Ready for first scale installation

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Sep 21, 2013
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So a have a couple blades ready to put scales on. First time I will be doing it but I have practiced peening pins and don't plan on whacking the heck out of them anyway. I have G Flex and 1/8 pins and I think I am ready to go.

I have 2 5x12 sheets of 1/4 and 3/8 paper and linen micarta.

My plan was to use the 1/4 on the little guy, bevel the edges with a file and then shoe shine for the rest to 800 or so.

The others the plan is to use the 3/8 and go for a coke bottle shape. I don't have a grinding wheel so rasp and file to 85% and then sanding and some shoe shine as well.

Hopefully I can get to it this weekend. I'll put up pics on the off chance you guys are interested in your 1000th newbie putting some crude work up:D.
 
Hey thanks. the finish is not quite as good as it looks. I took it up to 2000 grit on my disc sander and buffed with green chrome and then white compound. So if you look close with a raking light you'll see that there are definitely polished scratches. I bet it could be a good base for a fine or medium scotch brite belt finish though.
 
Will the high polished handle surfaces be a detriment when gluing the scales? Wouldn't a rougher surface give you a better bond? They look great though.
 
Ooh good point. I did just get a carbide burr for small areas (does not work in my drill press) that I will use to chew it up a bit except for the edges. That's why I posted! I knew someone would keep me from making a bone head mistake.
 
I think you could probably just go over that area with a 220 grit belt or something, no? The experts should be along soon with sound advice.
 
Tape up the shiny blade surface and sand the tang areas that will be under the scales with 100 grit paper.

On your next knives consider this:
Normally you never buff the tang. It may cause the edges to round slightly and make a small gap show at the edge of the scales. This is cosmetic, and not a problem as far as strength, but should be avoided.
Another good thing to do is make a slight hollow in the center of the tang. I mark the scale position, and use a 2" wheel on the grinder and make a very ugly hollow grind that leaves a 1/4" boarder unground. The hollowed area will allow some resin between the scales and the tang. If the joint is too smooth and flat, all the resin may get squeezed out in assembly and clamping. You can still do that on these blades.

Another problem is the hole placement for your rivets is wrong on several of those knives. Particularly problematic is the second from the bottom. The holes seem OK on a flat blade, but when the scales are installed and shaped, the pins will need up far too close to the edge and on a curved surface. Any peening you do in installation will be ground away in shaping.
Some of the other blades will have similar problems with the pins being too far forward and near the butt when the handle is shaped. Sadly, it will be difficult to fix this now unless you drill new holes farther in with a carbide bit. You may just want to finish these and make it a lesson on three things. One - is to post sketches of planned knives for comments and critique. That would have had someone comment about moving the holes. Two - is that making a batch of knives at a time can easily lead to making the same mistake multiple times. Until you get the skills refined, one at a time is best. Finally, Three - is that planning is everything. Consider all the final positions and functions of every element. What looks "cool" in a sketch can look "crude" in the finished knife.
 
Excellent thank you. I will:

-Rough up the tangs
-I've got a #30 carbide bit on the way. Could I beg someone to put a few dots on my picture or tell me where to move the pins? Alternatively I'll put up the pic with some dots and you guys can tell me if I got it right.
-I remember reading about not buffing the tangs. Dang, got carried away. I'll dye the epoxy black like the micarta and hopefully that helps.

I want to improve so thanks to all.
 
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Another thought for your next knives is to make a few extra holes in the tang. These fill with epoxy when you glue up your scales, making a stronger bond. It also lessens the weight of your knife.
 
I can see where the tang polishing has rounded the corners on the bottom blade tang. It at the middle of the index finger cut out. See how the reflection is?
I suggest you flatten or even taper your tangs vertically on your 2 x 72" or disk grinder. A 100 or 120 grit belt will do the job and leave something for the G/flex to hang on to.

Also reposition your pin holes on thosa as Stacy suggested.
Your are doing fine!
 
Well I've been wanting to practice tapering tangs. Something you can't get at the knife counter at Cabellas. I'll try flattening the bottom one first up to the front of the scales.

Thanks for the encouragement:thumbup:
 
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I suggest finishing the scales where they meet the blade at the ricasso before you you glue them on. You are sure to put scratches on your fine, smooth finished blade if you don't.
- Paul Meske, AKA lonepine
 
Ok so it turned out decent for a first job I think. Tinting the epoxy helped with any gap from buffing to far back. At least on this one. FYI hardware Hank will sell you universal tint for .35 /oz.
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Now how should I do the final sharpening @ lansky system? DMT stone?

Thanks!
 
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