Shaping handles question....

[Dana Hackney]

Hi folks,

This may seem like a really dumb question but I'm looking for any hints/tricks for
shaping handle material prior to installing it on the tang (hidden tang). I've done some
file work on an oval shaped guard and jb welded it to the blade. I want to leave the guard
intact as it is in its finished state. I'm planning on stacking a series of blk-wht-blk spacers
just behind the guard (and just ahead of the butt cap) and the handle material is some
really nice redwood burl. Any suggestions on how to best get the handle close to finishing
beforehand?

Many thanks,
Dana Hackney
Monument, CO

 

[Mark Williams]

If you can drill a couple of holes in the guard material where it meets the handle, you can put in a couple of guide pins that lock into the handle. I use some NS rods that I sharpen before inserting into the guard. Put the handle up next to the guard pins and tap with a hammer to make a mark for drilling into the handle. That way you can shape the handle off the knife . Hope that makes sense.

 

[Bruce Bump]

I super glue the spacers right to the handle material and then drill and pin them. Next comes the shaping. Its amazing how they stay on during the shaping and fine sanding but if they do pop off they can be glued and clamped right back on.
hint: use new sharp belts when shaping handles. Old belts just heat the whole thing up and discolor the whole mess.

 

[Dana Hackney]

I'll give this suggestion a try when I get into the shop this evening.

Thanks a lot,
Dana

 

[Dana Hackney]

This are some great tips. I think I'll forgo work and head home
for the shop

Thanks again,
Dana

 

[Mark Williams]

I think Nick Wheeler might have posted a tutorial at one time that shows this.

 

[Bowiemaker]

On some hidden tang handles where I don't want to take a chance on messing up the guard by hitting it with the belt, I'll super glue everything togeather spacers, ect. to the handle just the way I want them on the finished handle. Then I'll put all this on a length of 1/4 inch all thread thats about 10" long and tighten everything down snug with a washer and nut on either end. Then I procede to shape and finish the handle down to a 400 gr. Then all that left is to put the handle on the tang fill void, I use fiberglass resin install butt cap and do the final finish.......John

 

[Dana Hackney]

This is great! I like the idea of fastening the whole mess together on a
piece of all thread and grinding. I can do this and also add the
pins as Bruce and Mark suggested.

Hot dog!

Many thanks,
Dana