Modifying the Fat Battle Mistress

awesome job!

I'd also like to know what grit you started with, and how many levels of grits you ended up using...
 
WOW!!! Thats the best looking FFBM I've seen

The slabs and finish look great:thumbup:
 
Thanks guys...

I started with 60 grit aluminum oxide paper.... I buy it in big rolls and it's 4.5" wide.

Then it was 120 grit oxide paper... then 180 grit Wet n Dry.. then 600.

This was the first time I managed to preserve the grind lines while hand sanding.

It used a thick piece of glass underneath the sandpaper and then clamped the sandpaper to the table... I treated the flats and the sabre bevels (dunno what to call them) separately.

This one didn't have dimples... like I saw when I did my BATAC..but.. it did have some deep pitting and machine marks.


Thanks to Ban for raising the bar so high... and forcing me to improve a bit. :thumbup:
 
outstanding soup monger! how did you remove the scales and reset them?

ps- sweet leather too!
 
1kimo4u said:
...

ps- sweet leather too!
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Yeah... I just noticed that the sheath I made is now too big for it.... Doh! :rolleyes:

It fits, but it doesn't hold it in very tight (i.e it falls out if I turn it upside down)... I might try wet forming it again and see if I can get it to fit snug.
 
NICE JOB!!!:thumbup:

Your tube fasteners came out really nice bro...not too thin around the edges but still have a good deep dish look to them. Very cool! Blade and handle finish really go well together....typically I'm not much for the reshaping of the handles that folks have been doing lately but yours really seem to work well with the finish. Way to go!:cool:
 
Solstice said:
NICE JOB!!!:thumbup:

Your tube fasteners came out really nice bro...not too thin around the edges but still have a good deep dish look to them. Very cool! Blade and handle finish really go well together....typically I'm not much for the reshaping of the handles that folks have been doing lately but yours really seem to work well with the finish. Way to go!:cool:
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Thanks Solstice

I'll use thinner walled tubing for the next one I think..... or get a really heavy duty vice....

I couldn't believe how much force these needed to get them to flare out.
 
soup_monger said:
Thanks Solstice

I'll use thinner walled tubing for the next one I think..... or get a really heavy duty vice....

I couldn't believe how much force these needed to get them to flare out.
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If you don't want to have to use so much force then bevel the outer edges of tubes. This will significantly reduce the amount of force required for the initial start up of the flare. It will also lessen the amount of force required during the whole flaring process. The finished edges of the rivets don't look as thick but in fact the tubing is still the same thickness and strength. Also, cheater bar on the vise handle helps significantly. I just use a cheapy metal pipe that will fit over the handle for more leverage. Before that... I use to huff and puff and get sore blister spots on my hands from the short vise handles. I know exactly how you feel. I have punctured multiple screw heads and even broke my old vise flaring those tubings.
 
Ban said:
If you don't want to have to use so much force then bevel the outer edges of tubes. This will significantly reduce the amount of force required for the initial start up of the flare. It will also lessen the amount of force required during the whole flaring process. The finished edges of the rivets don't look as thick but in fact the tubing is still the same thickness and strength. I know exactly how you feel. I have punctured multiple screw heads and even broke my old vise flaring those tubings.
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Ah... glad it's not just me.

I did do a small chamfer on the tubes... but it was more of a deburring than an actual bevel.... I'll make it more pronounced next time.

I'm in the market for a new vice... I'll treat the next vice with a bit more respect. :D
 
That is an AWESOME job! Truely nice. Makes me wish I had bought a FFBM so I could send it to you. :thumbup: :cool:
 
soup_monger said:
Ah... glad it's not just me.

I did do a small chamfer on the tubes... but it was more of a deburring than an actual bevel.... I'll make it more pronounced next time.

I'm in the market for a new vice... I'll treat the next vice with a bit more respect. :D
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hahaha...you should have seen my old vise. Towards the end of its life the gears on it were all worn making it less efficient. So I powered through it with a long cheater bar. Now the handle is all bent and mangled and it just refuses to work :o:D
 
Silas said:
That is an AWESOME job! Truely nice. Makes me wish I had bought a FFBM so I could send it to you. :thumbup: :cool:
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Thanks Silas...but... if your going to send a Busse to anybody for modding... send it to Ban... his turnaround is far faster than mine. :thumbup:
 
Ban said:
hahaha...you should have seen my old vise. Towards the end of its life the gears on it were all worn making it less efficient. So I powered through it with a long cheater bar. Now the handle is all bent and mangled and it just refuses to work :o:D
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HOLY COW, what wall thickness tubing are you guys using??? I use the machinest vise on my milling machine and it doesn't take that much force, no cheater bar needed. I'll have to measure the stainless and titanium tubing I use, but I think they are .025" or .035" wall. I also use a small amount of Marine Goop (between the scales and the tang) to help hold them in place and it keeps any moisture from seeping in behind. Any amount that is squished out comes off easily when dried.

Great job on the handles and finish! :eek:
 
randucci said:
HOLY COW, what wall thickness tubing are you guys using??? I use the machinest vise on my milling machine and it doesn't take that much force, no cheater bar needed. I'll have to measure the stainless and titanium tubing I use, but I think they are .025" or .035" wall. I also use a small amount of Marine Goop (between the scales and the tang) to help hold them in place and it keeps any moisture from seeping in behind. Any amount the is squished out comes off easily when dried.

Great job on the handles and finish! :eek:
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Hmmm... I just checked what I used and it's (1mm) .040" walled Sandvik stainless.

I was going to use some 6061 aluminium tubing.... but... I felt the stainless would have a longer lifespan.
 
As usual Soupy,an inspiration....makes me regret parting with my Green Fatty,but it was for the greater good! ...at least thats what i keep telling myself.
Cant wait to see your next one,
 
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