- Joined
- Mar 12, 2009
- Messages
- 271
so i really like the overall looks of the new ZT0095 but im not a big fan of the blackwash finish especially when the entire knife, scales and blade, have that same finish. At first i was going to just wait and see if they were going to offer it in a different finish but then i got a $50 coupon to use on a website that was going to expire in a couple days and they were also offering a 6% cash back so instead of $220.00 it only cost me $156.xx so i decided to buy it.
what i did was i took it apart and clamped a piece of 220 sandpaper to a 12" marble tile to make sure i had a perfectly stable and smooth setup. i sanded the large flat portion on the front as well as the back. Ive done this with other knives in the past and i never had a problem with sanding the lockbar as long as i pushed it down when i sanded the rest but for some reason i was only able to get the top half the the lockbar near the screw. It almost seems like the entire lockbar was machined lower than the rest of the handle causing it to not be level. so i decided to give it a sort of "jewled" look do on the bolts of some bolt action rifles. Im not super pleased with how the lockbar turned out so i am going to set it up in my drill press that has a vice that can move sideways like a mill by turning a handle. so i can do a better more professional jewling job on it. I also might get a thin piece of carbon fiber or g-10 to put on it which might look pretty cool. I wish i had left the lockbar with the blackwash finish but i had no way of knowing at the time that i wouldnt be able to sand it like i did on previous knives. But i think i will be able to get it to turn out nice once i figure out exactly what i want to do.
I also have to figure out what i want to do with the blade. do i want to leave it all blackwashed or should i sand the flats (where the ZT logo is) i could also sand or bead blast everything but the flats (the main bevel and swedge) or i can just get the entire thing bead blasted. im not sure yet but i am going to hold off for a while atleast until i can get the lockbar sorted out before i do anything.
i would love to hear any ideas about what to do for the lockbar. Also if anyone knows where i can buy a small piece of thin carbon fiber i would really appreciate it. i only need like 1"x3" at the most so i dont want to have to buy a large sheet. the same goes for g10 if you know where i can get a small piece please let me know.
EDIT TO ADD: i forgot to mention that i rounded off the tip of the flipper because i thought it was way to sharp and it started to hurt when i used it. I also flat sanded the sides of it to add a little more contrast to the knife. Im really happy with how the flipper turned out, its much more comfortable to use and it looks amazing
and now what you have been waiting for.....
what i did was i took it apart and clamped a piece of 220 sandpaper to a 12" marble tile to make sure i had a perfectly stable and smooth setup. i sanded the large flat portion on the front as well as the back. Ive done this with other knives in the past and i never had a problem with sanding the lockbar as long as i pushed it down when i sanded the rest but for some reason i was only able to get the top half the the lockbar near the screw. It almost seems like the entire lockbar was machined lower than the rest of the handle causing it to not be level. so i decided to give it a sort of "jewled" look do on the bolts of some bolt action rifles. Im not super pleased with how the lockbar turned out so i am going to set it up in my drill press that has a vice that can move sideways like a mill by turning a handle. so i can do a better more professional jewling job on it. I also might get a thin piece of carbon fiber or g-10 to put on it which might look pretty cool. I wish i had left the lockbar with the blackwash finish but i had no way of knowing at the time that i wouldnt be able to sand it like i did on previous knives. But i think i will be able to get it to turn out nice once i figure out exactly what i want to do.
I also have to figure out what i want to do with the blade. do i want to leave it all blackwashed or should i sand the flats (where the ZT logo is) i could also sand or bead blast everything but the flats (the main bevel and swedge) or i can just get the entire thing bead blasted. im not sure yet but i am going to hold off for a while atleast until i can get the lockbar sorted out before i do anything.
i would love to hear any ideas about what to do for the lockbar. Also if anyone knows where i can buy a small piece of thin carbon fiber i would really appreciate it. i only need like 1"x3" at the most so i dont want to have to buy a large sheet. the same goes for g10 if you know where i can get a small piece please let me know.
EDIT TO ADD: i forgot to mention that i rounded off the tip of the flipper because i thought it was way to sharp and it started to hurt when i used it. I also flat sanded the sides of it to add a little more contrast to the knife. Im really happy with how the flipper turned out, its much more comfortable to use and it looks amazing
and now what you have been waiting for.....