Skeletonizing a handle

C

campergf23

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Jun 25, 2015
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Hey guys, first post on bladeforums, and first time knifemaker

I'm in the process of making my first knife, and I planed on making a small light weight knife that would primarily be used on backpacking trips. I have the knife cut to shape, and my next step is to start removing material inside the handle to make an Izula like skeletonized handle.

I was thinking I would drill a bunch of holes, then use a file to remove the rest as I don't have a milling machine or even a dremel/die grinder. I was wondering if there is a better or faster way of doing this.

Thanks in advance!

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Well you could minimize the filing by sizing the larger radius' to the drill bit, and then using a small bit to take out the meat on the long sections. You will probably want a coping blade for the sawing work.

Was that too obvious?
 
If you are interested in making a few of them, I'd recommend waterjet cutting them out. Drilling and connecting holes takes a lot of time, but if it's just one knife it'd be manageable.
 
Actually I am quickly learning that at the introductory rate of about 0.10¢ an hour, drilling holes/ followed by hand sawing is way cheaper than water jet with shipping. Maybe I selected a bad water jet vendor the first time, but the blanks still needed a lot of hand work .
 
It's a one off kind of thing. Thanks for the sugestion on the water cutting tho!


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ron_m80 said:
Well you could minimize the filing by sizing the larger radius' to the drill bit, and then using a small bit to take out the meat on the long sections. You will probably want a coping blade for the sawing work.

Was that too obvious?
Click to expand...

This should be all you need
 
A "bunch"of holes is never the answer. A few large holes actually does more and looks much more efficient ! Leave at least 1/8" between holes and from hole to outside edge. My neckknife has no scales and has four holes from 1/4" to 1/2" .Those you can drill or if needed watr jet.
 
I agree with mete. I make a lot of the type of knife you are describing, a series of well spaced holes is very quick, adds character, and can look really good.



 
Del Raso Knives said:
I agree with mete. I make a lot of the type of knife you are describing, a series of well spaced holes is very quick, adds character, and can look really good.



Click to expand...

Sure do look good!

Some years ago about a dozen of us here on the Forum made a charity colab knife. My part was skeletonized jade liners that were under the mammoth ivory scales. The jade work was something not seen before and trust me, won't be done again if I am concerned.

One booboo and the gem quality jade would have been trash.
 
Hey Ron,

I really like the looks of Del Raso's knives and carried one similar to his for years back packing. On my last trip (bad knees) over the Milford Track it was so wet that my hands softened up and the skeletonized handle was pretty hard on them. Since then, I have added a set of 3/16" wood scales - much easier on the hands.

Tim
 
Maybe I'll go with just a series of holes, I like the looks of your knifes. This is the part that I'm most concerned about screwing up too so the holes would probably be an easier way to the get what I wanted


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Well to get things started, your going to screw up. Don't worry about it or you will just be fretting for a long time.. we've all screwed something up at one point. The biggest problem is doing it toward the end of your project!
 
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