Morland's KITH WIP

[Dennis Morland]

You do not need much epoxy. Most will get squeezed out anyways. I just go around the outside and stay out of the holes. Makes for a better pin/hole fit without the epoxy. Helps to hide the pins after cleanup.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Epoxy ready for pin smash!

 

[Dennis Morland]

I use my bench vise to smash pins.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Light taps to get the pins started and the bolsters set. Once established a little bit heavier with the hammer. Maybe 3-4 taps on each pin. Flip over and 3-4 taps on each pin. Repeat as necessary.

 

[Dennis Morland]

When completed the pins are smashed into that tapered hole pretty good. This is why they never fall off or move.

 

[Dennis Morland]

The bolsters line up good.

 

[Dennis Morland]

I am headed to the grinder with hopes that the pins will disappear.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Pins disappeared. Hurray!

 

[Gene Kimmi]

Dennis,

Thanks for the step by step process. I've done wood bolsters but never metal. I will definitely be coming back to this thread when I do. Can't wait to see this one complete.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Another tip/trick that I discovered for getting a nice rounded look on the face of my bolsters. I don’t know if anyone else does this. I just started doing this for my last few knives. I think I invented it as I did not steal this idea from anyone. I use my small wheel and rotate the bolsters to get a smooth rounded look.

 

[Johan Nel]

Thanks for sharing, Dennis. This was very informative for me. I wil come back yo this KITH in future when I do my first bolsters.

 

[Dennis Morland]

That is pretty much how I do my bolsters. Lastly, I try to get them almost finished before attaching the handle. Brass is fairly soft. 416 ss is much harder. Both are harder than most woods. If you almost finish them, I find it easier to transition to the handle without having dips/gouges. It is just easier for me.

 

[Dennis Morland]

One last tip. When you go to sand the curve of your bottom bolster/ finger guard wrap the sand paper around a wood dowel, pencil, file whatever you wish to use.

 

[Dennis Morland]

I almost forgot. Clean up any excess epoxiy from behind the bolsters. A little acetone on a q-tip works pretty good.

 

[DanF]

I may have to throw my solder away.

 

[Dennis Morland]

I may have to throw my solder away.

I am a horrible person to solder. It looks like a grenade hit the outhouse, every time.

 

[Dennis Morland]

I chose the redwood from the earlier post for this handle. It was a smaller piece and will not work for a larger knife.

 

[Dennis Morland]

The reason I posted this that I got the redwood from John Doyle. Because it was under sized, I think I stole it. It has been in my wood stash for a couple of years. I just hit it with the belt sander to get the stabilization gunk off of it. WOW!! Thanks John Doyle. Both sides have beautiful eyes. Even one side. Remind me to be nicer to John. He did me a solid with this piece of wood.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Spent an hour or so shaping and sanding the bolsters to almost done. Time to focus on the scales.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Split the little block into 2 scales and a lanyard fob. Have to decide on a liner. Leaning towards black with a black lanyard.