Wheeler's Steel * Stuck in the metal with you

that's a really nice post, Judd. Thanks!:)
 
It takes a really special thread to last for 20 pages and 2-1/2 consecutive weeks. Big congrats to all involved for the Homeric effort.
 
Well... this sucks giant donkey balls... but I guess life does that sometimes. I was in the homestretch when this popped up. It's just a natural void in the wood. NO WAY of knowing it was there until I filed into it.

I've heard you can fill them with superglue, so I gave it a shot. Well, like 7 shots actually... and you know what it looked like? A big void filled with superglue. So, um, yea... that ain't gonna cut it. :( :grumpy: :(

I guess this is the kind of spot you have to decide if you're going to be the guy that tries really hard to hide something that's not right, and then forever worry about it... or grit your teeth and do it right. As much as I don't want to and really can't afford to... this handle has to come off.:( :grumpy:

Maybe the silver lining is that it's a ~$65 block of wood, and not a $300 piece of ivory??? The part that hurts the most when something like this happens... is the time lost.

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I have a family shin-dig this weekend and will not be home at all. And since I have to hurry up and get a knife done for the Journeyman fixed blade to be auctioned at Blade... I might have to put this project on hold for a few now....:o :(
 
Oh man...:(:( I feel for you. That really sucks and I know how much leaving it will bug you.

Hey Lorien, were you going to put a strip of grip tape on the handle? You could cover this up. ;):p:p:D (just kidding bud.:D)

So close... I was really looking forward to seeing how you did the pin..
 
Well what does Lorien say? It looks pretty bad in the first pic, but not nearly so bad in the second. And it's still a gorgeous piece of mystery wood. :)

I'm not presuming to tell either of you what to do, but given that you are 95% of the way there, were it my knife, I'd say go ahead and finish out the handle (finish sanding short of unicorn fur, cleaning up the guard and a pin is all that's left, right?), send it to me and I'll decide whether the repaired void bugs me enough (or at all) to warrant sending the knife back for a re-handle.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
Well what does Lorien say? It looks pretty bad in the first pic, but not nearly so bad in the second. And it's still a gorgeous piece of mystery wood. :)

I'm not presuming to tell either of you what to do, but given that you are 95% of the way there, were it my knife, I'd say go ahead and finish out the handle (finish sanding short of unicorn fur, cleaning up the guard and a pin is all that's left, right?), send it to me and I'll decide whether the repaired void bugs me enough (or at all) to warrant sending the knife back for a re-handle.

Roger
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Roger, you and I both know Nick. The void bothers HIM, so it's doubtful if he'll allow it to leave his shop that way.
 
Nick, I've been trying mightily to think up an intelligent question that wont expose me as a complete noob to the knife-making process (which I am). This is the best I could come up with (sorry its about the handle, which is probably the last thing you want to think about right now :o):

How do you determine what the handle size should be? Do you ask a customer what size his hand is before you make the knife? This is something I have always wonderered, given that hand sizes do vary quite a bit. If this is a really dumb question, please ignore!
 
Ya know; looking close at that void, it looks like some kind of Pale Rider, on a horse, upside down. :) *Danbo runs, ducking for cover, now*
 
My first thoughts were stippling, but I'm not sure that's a particularly good location for them...
 
i was thinking about maybe jsut thinning the handle a hair more to see how deep it is

but if its more then a scosh deep then for sure its a gonner

so in talking to my wife to be (and this is why i love her) i said we need to start MRI ing the blocks to make sure there clear of voids (she is a MRI tec) and thing that Xray woudl be even cheaper and do the same thinig (a whole new handle block cert. grade AAA MRI clear block )
 
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That "void" really sucks Nick!

I too THANK YOU for all the time and effort you have taken to show your knifemaking. It is IMPRESSIVE to see all the knowledge you have, along with the skills to turn out a beautiful knife in the end. I've done enough shaping of materials to recognize the skills you possess, from machinist to working with your hands.

There is no doubt the end result will be another exceptional knife.

Once again thanks to you and Lorien for creating this thread.

Peter
 
Nick, I'm totally ok with it. That natural imperfection bothers me not at all.
It would bother me more if you took the hit, both in time and finances, to remove the handle and start from scratch.

The knife is perfect. Please finish it.
Remember, the customer is always right:thumbup:.
 
Nick,
I been following this thread for 20 pages now, and I gotta say its really a bummer to see a void in that wood at this point.

It's not one of mine, but if you want another block of super curly KOA or something else that trips your fancy I will quick send it out to ya N/C. :D

Larry
 
I would not hesitate in taking the knife as is it is not a crack or something that is going to get worse. Leave it the customer said he did not mind nor would I
 
There's been such an amount of good information on Nick's thread, for collectors and makers alike. This last glitch, though, is something makers know all too well, and is something good for collectors to keep in mind.

Natural materials have flaws. Sometimes they're part of the charm, as in "cracked" ivories, sometimes they can be filled, as in the tiny checks in the black spots in Desert Ironwood, and sometimes the maker just has to eat the cost and tear off the handle.

That flawless handle on your knife didn't just get that way on it's own. Some maker cried bitter tears somewhere along the line.

Cheers to Nick. The knifemaker's maker!

John
 
It's taken me 4 visits over the last 2 days to read through this thread and all I can say in the end is "thank you". :thumbup:
 
I think we all sympathize with Nick on this bad luck.
BUT -- it's his name in BIG letters on this well-documented piece of work.
Nick knows what to do.
 
JParanee said:
I would not hesitate in taking the knife as is it is not a crack or something that is going to get worse.
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I see a void as different from a crack for that very reason. It's an aesthetic blemish that a) isn't the result of any fault of the maker, b) was put there by mother nature - just like the beautiful figure and colour in the wood, c) doesn't compromise the integrity of the handle, d) may be even more visibly reduced by a touch more grinding and sanding and e) may or may not bother the customer.

I do believe it's the maker's call as to what can leave his shop with his name on it - but in these circumstances I think you do take the customer's input before making the decision, particularly where the remedy will occasion more than minimal delay. That discussion may or may not already have happened - I don't know. This is a natural handle material - and nature isn't about perfect.

Roger
 
true, Art, but it's still MY knife!:D

I like Roger's suggestion, it won't take much time to finish it at this point, and I'd rather have the knife in hand before I make the call on whether the void is acceptable or not. Personally, I'm with Joe on this. AND it adds character, without jeopardizing durability or strength.

And yes, I am going to use this knife.

Strange, what a range of emotions I've experienced in the last hour due to your post, Nick. I can only imagine how you must feel my friend. Have a great weekend and try to rest easy bro.
 
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