Scaling a Tanto Blank

[robotech]

I finished my 1st scale project last week. I am waiting for a rouge bar, so mostly finished.
I made a lot of mistakes, first being NO power tools (just a 3/8" DeWalt drill). Many hours of filing and sanding to get this just to where it is now.
I won't do it again. I just received a 4" belt sander with a 6" wheel. I am getting a new Drill Press, mill vise, AND a small table jig/shaping saw this week.
And some media to feed them.
Any way. I can't make the blanks, but I am going to try to add handles to several just for something to do.
My first, which I will keep, is this one.
This is a thin Tanto blade in 440C. 4 1/4" blade, 3 1/2" handle, 1/8" blade thickness, 5/16" at the wides part of the handle, and 3/16" pin holes. Was supposed to be a 1/4" lanyard hole, but my drill bit dulled and I ended up filing it out and oblong'ed it.
I filed jimping in the blade, but went a little deep. I wanted a deep-shallow-deep look, and got it, but it may have weakened the blade. We'll see.

The untouched blank

I had a custom set of burgundy denim micarta made for me. The block has some inclusions (looks like white dust) and I hope to buff them out with the rouge. They were free, so I can't complain. The block has a layer of black on the bottom to simulate a black spacer. Instead of Mosiac pins, I used just brass pin stock and used four copper beadlets to simulate mosiacs. The adhesive I used to inlay the beadlets looks clear until a light hits it from the side. REAL adhesive, next time.
Hey, I used what I had.
I also added a burgundy lanyard using a Reeve Coil, and a copper dragon and Puffer fish in copper for bling.

Not great, but a sharp, thin Tanto for LESS than $20.00 with about 20 hours of work.
I want a slimline boot sheath (boot/belt clip) in soft burgundy die leather that I can use as a boot, belt, or pocket carry. And MAYBE a neck sheath. If anyone can make a decent setup, I can pay up to 45-50.00 shipped.

TIA

 

[robotech]

I will post the materials for this later, and another pic that I like.
The wood scales above are Jamaican Blue Moho ( I have 4 Paua Abalone cabs to inlay when I find a knife to scale). Spalted Sycamore, Flaming Box Elder, and Crotch BLACK CHERRY Wood that just flames when wet.
I also have a set of white linen Micarta that has a double layer of red on the bottom to simulate a spacer AND a red layer near the top to show a red line around the shape when cut down. And four polished Red River Jasper cabs to inlay.
I have a small skinner that I am going to use it on. It was custom made for me, so here's hoping it's a good set.

I have started on a Damascus Tanto blank (actually, it had scales, I didn't like them. Just made scale soup and pulled them off a few minutes ago), so I am going to record the process if anyone is interested. If so, I'll start a new thread next week to actually log the process.
Starting when I get my power tools.
I purchased a set of gray linen and a set of white linen micarta scales from CanManStan ( http://www.jerzeedevil.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48281 ), and will use them on that blade. I have 4 Fire Opals from Thailand to set in the pin holes, and I am going to drill a Lanyard hole for a Special lanyard, AFTER I learn to tie it in a few days. NOT Skulls!
I am getting 100' rolls of 8 colors of Paracord to practice with. Can't have too many colors.

 

[cj65]

Thanks for posting. I have 2 blanks I am working on, um err, well in my head at least. I have all the materials but have not had the time to giterdone. Thanks for inspiring me, and great job. Have fun and keep the pictures coming....

 

[supasuprab0b]

that looks really nice.

the burgandy was a fine color choice, it sets off the blade very niceley, and the jimping looks real nice as well.

 

[IVANKERLEY]

you did a great job man:thumbup: like the handle color, works with the tanto and the bling nicely. I did an old carbon steel bowie last year (i'd had since i was 15) refinished the blade, rehandled it in bloodwood new guard, etc. It damn near drove me nuts, dont think i'd try one again but it always a good feeling to have done it.
Keep it up:thumbup:
best of luck
ivan
p.s. if ya can, on your photos shoot in natural light and turn off your flash, not full sun though, knives are some damn hard things to shoot

 

[robotech]

Thanx guys. The Title of this thread SHOULD have been what NOT to do when scaling a knife, as I made a lot of mistakes that are very noticeable.
I am 58 and have been good with my hands, but now find that I am missing three things in my middle age that I need for this work.
1. Good eyes, mine are old.
2. Good hands, mine are arthritic and not steady as I like.
3. TALENT, I have very little. Too many beautiful knives here to deny that.
But, I still like to "enhance". I can't keep the hoods down on my old cars (which I have a couple).
Believe it or not, I have a VERY nice camera. A Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7
problem is, I don't know how to use it and just haven't had time to go thru the manual.
I have been happy with outside pics, but you are right, close up, indoor auto leaves something to desire.
Here is another pic with the paracord still stuffed. I pulled the insides out (for the latest version) and no bling.

The micarta and beadlets I used (left overs for another project).

I am sending payment for my drill press and vise later today, so when I get that, I will start another REscale thread.
Here is a teaser

This one was given to me, so some more practice won't hurt it. Power tools will help, too.
I will use the white/black linen micarta I linked above to do this one, so lots of gluing/shaping.
And yes, I'll use the real stuff, this time

 

[IVANKERLEY]

wouldnt be too hard on yourself, you got a great looking tanto.
and ideas on the next. You are moving and progressing, you'll only get more comfortable and better at it!
And a fine choice in fruit too!
best of luck
ivan

 

[robotech]

Thanks for posting. I have 2 blanks I am working on, um err, well in my head at least. I have all the materials but have not had the time to giterdone. Thanks for inspiring me, and great job. Have fun and keep the pictures coming....

Well, all I can say is jump right in. It's actually hard to REALLY mess it up, but even harder to REALLY dress it up.
I hope with practice that I can get within 50% of the fine projects we see here. I won't be a Pro, but it does feel good to look at something you've went over and beyond on.
I even like that first wash/wax of the year on my autos. Something to step back, in the sunlight, and see what you've done.
I just don't have time to forge or heat treat, plus I'm a little clumsy, so I would have to rebuild my shed every couple of years, LOL.
I've already cut myself on the Tanto, not bad, but it's made us blood brothers
But I am always looking at finding a different blank or something to rescale that's different. I have 4 new project blades right now. Probably enough to get me til Oct with the traveling that I do, and my old cars always needing something.

 

[robotech]

wouldnt be too hard on yourself, you got a great looking tanto.
and ideas on the next. You are moving and progressing, you'll only get more comfortable and better at it!
And a fine choice in fruit too!
best of luck
ivan

Thanx Ivan
To be honest, the knife itself IS a nice one.
Light, thin, sharp. Not the best steel, but 440C isn't the worst, either.
I am really lookin' for a thin sheath so I can carry this.
Oh, and the little copper rings that hold the bling on are silver soldered closed. My daughter, who makes jewelry, can do it for me.
Next lanyard/bling project is the Snake Knot with, wait for it, SNAKE pieces, including sliding beads to tighten the loops. I think I will call it the Snake Charmer as I have a nice real silver snake charmer charm that is a perfect fit.

 

[robotech]

Just a couple more to show the size of the knife.

This shows how thin it is (5/16" at it's widest). It is leaning a bit. Both sides are equal, LOL.

This shows how useful the lanyard is for gripping the short handle. The little finger encircles it right above the coils. This can be adjusted by resizing the loop. After a while, I'll superglue ths pull cord to solidify the loop size. have to allow the loop to stretch, and get the right feel.
Putting a small amount of Gel SG under the last coil to hide it.

And this shows the whole knife size in relation to my hand.

That's all the pics for this project.
Thanx for the comments.