Oh no,not another Tram mod!Updated,more pics.

[mykel m]

Yep,'fraid so,but with a twist.
I like to tinker & learn from my mistakes.
And the Trams are too good a test bed to pass up.
If you've already seen too many Tram mods I apologize now & you can go back to your regularly scheduled program.
I cut this one down awhile back from 27"OAL to 17" with a 12 1/2" blade.
I also ground the edge all the way back & rehandled it.
Buttttt,while shaping the handle I took too much off & made it too narrow.
Oh well,LAB.
So,I cord wrapped it & dipped it in Plastidip.It feels much better & the Plastidip is plenty grippy.
I know the Plastidip won't last & I'll redo the handle when it wears out.Leason learned.
Don't worry,I'll fix the choil too.

So,what to do with the cut off blade material?
Why not a Nessie?
It's already got the nice upswept blade so yeah,why not.
I marked it out with the trusty Sharpie & commenced to grinding.
I did quench it in water regularly to keep from loosing what temper there is.
I then scrounged some Oak from a pallet & some 1/4" copper tube for pins.(had a hell of a time drilling the 1/4" holes)
After glueing,pinning & shaping the handle I torched it,then scotch-brited it,then sprayed it with clear acrylic.
Then I soaked the blade in malted vinegar between 2 rags(old socks)overnite for a nice etched look,then sanded lightly with 1200 grit.
I put a convex edge on it & sanded it down to 1200 grit also.
I just didn't spend too much time & energy on the edge,it's a user after all.
I then battoned a piece of wood for a feather stick & it stayed sharp enough for the feather stick.
Not bad for a piece of scrap eh.

The Tramuk.....

Hey all,I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.
I couldn't wait for the plastidip to wear & went ahead & redid the Tram handle.
I also added a usable choil & convexed then semi polished the edge.
It's a bit light for heavy chopping,but it'll do for 3" & smaller stuff + grass & brush.
I batoned a piece of fire wood & made some curls.The choil really helped with control for the curls.
I can get 4 fingers back for chopping & choke up for the finer work.
Now I've got a matching food processor & wood processor.
I gotta say,I'm very pleased with how they turned out despite all the mistakes I made,which will remain unmentioned.

 

[16VGTIDave]

Not bad? Quite the opposite, looks great!

Dave

 

[PayetteRucker]

Nice, designated baton/bamboo knife and a nessmuk for 6 bucks and change. I like it! We should do a post your machete mods thread... actually working on my Condor Golok atm. On its third swing out of the box into some punkwood, a chunk of the handle chipped out. I was really purturbed and didn't have the money to send it back in so I filled the hole, died some jute navy blue, will soak it in epoxy and do a handle wrap.

 

[--J]

Looks great Mykel, very nice set!

 

[TheGame]

Good looking pair of tools for a fantastic price. Thanks for sharing the mods.

 

[gofor3]

I like that a lot. Gives me some ideas for a fun project. I need to learn how to put a handle on a blade like that. I think it would be fun to make a necker or pocket fixed blade with the scrap. Heck even a paring/small kitchen knife.

Question: Is there a trick to keep from ruining the heat treat or is that concern/problem?

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Not bad? Quite the opposite, looks great!

Dave

I agree with Dave!!!!

Great Job

 

[ROCK6]

Very well done! Excellent modifications and great idea of making a "Tram-muck"

ROCK6

 

[Rupestris]

I then scrounged some Oak from a pallet & some 1/4" copper tube for pins.(had a hell of a time drilling the 1/4" holes)

Nicely done.

A member here that did some custom handled Mora Cobblers let me in on his method for pin holes in hardened blades. You can use a Dremel tool with a cut-off wheel to cut holes with a lot less effort. They aren't pretty but it is much easier.

I've also used some pallet oak for handles on a low dollar blade. Good on ya for being resourceful.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Fantastic combo!

Great Looking Muck!

 

[mykel m]

I like that a lot. Gives me some ideas for a fun project. I need to learn how to put a handle on a blade like that. I think it would be fun to make a necker or pocket fixed blade with the scrap. Heck even a paring/small kitchen knife.

Question: Is there a trick to keep from ruining the heat treat or is that concern/problem?

Thanks gofor3,you definitely need to keep the steel cool or you will lose the temper.I just kept dunking it in a bucket of water after a few seconds of grinding.
For the handle holes,I used a pointed 1/4" die grinder bit to finish the holes I had started with standard 1/4" drill bits.The standard bits would go through just enough to leave a small hole on the back side before dulling.I used a cutting fluid but the holes still got hot enough to discolor the steel,but being that it was the handle I'm not too concerned about loosing some temper around the holes.
After getting the handle sanded down I hit the tubes on each side with a center punch to flair them just a bit.

This was definitely a fun project & yeah,you could make any number of small knives out of the leftover piece of blade.
The thing I like is you don't have to know how or have the equipment to heat treat the blade.
A very easy project for us DIYers.
I'm really jonesin' to do a matching handle on the machete now & will do a follow up post when it's done.

Thanks for all the positive comments guys.