reshaping ebony handle

M

meadeam

Joined
Jan 18, 2017
Messages
41
I would like to reshape the handle on one of my knives. I won't need to remove too much material to get what I want. The handle has the overall shape I want, I will just be making it rounded instead of multi-faceted as it is now. I plan to do it by hand, unless it becomes to arduous. My plan was to work slowly using increasingly fine grit sandpaper as I progress. Does this sound reasonable? I have access to a belt sander as well, but I am a little concerned with running amuck and taking off too much material.
 
you could start with files, its harder to take too much off by accident. then finish starting at 220 grit and up.
 
I do some relatively significant shaping using 80 grit shop roll when it comes to turning facets or sharp corners into rounded surfaces. You can move material quickly enough that it's not arduous but with complete control of how much material is removed. Once you have the desired form, then it's a progression in sandpaper grit until you reach the finish you desire.

Shop rolls with cloth backing generally work better for me for this than paper, until shaping has transitioned to finishing, because they are more durable. They're also easy to tear into strips the exact width you need to follow existing contours that you want to maintain.

The downside is sometimes it's easy to wipe out contours you wanted to maintain, or roll over surfaces you did not, and in those cases that's where I use a file.

Hope this helps.
 
kuraki said:
I do some relatively significant shaping using 80 grit shop roll when it comes to turning facets or sharp corners into rounded surfaces. You can move material quickly enough that it's not arduous but with complete control of how much material is removed. Once you have the desired form, then it's a progression in sandpaper grit until you reach the finish you desire.

Shop rolls with cloth backing generally work better for me for this than paper, until shaping has transitioned to finishing, because they are more durable. They're also easy to tear into strips the exact width you need to follow existing contours that you want to maintain.

The downside is sometimes it's easy to wipe out contours you wanted to maintain, or roll over surfaces you did not, and in those cases that's where I use a file.

Hope this helps.
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Excellent, thanks for the info. I'll gather the supplies and my bravery and get started. I'm looking forward to how it turns out. If all goes well, I will add a lanyard hole to this knife as well.
 
I would use a single-cut mill bastard file and shape the handle to your liking. Then sandpaper.
 
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