Oh no! Not ANOTHER knife...

masking off the pins so I don't gouge the hell out of my handle, (ended up doing that anyway, just not with a hacksaw:barf:);




you 'saw' this coming...:rolleyes:


I majorly screwed up. The idea was to peen the pins and have them ever so slightly domed over the wood. But I sawed a couple of them too close to the handle, and the other ones were at such an extreme angle due to the contouring of the handle that I couldn't get a purchase on them. But, I doggedly hacked away trying to peen them over, which I did, but very messily. Gouging out chunks of the handle and otherwise making a disaster of things, I decided to cut my losses and scrap the original idea. So, the pins are now flush with the handle. They are peened at their ends for the most part, so I think they'll do their job of keeping the handle together.
 
Domed pins are tough, man... aways terrified I'm gonna miss and dent the wood.
 
I dented the #$@* out of my handle.

Lesson- leave extra material! I left my handle fatter than I wanted it to be when finished, just in case I #$@*&% it up. Good thing!
 
handle's now finished to about 600grit. Pretty glossy lookin eh?


using a Scotch Brite pad to scour all the sawdust out of the grain;


dunno if it's the best choice, but I already had it so it wins!


heated the handle over the heater for a bit, and here's how it looks after the first Tung Oil application soaked in;

I've done 3 or 4 additional applications and the wood doesn't seen to want to absorb much more. But I'll load it up with the stuff until it won't take anymore.
 
Looks great.

With the wood not taking more oil, could you heat the oil before applying it? Not sure if it is any use now, though may be useful on other projects.
 
Lorien, The knife is looking great. I really like the way you constructed and shaped the handle.

I might be preaching to the choir here, but I will take a chance.
Tung oil is one of the oils that not only penetrates but also builds up on the surface.
1st if the oil and the knife are kept in a warm dry room it will work and cure best. It is important that the room not be humid or it will affect how the oil cures, or doesn't.
Now that you are past the penetrating coats, if you apply a coat without wiping it all off and let it sit till it feels a little gummy before a thorough wipe. Let that dry several hours and repeat a few more times. Then the oil will do a little bit of a fill in the pores and build up surface coats that give more depth to the look of the finish.

I hope you don't mind me posting these instructions. If you do, send me a PM and I will delete the post all except the first sentence.
 
no way dude! One of the main reasons for posting this crap in the first place is to get good advice from the pros. I'm a hack, making this up pretty much as I go along. Your advice is SERIOUSLY APPRECIATED!:thumbup:
 
Lorien said:
What a strange day!

A fellow that I've known for many years from the mountain bike community found out recently that I'm into knives. I didn't know that he was, until recently.

Anyway, he found that knife making wasn't really for him, about 15 years ago. Today, he brought over all this knife making stuff!

DSC01190.jpg
Click to expand...

Two of the best references you could possibly get started with, IMO (besides the collective knowledge available here:D).

It's hard to believe how much information is contained in just those 2 books alone.

Taylor
 
I think I'm done with the handle now;




I'll be using my Lansky jig to apply the edge bevel, and have some diamond hones on order for it. The regular stones just don't seem to want to work as fast as I would like, (keep in mind this is me talking, so that means they work REALLY slow). Anyway, just about finished now. Can't wait to take er for a spin in the woods!:)
 
thanks Jon. Not done yet, still gotta sharpen it, and do a final finish to the blade, and make a sheath.
 
Looking good Lorien. Wow.. it's come so far since Seattle. Very cool and you did a good design on the guard and handle to match the blade.
 
thanks gents!

Matt, I've got about 130 bucks into materials and ht'ing. Not too bad actually, but if I were to pay myself $5 per hour, I'd have to sell it for about $500. For $500, I'll buy it for myself. It is one of a kind, after all:D.

I haven't worked for 5 bucks an hour since I was twelve, which ironically was the age that I started buying knives with that money I made.
 
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