Flattening scales help

W

Work765

Member
Hi,
I'm trying to get my scales completely flat so they will fit on my blade without any gaps. I don't have a radial grinder and my flat platen doesn't seem to be too "flat". I've tried doing it by hand on the ground with a 2x72 belt but it won't come out straight straight.

What are you guys doing to get the handles perfect?

Thanks!
 
I use my disk grinder with a variable speed and I start off with 120 grit depending on the scales I'm using. Then when it looks flat to the eye , I always move over to my flat granite block or a piece of finished marble, with a piece if 180 or 220 (again depending on the scales ) I scribble pencil marks on the flat and then with some light drags or pushes , I sand lightly until all the pencil marks are gone.
 
If you have a small surface plate or a piece of granite counter top (or anything you know is real flat), Tape down a sheet of wet/dry and scrub it in a figure eight pattern. Occasionally turn the scale around so you are hold it 180 degrees different. This will remove some of the pressure bias your hand will try to introduce.You can also use 3M 77 spray adhesive to hold the paper down. I haven't done this with knife scales but have done it with hard plastic that had to be very flat. Works well.
 
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A valuable tool for cleaning up scales besides the two already mentioned by my pals is to get a 4 x36" or 6 x 48" belt sander for the heavy work. this machine can even be a cheap one from Harbor Freight since you are just roughing off wood to get it mostly flat with an 80 grit belt then going to a disc grinder if you have one or hand on a granite block. If you don't have a granite block, a piece of tempered glass will work with sandpaper, 120 grit tack down with 3M feather adhesive.

I do a figure 8 on the glass turning the scale in my hand every few 8s to allow for pressure differences. You want to leave the scale tang side at 120 grit so the 24 hour epoxy has something to hold onto.
 
Granite Slab
Sandpaper

1. lay sandpaper on granite
2. place scales on top of sandpaper
3. move scales across sandpaper (repeatedly) with your hand(s)

keep it simple
 
I do it like Lawrence said. Pretty fast and easy. I also flatten the blade tangs on the 6x48 sander.
 
Lawrence. It's Anthony I swung by your shop about a month ago and hung out for a bit. Thanks for the responses everyone. Im gonna get some marble or glass and try that!
 
Work765 said:
Lawrence. It's Anthony I swung by your shop about a month ago and hung out for a bit. Thanks for the responses everyone. Im gonna get some marble or glass and try that!
Click to expand...

Hi Anthony,
Stop by the shop again, we will get you going! NO flip flops this time in the work area.

LOL!
 
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