Spyderco Mule Help

D

Dingle1911

Joined
Nov 28, 2005
Messages
755
Hello Everyone,
I tried this thread in the tinkering forum before I found this forum, but I think this is a better place to find some answers. I am thinking about purchasing a Spyderco Mule in S90V and then making a set of handles for it. I have never done anything like this before, but I have been reading many articles about it. I have a lot of wood working and cabinet making experience, but I have many questions. I have not decided what to make the handles out of yet. What is the easiest to work with, G10, Micarta, or wood? I also have not decided whether to use handles screws or pins, any advice there? Does anyone know the hole diameter of the holes in the Mule. To get my desired profile I will be using sand paper and files, I know I have many hours of work ahead of me.
Thanks for the help!
 
Wood, Micarta and G10....in that order. Screws will make it able to be disassembled and changed. If that's not of interest, I'd epoxy and pin it.
 
I found that micarta wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, it doesn't gum up the files the way a soft wood does. You should use a respirator for it though. Actually you should use a respirator for almost every thing so I wouldn't take that as a negative point for micarta.
 
Thanks for the help, I am leaning towards wood because that is what I have the most experience with. I spent all last night reading 20 of the 27 pages of the shop talk forum. I think I have the respirator and safety equipment covered.
What type of epoxy should I use for my pins. Is this something that I can get at Home Depot or do I need to order it on the internet?

Also is there a trick to profiling the handle scales at the pins since the pins and the scales are a different hardness.

Also, one other question for this morning. If I choose wood, do people usually leave the wood natural or do you stain it. If you choose to stain it how do you keep the stain from staining the tang?
 
Dingle1911 said:
Thanks for the help, I am leaning towards wood because that is what I have the most experience with. I spent all last night reading 20 of the 27 pages of the shop talk forum. I think I have the respirator and safety equipment covered.
What type of epoxy should I use for my pins. Is this something that I can get at Home Depot or do I need to order it on the internet?

Also is there a trick to profiling the handle scales at the pins since the pins and the scales are a different hardness.

Also, one other question for this morning. If I choose wood, do people usually leave the wood natural or do you stain it. If you choose to stain it how do you keep the stain from staining the tang?
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The Devcon 2-ton epoxy works well, and is easy to find.

Use a hard backer to sand around the pins. This will reduce undercutting.

I don't believe in staining wood. Just get the wood that looks right to begin with. A coat of penetrating oil benefits most woods, though.

Phillip
 
Epoxy - local stuff would be like some 15 or 30 min LocTite brand. As far as the pins / handle slabs, temporarily affix them to the mule with a drop or two of super glue. Sand / drill / shape to about 90%. Cut your pins so that you have about a 1/32" to 1/16" out on both sides. Lightly pry off your slabs and epoxy them in place, pins and all. Clean ALL the excess off with some acetone. You can then file off the pins flush and finish out the wood. I use Teak or Tung oil usually. Just hand rub on, let it soak, buff with some fine steel wool, repeat.
 
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