warped scales

Hengelo_77

Hengelo_77

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Mar 2, 2006
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I got some nice spalted birch knife scales from Ebay, but they are a bit warped.
Any advice on getting them straight?
 
If there's enough meat to them, just grind them flat (without overheating). If you straighten a warp it'll just want to come back.

-d
 
They're not thick enough for that.
If I'd epoxy them to the liners would that hold them flat?
(I'll use them on a linerlock)
 
They need to be flat before you put them on a folder.

All you need for folder scales 1/8" or less, my folders scales are much thinner.
 
Are your scales stabilized? If they are from who I think they are from, they are not stabilized. If they are not stabilized DO NOT make a knife out of them. Yes I know they are pretty but the unsightly gaps associated with using unstabilized wood and watching it warp from your tang is NOT PRETTY! If they are indeed stabilized I have a trick that may help.
Matt Doyle
 
They are not stabylised.
I want to put them on a knifekit from knifekits.com .
I ordered the knifekit to get some hands-on experience with a linerlock, before I start to make them myself.
If the knifekit turns out to be a pretty knife, it is a bonus, the way I look at it I just ordered $35,- of hands one experience.

Wetting the scales and letting them drie under pressure, would that work?
 
Heat them up with a heatgun until they are HOT. SLOWLY clamp both ends down flat. The piece should be laid so that the bowed ends are up. (Think rocking chair) After clamping flat, let cool until room temperature. Repeating this process is sometimes necessary. This works on stabilized wood, not sure if it will work on unstabilized wood. You shouldn't be using unstabilized wood anyhow. Just send the piece you have out to be stabilized and buy a new piece while you are waiting that IS stabilized. The wood you are planning on putting on your kit knife WILL WILL WILL pop up and become ugly, more likely sooner than later, and you will not be happy about it. Why put all that time into something doomed for failure? Do it right and do it once, and you may very well have something to pass along.
Matt
 
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