Total Greenhorn here with a few questions

[GATroutBum]

Hey Everyone,
I finally got my blades back from Paul Bos Heat Treating and have had a chance to work on the handle. I epoxy’d on some Thuya Burl Scales, waited 24 hours and then went to town hand sanding. I’m using Formby’s Tung Oil Finish, wet sanding with 1200 in between coats. I’m on coat #3 now and I think I’ll do a few more. I know it’s not real Tung Oil, but it’s the only thing I could find locally. I will order some 100% pure tung oil once I research it a little bit more.

Next step is to put on the secondary bevel. I plan on doing this with a Lansky Diamond Deluxe Sharpening set I bought off Amazon. Got it for just over $50 with free shipping so I feel like I got a good deal. After that, I will try my hand at making a sheath. I got a 12x12 piece of both 7-8 and 8-9 veg tanned leather. I’m still waiting on some misc stuff to come in for the sheath (needles, thread, groover etc)

I have learned a ton on this first one! There are some blemishes that I’m definitely not happy about! I got a little excited at the end when filing the bevel and put too much pressure on the file, thus cutting higher up the blade than I should have. Another issue is with my 12” bastard file. I rounded the corners over on a horizontal table belt sander but I don’t think I did it enough! My plunges are not visually appealing at all!!! Overall, I’m happy with the way it turned out with some exceptions. I really look forward to the next one!!!!

think I need more clamps....

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A very respectable first knife. Congrats on rounding the handle. Most first knives look like they left the scales completely flat.
Don't beat yourself up too much about the plunges, they are not that bad.

 

[Matt Rochester]

In order for part A to fit inside part B, part A must be smaller than part B. For 1/8" pins(.125") use a #30 bit(.128"). Either your pin was not exactly 1/8' or you wallowed out the hole. If you use a 1/4''(.250") pin then use a letter F bit which is .256" and so on... Looking good so far!

Didn't see page 2! Nice looking knife!

 

[bodog]

Those pins are wallowed out. I am guilty of the same thing, but that's because I don't have the right drill bits or I try to rush.

Try using the numbered drill bits that correspond to the pins. The holes need to be a little larger than the pins, as said before. If they're the same size, then grind the pins down a little at a time. It causes more hand fitting but if that's all you have then that's all you can do.

The pin diameter at the tang is a little less important than the diameter of the pin that shows at the handle. If you're peening the pins then it's a little less important but still an important consideration. Those holes are too big to peen.

The pin hole closest to the blade looks good but maybe you didn't use a firm backing when you drilled through it. Next time maybe drill from the presentation side to the hidden side so that little broken off chunk won't be visible.

Here's one of mine where I had the same problem. The hole wasn't the same as the other two. Check out the front pin hole:

Compared to this one where I just took my time and wallowed out the holes the way they should have been done:
.

The blade itself looks good from my young eyes.

I'd simply suggest buying the right drill bits or going much slower when wallowing the pin holes.

Still looks like a knife worth using to me.