Sick of waiting for BK14 zytel, so I decided to be productive!

[DeadFall27]

So, I have been waiting for the new zytel to become available ever since I left for my trip to Arizona with my Senior Field Studies course. Every day, I click the refresh button to see if the button switches to 'buy', but it never happens. I am sick of waiting!

I found a cutting board at Goodwill for ~$2 and I decided "what the heck?". I pledged that I would keep my 14 naked until they are available in another thread, so I will keep these off until it happens to keep to my promise
(Would putting these on to shape and finish them be breaking that promise? )

Anyway, I cut the board up with a saw, whittled them down to shape, hand sanded them with 36 and 100 grit sandpaper, made liners from kydex scraps I found lying around.






I started this project this morning, and am left with this so far:

I still need to countersink the screws, but before I do that, I wanted to ask if it would be wise to sand the screws down to match the profile of the scales better. I wouldn't do it much (or not even touch the side with the screw). One side is completely flat, and the other has a flat-head screw.

While I figure out that dilemma, I will need to glue the liners on the scales themselves and decide as to whether or not I should stipple these bad boys.

(I have also evened them out after I took these pics)

What do you guys think so far?

 

[Moosez45]

Looks good. I would just counter sink the screws and leave it at that.

Nice work, and very inventive.

Moose

 

[B.Mauser]

The shape looks very comfortable. Looking great so far.

 

[Nsvens89]

Looks good man, I am digging the white scales. I would countersink the screws then see if you want to level off the heads of them. If you countersink them enough you might not have to mess with the actual screws. I am not a big fan of stippling so i say polish them up, that is just my 2 cents though. Great job so far. Be sure to keep posting pictures.

 

[edctac]

Yeah just counter sink em, and maybe see if you can use ryt die on em to get em a cool color(not sure if the die will work on that material though)

 

[DeadFall27]

If I could make the screws look smaller, these would definitely look a lot better, IMO. I'll countersink 'em as soon as I find the appropriately sized bit.

Heck, if I could find a way to find a way to use the hardware like that on my BK2, this would just be plain sexy
I just don't know how I would even make a perfect hex-shaped hole in the scale if I were to do that though...

I have been thinking about color as well; I have an orange sheath from Azwelke coming in in the next few days so i could make 'em match

OH! and thank you for the compliments my friends, it means a lot!!!!

 

[oXide]

Your a little late...

Proof: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/935663-BK14-Scales-Available-at-Tomar-s!

 

[DeadFall27]

Your a little late...

Proof: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/935663-BK14-Scales-Available-at-Tomar-s!

Just replied to the thread lmao

 

[Guineaman]

Looks great Are you taking orders yet ?
Oops, just ordered some From Tomars! Lol! Having fun yet?

 

[Moosez45]

You should have done this sooner, that way we wouldn't have been waiting so long for them to drop.

Moose

 

[cbwoods67]

Very slick work.
That looks to be quite a bit thicker than the zytel handles, so it may be more comfortable.
Might have to give this a shot.

 

[oXide]

Just replied to the thread lmao

I can't believe you beat me to it by 2 minutes..... GAH! Stupid slow internet!

 

[Nsvens89]

If I could make the screws look smaller, these would definitely look a lot better, IMO. I'll countersink 'em as soon as I find the appropriately sized bit.

Heck, if I could find a way to find a way to use the hardware like that on my BK2, this would just be plain sexy
I just don't know how I would even make a perfect hex-shaped hole in the scale if I were to do that though...

I have been thinking about color as well; I have an orange sheath from Azwelke coming in in the next few days so i could make 'em match

OH! and thank you for the compliments my friends, it means a lot!!!!

When I made the scales for my 14 I just used 2 machine screws and a coupling nut. You can see how I did mine in my thread.


This is what they look like, Not sure if its quite what you meant but maybe in the right direction.

 

[DeadFall27]

Guineaman

Looks great Are you taking orders yet ?

I really do not think I am good enough to take orders; even if I had a paid membership to do stuff like this on the forum!

Moosez45

You should have done this sooner, that way we wouldn't have been waiting so long for them to drop.

Moose

Way to rub it in A-hole!

cbwoods67

Very slick work.
That looks to be quite a bit thicker than the zytel handles, so it may be more comfortable.
Might have to give this a shot.

It is very fun IMO and the $4 I spent total on this project so far is wayyy worth it! I still want a set of the zytel for that factory perfection; mine are thicker, but they aren't as elegant! And thank you for the compliment sir! When I finish them up and I use my actual camera, they will look a ton better.

 

[DeadFall27]

When I made the scales for my 14 I just used 2 machine screws and a coupling nut. You can see how I did mine in my thread.


This is what they look like, Not sure if its quite what you meant but maybe in the right direction.

Where did ya find that coupling nut? That may be exactly what I need to make her look all pretty!!!
I loved that thread, BTW. The only reason I never did wood is because I wanted to do something synthetic like this.

 

[Nsvens89]

Thanks man! I picked them up at the local ACE hardware, far better selection on fasteners compared to lowes or H depot. My only gripe is that they are aluminum so they are a little soft. But its nice because as long as you get the right thread pattern on the screw you can use what ever style head you fancy. I really like the look of the white synthetic. I might give some white scales a try on my 16 that should be here tomorrow!

 

[DeadFall27]

Thanks man! I picked them up at the local ACE hardware, far better selection on fasteners compared to lowes or H depot. My only gripe is that they are aluminum so they are a little soft. But its nice because as long as you get the right thread pattern on the screw you can use what ever style head you fancy. I really like the look of the white synthetic. I might give some white scales a try on my 16 that should be here tomorrow!

1. Jealous of the fact you have a 16 coming in...curse being a broke kid!
2. The screws I have are aluminum and I have already began to strip one of the heads...:grumpy: Ah well, I think a trip to ACE would be better anyway.
3. What are you going to do for your 16's white scales if ya do it?

 

[Nsvens89]

1. Jealous of the fact you have a 16 coming in...curse being a broke kid!
2. The screws I have are aluminum and I have already began to strip one of the heads...:grumpy: Ah well, I think a trip to ACE would be better anyway.
3. What are you going to do for your 16's white scales if ya do it?

I've got this hunk of of corian, it is basically like a synthetic stone/really dense plastic type stuff used for counter tops. I will most likely do the same thing I did for the 14 handles because I don't think I would be able to mill/dremel out the hex hole and have it look good.

Oh and I'm a broke college kid so no worries, I just have a credit card

 

[DeadFall27]

I've got this hunk of of corian, it is basically like a synthetic stone/really dense plastic type stuff used for counter tops. I will most likely do the same thing I did for the 14 handles because I don't think I would be able to mill/dremel out the hex hole and have it look good.

Oh and I'm a broke college kid so no worries, I just have a credit card

I like the way you think; it will probably look better than mine!! Post pics if you do it! And btw, I am about to be a broke college kid here soon
Hooray for my senior year!...kinda...

 

[CamH_16]

Pretty nice man!