http://www.knifemaking.com/category-s/4.htm
^^Handle material
http://www.knifeandgun.com/
^^lots of different stuff
http://www.northcoastknives.com/northco ... pplies.htm
^^good selection of material at good prices.
Howdy...here I am. :ugeek:
Ok...so what hand tools, power tools do you actually own?
If you're going to do it by hand, you will need at least these....
A few Files... flat file, half round file, bastard file.
A coping saw and some extra blades.
Sandpaper...grit #'s 80, 100, 150, 220, 320 ( if you want to go for gleamingly smooth just go with higher numbered grit. They go up 12000...that's for crazy looking wood, finished coat sanding)
Drill and drill bits
Vise mounted to bench
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQm7YToDSpc
^^this video is slow going, but it deals with using just the tools listed above. which is how I started out...
you just need to see how he cuts the scales out with a coping saw. (3:22-6:00) If you want you can put it in a vise to hold it instead of on the table and holding it with your hand....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyF8LVpS5pk
^^ this guy has 4 vids of how to...he uses power tools but if you have any mechanical brains you'll know how to use the hand tool in place of power. (drill, sander, saw)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxxwhNWR ... el&list=UL
^^skip to 1:47 in the video...it shows how to attach the scales with epoxy and pins. you don't need to be as messy as this guy is to get a good glue up on it....also instead of pins, you can use the existing screws you have already.
where he uses the power sander, you can use the files to do the same thing....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... ifNK4&NR=1
^^4:10 in this part, it shows the process of filing the handle....
The filing is going to be the tedious part....it's where you shape it into what you want.
What kind of wood do you want to use? I have a boat load of it. Crazy beautiful stuff and plain jane solid colors and everything in between.
let me know if you want something special or plain and i'll check to see what I have...
Process....
#1...Safety!! Put some cardboard over your blade (Like a sheath) and tape it up with duct tape. that way you can handle the knife and not get sliced....
ok..now the fun part....
Trace out handle shape onto wood. (or you may trace the knife tang and make the new handles the same size as it.)
Cut the 2 pieces of wood to roughly the shape as existing handles.
Glue the handle to tang with epoxy (and use something other than your screws to attach the wood to the tang for this step. Like a double head duplex nail like they use on concrete forms... so you can remove the nail after,(so you can sand) then install your screws. This way the screws do not get all glued up.)
You can wrap them in wax paper and clamp them in the vise or use C-clamps. The wax paper keep the clamps or vise from getting stuck to the wood after the glue up with epoxy.
Let the glue cure for about 24hrs to be safe...
Sand/ file the wood to shape. use the low number sandpaper then work your way up in grit...if you find when you start sanding that the low grit makes too much scratches, go up a grit...
File or sand it....smooth....use a block of wood to fit your hand as a sanding block, or something else flat and rigid for the rougher low number grit. (80-150) then you can get a piece of rubber or something to use on the finer higher number grits (220 and up) or just use you fingers. :roll:
Finished? ok...depending on what you want to do with your knife depends on the finish.
Keeping it outside, using it daily outside? use some polyurethane...
occasional use? tung oil.
just for looks? wax....
cheers...and keep us posted.
let me know if you want some crazy wood.....i have stabilized stuff too...