milling out for liners

[blanex1]

i have a quick question about recessed liners! i would like to make a set of scales for a spyderco stretch but don't own a milling set up,could one just use a dremel with a 565 multi perpose cutting kit to mill out the liners for scales! i no alot of people do this,i just don't how there doing it! i'll be working with linen micarta for the replacement scales,thank you for any help you can give me.

 

[Phydeaux]

I've done this for wood scales, but not Micarta yet.

Here's how i did some wood scales:
1. Trace liners on scales, using a scribe or Exacto knife. This will give you a much more accurate line than a pencil or pen.
2. I use a 1/4" end mill in my table top drill press. Set the bit to cut to the desired depth. I do not use my drill press like a mill. This is bad for drill press bearings. So I just use the end mill to make a bunch of flat bottomed holes to hollow out the scale.
3. Clean up bottom edges and edges with chisels, sand paper, Dremel, etc. I test fit the liners as I clean up the hollowed up area.
4. Use liners as a template for holes etc.
5. profile and shape handles


Hope this helps.

Ric

5. Profile and shape scales.

 

[fishface5]

The above will work way better/more precisely than a dremel. Not as fast/easy as a mill, but yeah the drill press doesn't like being used as a mill except in pretty soft materials - I tried using mine to mill out micarta scales and the lateral pressure caused the chuck to fall out! You can try dremel/565 but may not get the precision you are hoping for.
Also - don't forget to wear a mask while grinding micarta, it's nasty to inhale