Keeping pins from protruding.

E

eddarr

Joined
Dec 14, 2008
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19
I am just getting started making my own knives. So far just putting a few together from blade blanks made by others.

The question I have is when I shape scales the pins always protrude just a little from the wood. I know it is because they are harder than the wood scales. I have been shaping the scales on a 1" belt up to 180 grit and then hand sanding from there.

I just finished one tonight but I ended up using a fine file to bring the pins down one more time during hand sanding.
 
Thanks. That was what I was thinking. I will give that a try next time.

At what grit for a typical hardwood do you think it is safe to stop using a backing?
 
I'd say you can stop backing when you get past 200 grit, though it depends considerably on the hardness of the wood. It's an easy fix if you notice it undercutting again. Just go back a grit and smooth it out with a backing by focusing on the pins.

I just use a few pieces of wood with various sizes and curvatures to back my sandpaper. On the finer grits, I use some firm but flexible foam. It really helps smooth everything out.

Phillip
 
eddarr said:
At what grit for a typical hardwood do you think it is safe to stop using a backing?
Click to expand...

Only at your very last/highest grit, whatever that may be. After you're certain the shape is right and all you want to do is polish it up.

Wood and other handle materials wear away much faster than metal pin materials. If you shape/sand with your fingertips, you WILL end up with pins higher than the surrounding wood.

I use worn-out files with the teeth ground off and wrap my paper around them. Various sizes; some flat, some round/tapered, etc.

Phillip has some great points; I sometimes use an old file wrapped with electrical tape for a bit "softer", but still fairly reliable backing. Both for handles and convex blades/edges.

As with any other grinding/sanding process, being careful with the coarsest grits to begin with, will make later steps go faster and easier. Early goofs are a real bear to correct later on; ask me how I know :o
 
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