My introduction to knifemaking (well, sorta)

A

aperdue

Joined
Aug 2, 2010
Messages
107
Well, I haven't been on BladeForums long, but I have been bitten by the bug. I have seen so many of you post your projects and it made me want to see if it would be something I could get into it. I found Texas Knifemaker's Suppy from a couple of posts on the forum. Today I went into their shop and picked up a Knifekits.com/Darrel Ralph "Delta 5" kit, a set of 3/8" black canvas and a set of 3/8" green canvas micarta scales. When I got home, I pulled it all out of the package to find:

IMG_20101129_235433.jpg


Well, I kinda got excited and before reading any instructions, i took one of the rear bolsters to my cheapy HF 1" belt sander and started working on it just to see how easy it was going to be:

IMG_20101129_235406.jpg


Not as hard to grind down as I thought it would be. I know this is going to take a lot of hand sanding, but the belt sander is really gonna help with the crude shaping to get it close.
Now you may be wondering why I got two sets of scales...... I dunno, I might think of something eventually:

IMG_20101129_235518.jpg


I am going to try and keep this post updated from start to finish, and would appreciate any advise any of you more experienced guys could offer. I'll actually try to start using a camera instead of my cell phone and get some real pictures on here :p
 
Looks like fun! I don't know what the directions have to say but do some searches on this forum for things like drilling the pin holes in the micarta. If it were my project I would be most careful with fitting the scales to the bolsters, especially the rear. Good luck.

E
 
Well I got the call to go to work so I will be offshore for the next few weeks, but will pick up where I left off when I get back
 
Well, it has been longer than what I had original planned, but I am back to work on my knife. I am hoping to have it finished soon. I have taken more material off of the bolsters. Here is a pic of where I am now. I removed the back of the front boster:
IMG_20110111_014701.jpg

and here is a mock up:
IMG_20110111_014443.jpg


I think I will just keep using the cellphone pics till I am done with this thing, then switch to a real camera :p
 
I ordered a blade and some stuff from there as well. Figured it would help me to understand the simpler parts before I did a complete one.

I'll definitely be looking at your thread to see how it progresses.
 
Yeah, for my first, I figured I would do it the easy way with the kit, just to figure out the basics. I plan on starting with a piece of steel, drawing out my own design next time. I had seen people suggest not using bolsters on your first knife, and now I know why. It is very difficult to get it shaped just right to fits between the two bolsters.
 
Since you got the kit and dry fitted the pieces together you know it will fit. You may find it easier at this point to cut off the excess micarta and glue everything together. Use your files and sandpaper to bring it to shape after the glue dries. Don't rush the glue.

Once you get the edges nocked off, cut your sandpaper into strips or use shop roll, clamp down your knife, and start sanding it like you would buff a pair of shoes with a side to side motion going up and down.

Good luck and keep us updated
 
Almost there. Got the bolsters all peened on and did the rough shaping of the black canvas micarta scales. I am kinda pissed at myself though, I got excited about finishing and took off a little too much of one scale. I mixed up some 2-part epoxy and added a dab of black paint to fill in the gap where I screwed up. Here are a couple pics of where I am now
IMG_20110111_232316.jpg

IMG_20110111_232341.jpg


Next up, final sanding and polishing
 
Getting so close. Did quite a bit sanding tonight. I am going to try to do some polishing tomorrow. I bought a 6" buffing wheel (hopefully it will fit on my bench grinder) and the black, brown, white and red rouge from sears. Now I just need to figure which order to use them in. Anyways here are a couple current pics:
IMG_20110113_020350.jpg


There are a couple areas I am not happy about, but are lessons learned. First off, I didn't seat the scale fastners deep enough and managed to sand right down to the internal threads. I will find something to fill them in. Also, there are a couple of really hard to get areas on the bolsters, that seemed like no matter how much I sanded, I couldn't get them flush. Also, the bolster pins are not quite perfect, but that could be because I didn't use a peen hammer. Damn my laziness :grumpy:
Here is a pic of the flaws:
IMG_20110113_020340.jpg
 
Well you are learning some good lessons and doing a pretty good job for your first knife. Before someone else mentions it the buffer is the most dangerous tool in a knifemakers workshop. I personally dont use one for that reason. Be very careful or better yet dont use it on a finished knife.
CW
 
aperdue said:
First off, I didn't seat the scale fastners deep enough and managed to sand right down to the internal threads
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad, I've done that too. Next time you'll know better. Overall it's looking good, keep at it!
 
You haven't said so, so I will point out that all this time you should have taped up the blade while working on the handle. This will prevent damaging the surface with accidental scratches and damaging your hand with an accidental cut.

Polishing on a high speed buffer is a dangerous task. I would suggest you hand sand to 800 grit and call it done. If you insist on buffing the bolsters.....tape the blade up well when buffing the handle. The Micarta should not be buffed.
 
bladsmth said:
You haven't said so, so I will point out that all this time you should have taped up the blade while working on the handle. This will prevent damaging the surface with accidental scratches and damaging your hand with an accidental cut.

Polishing on a high speed buffer is a dangerous task. I would suggest you hand sand to 800 grit and call it done. If you insist on buffing the bolsters.....tape the blade up well when buffing the handle. The Micarta should not be buffed.
Click to expand...

I did not realize micarta was not suppose to be buffed. Thanks for that information. I will probably just go ahead and sand to 800 like you advised. I was really expecting the micarta to be a much darker color when it was finished. Instead, it is much more gray than I thought it would be.
 
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