Wa handles

[Rhinoknives1]

I also like the oval handle of my Kasumi a lot. About the grinder, I don't have a VFD and I am also trying to get rid of most of the material before I start sanding. At 3000 RPM I will either cook the wood or go really slowly. I couldn't grind cocobolo because it is too oily. I don't know how will the stabilized wood react to the speed, is it more "heatproof"?

Use fresh quality belts with a light touch and then come down again on that plane you started. Practice on a wrecked handle or other piece of similar wood..

 

[Cushing H.]

Thanks I’ll skip the lathe for now! Those d handles look rather complicated to make I’ll keep it simpler for now!

Not sure I agree with that. I just held mine vertically on the grinder and rotated as appropriate to achieve the outline. Actually was much easier than I had envisioned.....

 

[Happychicken]

There's certainly room - even demand - for nontraditional shaped wa-handles.
What you've described is what some call "heart-shaped": http://www.knivesandstones.com/k-s-heart-shaped-ebony-blonde-horn-handle/

 

[Happychicken]

Indeed that is exactly what I did on the knife I made it is comfortable but to be fair I have nothing to compare it to. I think I want to make one of every type (D, heart shaped, oval and octagonal) it would be nice to have them in case I ever make a knife for someone I could have them pick what is most comfortable for them
You guys have seriously been awesome and so helpful!!

 

[FredyCro]

What you call simmetric D handle ? Handle like on picture I post ?

Yes. I mean an even taper and ridge across the length and width of the handle. First do square ridges and taper these and then round them off?
D handles are of course not simmetric, usually they are even offset on purpose.

 

[Natlek]

I do have a disk sander however I haven’t used it yet as I am still waiting for the feathering adhesive to come in the mail.

Ok , here is my D handle and this is how I do it...
First I copy shape of handle /cross section/ on paper / which is here in topic / then I make that part in 1.5mm 304 steel .Since I wanted this handle to taper I make other one part for front part of handle in little reduced proportions.
Then I mark center of wood on both ends and glued that metal parts on .....Then I just grind on flat platen on my grinder all extra wood between bolsters till i get shape of wood as bolsters ....most of grinding I done in vertical position ,just watch that metal part and grind wood ....
And here we are , almost done ... half hour work , wood is quince

 

[Happychicken]

Wow thanks man that looks great!

 

[FredyCro]

Really nice Natlek, would never think to use steel as a guide!

 

[Natlek]

Really nice Natlek, would never think to use steel as a guide!

What ? You never heard for D handle grinding jig Now you heard
I make another one D handle , this time little smaller to fit women's hands . I don t like kitchen work
Seriously , this is fast , accurate and repeatable way to shape handles like this .I will keep jig and when I need to make D handle just glue it to wood and ten minutes later ....job done

BW....I see you like kitchen knives ? Zelezarna Ravne ,Slovenia is close to you ? You can ask them if they would like to sell you 1.2519 steel .Already hardened 1.5 or 1.8mm thick and 63-65 hrc. Ask for industrial blade for tobacco cutting .....
They look like this ones on picture , lot of kitchen knives there .......