- Joined
- Mar 26, 2014
- Messages
- 19
Awhile back I cut off a burl from an oak tree. I had no idea what I was going to use it for, but then I got my Becker knife.... Naturally, I had to try and make some awesome scales for it.
I cut the burl into half inch to 3/4" slabs with a chainsaw at one point in time so I took one of the slabs and traced the handles on it. I cut them out with a coping saw and then began sanding them down by rubbing them back and forth on a piece of course sandpaper on a flat surface. The pieces of burl were rough cut and varied in thickness so this took awhile to get them perfectly flat and even.
[/url]rough cut out by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
when I got them flat, I clamped them together and refined the shape of the handle.
[/url]clamp the handles by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]handles by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
So now the fun part. I then began rasping out the shape of the handle. The rasping portion was a good challenge because I used burl wood. Rasping a solid piece of oak would have been easy but this burl really put up a challenge. I think I had 4 complete through and through breaks along the grain which I glued and clamped together. I had at least 6 splits that I just shoved glue into so they wouldn't become full on breaks. It was all pretty frustrating. I would be rasping out the wood which goes pretty quick then SNAP! It breaks along a funky grain and I have to glue it and work on it another day. After rasping out the first handle. I decided that I wanted some reinforcement for these pieces of burl. I cut out some thin oak and glued it on the backside of the burl scales. This not only would strengthen the burl pieces but it also made them a little wider, which was good because my handles got a little thin after the first sanding portion. All in all it was a good experience because it worked.
[/url]rasp the handle by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]rasp the handle 2 by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]backing by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]clamp the backing by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
I then put the handle on the knife and filed the edges down flush
[/url]file handle by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
Then I went to my grandpa's house and asked him for some help with the hole setting. He has a pretty good setup over there for drilling plus working with grandpa is always awesome.
[/url]drill out by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]handles done by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
Finally I oiled it with TruOil. I didn't want a shiney finish, I just wanted enough to pop the grain. So I gave it a good oiling and then buffed it with some steel wool.Here are the final pics under various lighting conditions.
[/url]finished5 by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]finished4 by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]finished8 by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]finished7 by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]finished6 by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]finished2 by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]fiinished1 by tylerjacobanderson, on Flickr[/IMG]
Overall, I am really happy with the way it turned out. For being my first handle, It went really smooth and It really didn't take too long. It's a solid knife with a solid handle on it and it looks awesome. I can't wait to put this thing to use. I also can't wait to do more! I just need a few more Becker knives.
I cut the burl into half inch to 3/4" slabs with a chainsaw at one point in time so I took one of the slabs and traced the handles on it. I cut them out with a coping saw and then began sanding them down by rubbing them back and forth on a piece of course sandpaper on a flat surface. The pieces of burl were rough cut and varied in thickness so this took awhile to get them perfectly flat and even.
when I got them flat, I clamped them together and refined the shape of the handle.
So now the fun part. I then began rasping out the shape of the handle. The rasping portion was a good challenge because I used burl wood. Rasping a solid piece of oak would have been easy but this burl really put up a challenge. I think I had 4 complete through and through breaks along the grain which I glued and clamped together. I had at least 6 splits that I just shoved glue into so they wouldn't become full on breaks. It was all pretty frustrating. I would be rasping out the wood which goes pretty quick then SNAP! It breaks along a funky grain and I have to glue it and work on it another day. After rasping out the first handle. I decided that I wanted some reinforcement for these pieces of burl. I cut out some thin oak and glued it on the backside of the burl scales. This not only would strengthen the burl pieces but it also made them a little wider, which was good because my handles got a little thin after the first sanding portion. All in all it was a good experience because it worked.
I then put the handle on the knife and filed the edges down flush
Then I went to my grandpa's house and asked him for some help with the hole setting. He has a pretty good setup over there for drilling plus working with grandpa is always awesome.
Finally I oiled it with TruOil. I didn't want a shiney finish, I just wanted enough to pop the grain. So I gave it a good oiling and then buffed it with some steel wool.Here are the final pics under various lighting conditions.
Overall, I am really happy with the way it turned out. For being my first handle, It went really smooth and It really didn't take too long. It's a solid knife with a solid handle on it and it looks awesome. I can't wait to put this thing to use. I also can't wait to do more! I just need a few more Becker knives.
:thumbup:
)
