Lettering on Handle

[1984nitro]

So I am making a knife for my brother-in-law. He is a pastor and asked that I put his favorite Bible verse on it. I have attached a drawing of what it will look like. My question is how can I put the lettering on? The handle will be black paper micarta.
Any info would help
Thanks
Eric Knight

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Eric,

You could do it as an inlay. Have an engraver do the verse if it is outside your skills and then inlay the piece into the handle. I do this with presentation pieces where people want names and dates on the handle.

Best of luck, Fred

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

With some practice and a very fine tip, you can do it with a woodburner (the type used to do waterfowl pyrography). You could get a calligrapher to do it for you with the burner, if your hands aren't steady enough.
The lettering could also be lasered into the handle by a commercial trophy engraving shop. Once either of these techniques is done, fill the burned lettering with black colored paint or epoxy. Sand to expose the lettering.
Try it for fun on a piece of scrap. It makes a nice look.
Stacy

 

[BrianThie]

Hi Erik

I think Black paper micarta can be schrimed like ivory. You could then use white paint to make it stand out.

Give it a try on a scrap piece.

Brian

 

[IVANKERLEY]

Hi Erik

I think Black paper micarta can be schrimed like ivory. You could then use white paint to make it stand out.

Give it a try on a scrap piece.

Brian

not a bad idea!
i havent scrimmed micarta but ive read plenty of people who use it, another consideration would be usage, will the knife see alot of hand time? That might affect the choice, scrimshaw might not hold up too well if it sees regular use... Inlay maybe the way to go, dunno
good luck
ivan

 

[1984nitro]

The knife will be put on a stand on his desk. I say its a shame to have knife just sitting there but it is good advertising for me.

 

[1984nitro]

so do you think that a carbite bit for a dremel would work? I say this after looking a the scrimshaw tools.

 

[J.S. Carter]

I'd etch it into the steel rather than the handle but if that's where he wants it that's kewl too

 

[IVANKERLEY]

so do you think that a carbite bit for a dremel would work? I say this after looking a the scrimshaw tools.

i am by no means an expert as i have done only a handfull of scrimshaw pieces (on corian and imitation ivory) but i tried a dremel on my 2nd piece and promptly abandoned that idea and had to sand and finish the piece and start over That being said i'm not very talented with my dremel so to each his own. For scrimming i use a modified compass needle and have used modified xacto blades, not exactly hi tech but it works for me at this stage
If it doesnt get handled regularly then you would probably be alright.
You might have problems with the white pigment appearing uniform on the black handle material (white over dark may take a few layers)
hope this helps
good luck, like the drawing alot:thumbup:
cheers
ivan