Shaping Bolster's my way

T

Taximanny

Joined
Jul 27, 2015
Messages
460
I have only been building since last July. So I am a fairly new builder in the knife community.
So I would like to return the favor back to all, who did make tutorials where I took bits and pieces from.

I had a lot of trouble getting the Bolster's shaped the right way and searched everywhere for a tutorial with nothing coming up on this specific subject. So now I'll put one out there for that someone struggling as I did.

All this was done with no machinery just simple hand tools.
I accomplish this in about 30 minutes per bolster.
I don't know if people do it this way, but this is how I skinned the cat.

So here goes!

I start off with a piece of 1"x3/4"x15" piece of wood. Cut and shaped with a relief in front. I than clamp this to my work desk.
I drill a few 3/32" holes in it.
I place a pin in it the same size as my pivot hole in the bolster. This holds the front from moving while I file it to shape.

 
Now I place my bolster on my granite and scribe a line around it. This indicates the depth at which I'm going to carry my shape down to.

 
Than I place my bolster over the pin and clamp the back down to keep it from moving while a start to shape it with a double cut file.
 
I than start shaping it down to the scribed lines.
Making sure to file flat and smooth as possible.

 
Now is where I concentrate on the front part of the bolster.
I put a piece of tape over the bolster going from tip of the front of the bolster to the bottom tip, keeping it straight.
 
I than follow this line from the edge of the straight tape line to the scribed mark on the bottom of the bolster.
Fileing in a way to form a round head.
 
I than use a small round chain saw file and my thumb as a guide and follow just on the inside of the line.
Going slowly to start and more aggressive as I start to form a nice groove.
 
Again this takes me about 30 minutes to do each bolster.
Im sure there is more ways to do this but this seems to really work for me.

The jig with the pin holes really helps in holding the scale in place while shaping.
I have them all roughed out now.
And will continue to hand sand for the final finish.
I hope this helps someone.

 
That's fantastic. Thanks so much for posting this. Without a belt grinder, your approach keeps things nice and simple and attainable for anyone. I really like the idea with the tape. What a great means to get a nice symmetrical rounded front. I've not yet tackled doing bolsters, but when I do, I'll certainly remember your method.


Jeremy
 
Awesome, now we need one on the shield inlay. That is if you haven't done one already.

Hoss
 
It's been fun watching your progress from asking a lot of questions not too long ago here on the forum, to turning out some beautiful knives. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks for this "How To"!
 
Thanks for the comments, and I hope someone can take bits from this and apply it to there situation.

As for shield inlays, there are a few tutorial out there.
But they braze the stem on the shield.
I myself set the shield and drill thru it out the bottom of the liner. Than just pin and peen.
Maybe on my next one I can make up a tutorial.
 
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