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scale makers....need help diy project

Texaspridejb

Texaspridejb

Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
523
OK guys I'm making some micarta. Scales for a bk2 any idea how to drill the backside of the handles so the washers will sit flush...I'm trying not to spend too much on tools any advice appreciated
 
U mean how to make the hex holes?

Been lots of methods, from dremeling it out, using small wood chisels, heating a correct-sized allen wrench then pressing it into the micarta (met with less then stellar results)
 
I think there was a red hot nut method that consisted of heating a nut, to well, red hot, then pressing it to the micarta to melt it, followed by drilling it out a little bit to make it deeper, then reheating another/the same nut and pressing it in for a final fit.
 
It depends how anal you are. You can spend tons of time on it, or just use a flat-bottomed drill of a diameter the same size or slightly larger than the FLATS of the hex (3/8") and use a nut itself to cut the corners of the hex in the scale. Get a longer 10-32 screw, use a thick washer on the blade tang (remove the non-hex side scale) and pull the nut through the scale. You might have to go back and clean out the scrapings from the bottom of the hole a couple of times, but eventually it will look pretty good. Not as sharp as the factory corners, but close enough to keep the nut from turning.
I made a nut-based scraper by grinding off the chamfer on a scrap 10-32 nut so there is a nice, sharp edge to do the cutting. Cheap stuff.
 
or you can say "the hell with it" and epoxy and pin the scales to the bk2....
 
got a drill press? that makes the hot nut method highly effective. i used a kitchen stove and lots of brute force and it didn't work so hot without dremeling it out first. BUT i didn't use one of those $12.00 plumbers propane cylinder torches to heat it. that will get it WAY hotter than just the stove, and it might press in by hand better....

your other option is a chicago bolt/sex bolt setup, or a threaded standoff spacer in the middle with bolts on both ends. means you could make a standard recessed or forstner bit hole on both sides instead of figuring out a hex head setup.

that said, here's my flail attempt at the red hot nut method.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...hort-my-Handle-Project-for-the-16-UPDATE-DONE
don't know if that'll help, but it worked for me, i've got a dremel tool though. again, a drill press would be awesome for this technique.

oregon fal'er did it all by hand and manly with a forstner bit and then a simple v-shaped wood carving tool here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...cker-handle-scales-wood-manufacturing-process

good luck, take pics!
 
oXide said:
I think there was a red hot nut method that consisted of heating a nut, to well, red hot, then pressing it to the micarta to melt it, followed by drilling it out a little bit to make it deeper, then reheating another/the same nut and pressing it in for a final fit.
Click to expand...

That's my method, and it worked very nicely in testing. Haven't actually assembled a handle this way, but I would definitely do so were I motivated. Yes, you need a plumber's torch. Cheap cheap, very useful. Kitchen oven? nope. A carbon steel nut will start to glow around 1000F or so, maybe a bit more. Your gas range isn't made to turn pasta into plasma.

Also, this is .sig-worthy:

K9-Handler said:
I made a nut-based scraper by grinding off the chamfer on a scrap
Click to expand...
 
hmmm. so instead of messing up a few nice pieces of micarta a gentleman gave me I decided to pay it forward...who wants some nice olive green micarta slabs, you pay 6.00 priority shipping they are yours first i want em gets em. I found some nice orange kryptoglow scales im gonna go with
 
they are yours brother...my pp is texaspridejb@gmail.com for the shipping send me your address and i will get em out tommorrow. I was thinking about selling the bk 2 as well but there is something about this knife that is really speaking to me, just needs some scales...thanks all. greybush im closing it. pm me for additional
 
Tex, is all this micarta homemade or bought? If it is factory, then Greybush just got one hell of a deal...Micarta is now like 22 bucks a sheet...
 
CamH_16 said:
Tex, is all this micarta homemade or bought? If it is factory, then Greybush just got one hell of a deal...Micarta is now like 22 bucks a sheet...
Click to expand...

you need to be on the look out for better deals bud....you can find it a lot cheaper than 22, pm me and ill send ya some links
 
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