah, it's been a while since there was an Opinel modding thread. There should be a sticky.

 

[pertinux]

Not varnish Humppa, it's Danish oil...it soaks in and hardens in the wood, not on the outside. It let's you feel the texture of the wood when done. It takes 3-4 coats to finish it.
The fishtail shape allows my curled pinky finger to nestle in the crook of the tail acting as a stop...it's a very secure three finger grip.

I echo others in saying that it looks really good!

A friend of mine used to use Watco almost exclusively, to good effect. I'd forgotten about the stuff, but remembered the name when you mentioned it.

~ P.

 

[spydutch]

On Saturday I finished another Opinel mod. It was a Opinel #7. I reshaped the blade and made it to a sheepfoot-blade. The blade became much shorter, for sure. So I had to shorten the handle, too. I made the handle more slimmer, for sure.

Here is an in-hand-pic

It´s not finished til now, but I think it makes a good, small user.

Unfortunatelly I made some mistakes with the handle. I "dremeled" too much away, so that it is a asymethric. I can´t fix it. When I would remove the wood of the other side, nearly no wood would be there.

What do you think?

Kind regards
Andi

Looks just like the no 6 and 7 I turned into a sheepfoot blade. only I had to make the rest if the handle even thinner because otherwise it was hard to pinch open the blade.

I think it's best to try it with a numer 10 0r 12 so you have more to work with.
Wish I could share pics of it, but I don't have any opprtunity to make digital photo's right now.

 

[zippofan]

I'm loving these mods, I may need to pick up a #8 carbon to try out and leave my stainless #8 stock.

Sitflyer I just have to comment on your pic, the handle on the Opinel looks great and the watch and lighter caught my eye (long time watch and lighter collector). I love Wenger's and have a couple, but I'd love to know more about the lighter. I don't have too many of that lift arm style, is it an Evans?

Thanks!
Griff

 

[Humppa]

@spydutch!

Thank you for the nice replie. You´re completely right, a #10 or even bigger would make a nice sheepfoot blade and a nicer handle. I took my #7 for this, because I wanted to have a pretty small knife with a single sheepfoot blade. The mainproblem on that one is, that the handle now is on side much smaller than on the other one. It can´t be fixed, because I fear, that there won´t be much handle left. I just made a silly mistake. The handle is already much slimmer right now, so the blade can be opened easily.

I gonna give a try on a bigger one, soon. And give another try on the handle, hoping not making the same silly mistake again

Kind regards
Andi

 

[Stich2442]

Nice job fellas, I really like the sheepsfoot Andi, Sitflyer I like your fishtail, the grain looks fantastic,and pertinux I'm digging the flame job.
Don't know if you guys have ever seen these:

I like the two blade one

I have thought about carving a face or a rope patten into one of mine, but haven't gotten around to doing it yet, maybe I'll be motivated after seeing your mods.

This is my favorite Opinel I carried it and used it well for over five years, it's not so much a mod as it is a evolution.

Blade profile is more like a Laguiole, handle has been sanded and refinished multiple times the last just a rub of mineral oil, handle is made to pinch blade.

 

[sitflyer]

ok Humppa, here she is with the finish set, and the new tip grind...the handle shape makes this one very easy to open and close with one hand

 

[Humppa]

@Pete: These ones are completelly unknown to me. But they all look great. The whittling work on these ones is outstanding. I really like them a lot Yours one looks great, too. I like the easy-opening on that one. Remembers me a little at my own. Nice work! Is is, that you made the handle a little slimmer, or is it just because of the pic?

@sitflyer: You did a great job on that one! The grain of the wood is very good visible. That fishtailbutt is really great looking. You made a fine change of the grind on that one. Looks like a real user Thank you for showing this off. Great work.

BTW: All of your modded Opinels look great! I really like this thread. Thank you guys for taking part of this "home-made-knife-modding-thread". It´s really great fun, I think

Kind regards
Andi

 

[avoidspam]

Love the fishtail, great idea

These are Ebauche, they come with unfinished handles so you get a bit more to play with

Sam

 

[Stich2442]

@Pete: These ones are completelly unknown to me. But they all look great. The whittling work on these ones is outstanding. I really like them a lot Yours one looks great, too. I like the easy-opening on that one. Remembers me a little at my own. Nice work! Is is, that you made the handle a little slimmer, or is it just because of the pic?

@sitflyer: You did a great job on that one! The grain of the wood is very good visible. That fishtailbutt is really great looking. You made a fine change of the grind on that one. Looks like a real user Thank you for showing this off. Great work.

BTW: All of your modded Opinels look great! I really like this thread. Thank you guys for taking part of this "home-made-knife-modding-thread". It´s really great fun, I think

Kind regards
Andi

Glade you liked pics Andi, as for mine the handle probably is slimmer as is the blade, none of this intentional, just happened with years of use. I carried my Opinel and my Boker stockman everyday for work and play, the Opi did most of the work, it got sharpened daily sometimes multiple times a day, and I would refinish the handle every six months or so, by sanding, staining, and then polyurethane. The handle would get filthy at work, so about six months ago I decided I was sick of the process and just sanded and oiled it. I'm thinking at some point the blade we be reduced to a sliver. For some reason it's been my favorite for years. Just a good honest blade. And I trust it more then any of my other knives cuz I know what I have done with this knife.