Stone washed blade shapping

[AlaskanCelt]

Ok so I've made hidden tang knives but this is my first crap at a full tang knife. I got a blade that has a stone washed finish and while planning ahead I though about the shaping phase...how do I shape the handle without grinding some of the finish off the sides of the blade handle?? As in taking the acid wash off and it turn to just steel and shinny. HELP!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

" ....my first crap at a full tang knife..."
That has to hurt!!!

There is no simple way to finish the handle and not affect the finish on the blade.

You can make a take down handle with screws instead of pins and remove it after the final shaping and sanding, and then re-do the satin finish on the tang.

You can also try hand sanding the tang sides carefully to put a matte finish on the steel. Do this after the handle is done and buffed. Tape off the wood with several layers of tape, exposing only the steel tang sides. Use 220 and/or 400 grit sandpaper to sand the steel to the desired finish. You should carry the same finish down the spine of the blade.

 

[Geoff Flato]

I'd probably do something along Stacey's takedown suggestion. Out the scales on, scribe around, and take them off. Grind down to the scribe lines and test fit. Fine tune it until it's perfect. Assuming you don't have bolsters to deal with, you could then stick the two scales together and get the face and corners how you want it. Finish your scales, and then reinstall. You could epoxy them on, just make sure to clean all of the epoxy off.

This is a bit of a work around mind you, I'd usually shape the handle completely, then remove it to do the finishing if something like that is desired