new to folders

[jrhart50]

Hay frends I have a question .
1 When doing your scales on a folder do you finish buffing the bolsters and the rest of the frame before the scales are atached.

 

[John R. Fraps]

If you are talking slipjoints, no.
If you mean liner or back locks. no also...
Matter of fact, the more you get into knifemaking, in general, the less you will typically use a buffer at all.
It does have its place, but hand finishing is more controllable (I think I made that word up) and buffing can "burn" handle material pretty easily.

 

[Patrickknives]

I just answered this question in the thread, take a look. The answere is no, I get the final shape of the bolster and then glue and pin the handles. There will be more sanding to get the handle material to join to the bolster.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=587534

 

[jrhart50]

Thanks this will help alot.

 

[L. Jones]

If you do buff, be very careful or you will have the folder taken away from you, less to hold on to than a straight knife. If the knife is open you could lose a finger. I always hand sand mine, but it you decide to buff the bosters or the handle, be sure to buff from the bolster toward the handle material. This will keep you from buffing your handles away where they meet the boosters. I learned that the hard way, I got to put some more handles on.

Larry