Simple Tip For New Knifemakers

We have all not done this I think!! LOL!! I just bought a set of Carbide burrs just in case I do it again. Also need them for a project I'm working on now too!
haven't done that...yet. But I HAVE changed pin diameter or lanyard tube diameter after HT....making a lanyard hole bigger is miserable...lol.
 
Your knife is all ready for scales! Superglue one of the scales on (just a couple drops to hold it) let dry, drill holes in scale from (tang side), trace outline of tang on the back of the scale. Next Superglue the other scale on (line it up, close is fine for now), drill holes using first set of holes as a guide. After the pin holes are drilled, knock both scales off and put them front side to front side (insert your pins so everything will line up). The tangs outline you traced will show, rough cut the scales but leave enough meat to finish grind scales to size (I use my HF Bandsaw on Swag table), next flatten the scales in preparation for Glue up. Finish the front of the scales as you would normally on a full tang knife. Put the scales on the knife as if you were epoxing them on including the pins. Clamp towards the front (I use a spring clamp), take a Q-Tip and smear the wax on the Ricaso and front of the scales on both sides. Disassemble and do your Glue up as you normally would but don't disturb the wax. As Opaul said dont go nuts with the Epoxy near the Ricaso! I mount this whole mess in a vice with the tip of knife pointing up so the epoxy won't run down the blade. When its dry take an Xacto knife and VERY CAREFULLY pry it under the epoxy an it should just snap off! I may try that brass rod trick next time! A bit long but if I missed anything just ask.

PS i buy the 10 packs of Gel Superglue from HF
I use double sided industrial strength tape
 
I generally glue up (epoxy) one side, let it dry, drill the pin holes. Then glue the second side and drill the pin holes. No pin hole line up issues.
Are you using a quick set epoxy? I use a 24 hour cure so that technique wouldn’t work for me. I drill the first side insert some pins and clamp on the second side. Remove one pin and drill all the way through the second scale. Do the same with the other pins. No alignment issues.
 
Are you using a quick set epoxy? I use a 24 hour cure so that technique wouldn’t work for me. I drill the first side insert some pins and clamp on the second side. Remove one pin and drill all the way through the second scale. Do the same with the other pins. No alignment issues.

No, I use Gflex.

I glue the first side, clamp it up, let dry. Drill the pin holes from the tang through the scales. Then glue the second side, clamp and let dry. Drill pin holes using the first glued side as a drilling guide.

After both sides are glued I then clean out the pin holes and glue the pins. It works really well and no pin hole line up issues. It takes a little extra drying time but I'm not in that big of a rush.
 
Here is a good tip for new makers especially part timers or hobbyists. Make what YOU like and make it the best YOU can every time. Be very careful of taking orders, it will limit your ability to make what YOU want to make, and you will grow slower, Live Free.
Amen. I do this because I enjoy it. Don’t want it to become a “job”. I do take some custom orders but very few.
 
Amen. I do this because I enjoy it. Don’t want it to become a “job”. I do take some custom orders but very few.
That prompted the comment, I have taken too many orders at the moment and cannot forge some more Damascus like I want to be doing this weekend. On the bright side, I always tell the people I may get it done in a week or three months it just depends on how much fishing I want to do on Saturdays, so I guess no one will be too disappointed.
 
Back
Top