Modded my Junglas, lots-O-pics-n-how-to

BryFry

BryFry

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Jul 29, 2009
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So I customized my Junglas a while back, and posted a few pics...

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...And got lots of requests for and about it, many requesting pics and info on how it was done. Well, I just finished doing one up for forum member TXHC, and this time I took a few pics along the way. Thought I'd share 'em with you....

Here is a shot of some of the basic tools and chemicals I used...
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First step was to remove the handle scales, clean up the blade with water and dish soap, dry, then clean with rubbing alcohol, cover the esee lettering and logos with painters tape, then apply several coats of paint to the exposed edge of the knife. (this is to protect the exposed metal of the edge from the etchant it will soon be soking in)

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Ryan requested that I etch TXHC near the handle of the knife. So, that means that I have to draw, then hand engrave it into the paint, thus exposing the metal underneith to the etchant. I used small sharpened files for this. ...took a while to do, and I got some nice blisters on the tips of my fingers from it! LOL!

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I then put duck tape over the edge to further protect the edge... Now it's ready for the etchant! For a knife this big I use 2 to 3 bottles of PCB etchant from Radio Shack. And the only non-metalic thing I had large enough to fit this knife was a 10 gallon aquarium! I tip the tank a bit to make the liquid a bit deeper on one side. Tied a string to the butt of the knife for easy extraction.... Then I soke it for a full two days, taking it out to rinse with water and gently clean with a tooth brush every four hours or so.... oh, and I probably should specify that I did not leave it in the position that it appears in the photo, it is only raised up like that so you can see it, otherwise it is unseen under the etchant. :)
You may be able to see a piece of plastic in there with the knife too, that is to raise one end of the blade up just a bit because you do not want it laying completely flat on the bottom of the tank. The ethcant would be unable to get to the areas I need it to get to that way!

(by the way... PCB etchant is a liquid that has a strong acidic reaction to non-stainles carbon steel. But has little effect on non metals. So, any bit of metal left exposed to the etchant will be eaten away at by the liquid.)
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While the blade is soking in the etchant, I take the time to work on the handle scales. I clamp them down then freehand it with a dremel w/sanding drums. Then I hit it with a bit of 130 grit sandpaper to smooth it all out. ....On my other knife I then stained the scales and clear coated them, but Ryan likes the factory color, so I left these that way. :)

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After the 2 day soke, the blade comes out, tape comes off, gets rinsed off, then I take it outside to apply the paint stripper..... This is NASTY stuff, so if you try it, get some thick rubber gloves and do it out doors!!! This stuff will eat right through thin gloves, and burns the skin on contact! You don't want to smell it either. .....Anyway, wipe it on, let it sit a while, then use a plastic scraper and rag to remove....

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After the factory coating comes off, the knife is left with a dull, flat gray finish. (Maybe some kind of primer that is not effected by the stripper?) So I hit it with the wire brush wheel on my bench grinder to strip off the gray coating. You can see the difference here....

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Then I use sandpaper, always sanding in the same direction to get a somewhat even brushed look. There is what appears to be some sort of pitting on the ESEE blades I have stripped. This is from the factory, and not from the etching. I don't mind it, as I think it adds character, but it would take a huge amount of sanding if someone wanted to get rid of it completely.

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Time to do the choil! I know it's not popular with everyone, but I love a good choil for ease of sharpening, visual appeal, and I just like to be able to choke up on my grip for finer work. Also you're not losing any of the cutting edge anyway. :) .....Well, first I mark it with a sharpie, then I use a rough round file and dremel to carve it out. I like to take it slow, and never let the edge get more than warm to the touch!

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Next I do the jimping, and rounding of the spine. Put the knife in a bench vise, and use a medium sized triangle file for the jimping. Then I start rounding the spine with a large mill bastard file, and finish rounding it with sandpaper, by working it back and forth like a shoe shine boy! ....This process is kind of a PITA, and would be a LOT easier if I had a beltsander!

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Then I do the decorative filework on the tang of the knife. First I like to mark it with a sharpie again, then I just kind of freehand it using a round file and a triangle one. I believe this is called a vine pattern? I'm not sure, I just thought it looks cool!

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After that I'm ready for the patina! I like using liquid gun blue because it's easy and goes on pretty evenly. First I just coat the whole thing, as seen in this next pic, then I use a Scotch Brite pad to smooth it out, and for this knife I will rub down the flat grind portion of the blade to give it a sort of two-tone look....

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Now the knife is just about finished! Just needs a little sharpening. It's hard to do this project and not have the edge dulled just a little bit from all the sanding and chemicals, but I like to make sure all my knives can at least shave hair easily anyway. This knife had obviously been used before I got ahold of it, judging from the paint wear, and the chips in the dge! :D Try and avoid chopping those rocks next time Ryan! :p ....I like to freehand sharpen my V edges on DMT diamond stones, and finish with a leather strop.

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...And here it is! All done and ready to ship off! Hope you like it Buddy!

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Thanks for looking!
-Bryan
:D:D:D:D
 
that is nice. you did a great job. I have always liked grooves in handles, and this is especially nice.
 
So, the etchant cuts into the logo's like that, not you? The first time I saw your Junglas, I assumed it was cut by a machine!

Very cool, thanks for the tutorial!
 
oops.... pics disapeared there for a minute, had to upgrade my photobucket account do to too many pics! :o

Should be working now, I hope!
 
OK , the only purpose of soaking the whole knife in etchtant was for the TXHC , correct ? Otherwise I cannot see the point of soaking the whole blade. If this is so , why not just lay it down flat ( etch side up ) and then add your FC ? , this way you dont need to use 2-3 bottles ( would save you some $$$ )

Good job , the logos look nice with that deep relief.

Tostig
 
Beautiful work. Just out of curiosity, would you share how much something like that would cost?
 
Tostig said:
OK , the only purpose of soaking the whole knife in etchtant was for the TXHC , correct ? Otherwise I cannot see the point of soaking the whole blade. If this is so , why not just lay it down flat ( etch side up ) and then add your FC ? , this way you dont need to use 2-3 bottles ( would save you some $$$ )

Good job , the logos look nice with that deep relief.

Tostig
Click to expand...

The etchant soak was for all the lettering and logos. I probably should have specified that I did not leave it in the position that it appears in the photo, it is only raised up like that so you can see it, otherwise it is unseen under the etchant. :)

You may be able to see a piece of plastic in there with the knife, that is to raise one end of the blade up just a bit because you do not want it laying completely flat on the bottom of the tank. The ethcant would be unable to get to the areas I need it to get to that way!
 
Very nice work :thumbup:

I've seen you post yours a few times and each time I want one more and more.
 
I'd pay you for the same work on my Junglas, minus the choil!
 
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