Shaping scales on a coated blade

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Kimball_Knife_And_Tool

Joined
Jun 28, 2019
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37
Hey,
So I've got a problem. The way I usually do handle scales is to finish them right to the tang of my knife. Making sure the scales and tang mate perfectly. I've been wanting to coat my knife blades though.
The problem is, if I shape my scales and finish them on the knife as I usually do, I'll sand the coating off the tang... Which is unacceptable.
The only thing I've though of is to shape the scales on the tang, take the scales off, get the blade coated, then put the scales back on and hope they mate up perfectly.
What are your guys thoughts? Any experience with this? Thanks!
 
I think that’s probably your best option. Complete the scales, get the coating then replace the scales
 
You could install some locater pins in the tang to the underside of the scales so you get a perfect lineup and use temporary fasteners or removable bolts for the scales.
I usually use Gulso bolts and coat mine with wax or Vaseline wherever I don’t want epoxy to stick.
 
Good ideas guys, sometimes I use .002 shim stock to protect and finish by hand.

Hoss
 
A good trick for shaping the scales and then removing them is to us wooden dowels for the pins. Wax the wood and push/tap it in snug. When done, tap it out with a brass rod and small hammer. In order to keep alignment correct, make the tang holes the same as the pin size.
 
I line up approximately shaped scales with pins to the tang. Remove scales from tang. Put scales together lined up using the pins so I have one 'block' and finish the scales that way and then attach them to the tang.
 
That’s how I do it on my M1 Garand knife. Shape the scales on the knife with temp pins, parkerize the knife then glue up.
 
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