Stuborn Micarta

[Rudy Joly]

You'll get there Ctone.
It isn't the end of the world. Over time we all devise steps or methods that allow us to back track problems as they arise instead of attacking everything willy-nilly when it's too late to fix just that one thing. If you're going to keep flatening with your platen, make sure it's kicked out a speck past the two wheels. This will help keep your belts flater to the platen, assuming the platen is flat too, but still isn't the ultimate solution. Keep at it.


Rudy

 

[Self Made Knives]

I may be looking at this from the wrong side of my brain but, if the center has too much pressure and pulls the ends up, wouldnt recessing that area exaggerate the problem?

Not sure if you were responding to me, but in case what I posted didn't make sense, here's a quick sketch of what I'm thinking. Recess across the inside of scale, so screw pressure brings it all together.

 

[Jon Kelly]

You can resolve this issue without the purchase of additional equipment, at least in the immediate future. As Bladegrinder said on the previous page, take a piece of heavy glass, or granite, or even any polished FLAT surface and lay a piece of 220 grit sandpaper on it. Take your scales and hand rub them on that surface using a figure eight motion. It helps also if you draw pencil lines on the surface to be sanded in order to see exactly where material is, or is not, being removed. Even using my 9" disk I must often fine tune by hand the mating surfaces before final glue up. Go slow, be patient and make a conscious choice to do the best work possible using the skills and tools at your immediate disposal and you will do well. Tools and skills will be picked up along the way. Every knife is an opportunity to learn something new.......sometimes it's about knives, sometimes it's about yourself. Enjoy the journey..........

 

[CTone03]

You can resolve this issue without the purchase of additional equipment, at least in the immediate future. As Bladegrinder said on the previous page, take a piece of heavy glass, or granite, or even any polished FLAT surface and lay a piece of 220 grit sandpaper on it. Take your scales and hand rub them on that surface using a figure eight motion. It helps also if you draw pencil lines on the surface to be sanded in order to see exactly where material is, or is not, being removed. Even using my 9" disk I must often fine tune by hand the mating surfaces before final glue up. Go slow, be patient and make a conscious choice to do the best work possible using the skills and tools at your immediate disposal and you will do well. Tools and skills will be picked up along the way. Every knife is an opportunity to learn something new.......sometimes it's about knives, sometimes it's about yourself. Enjoy the journey..........

I never thought about heavy glass. The only flat granite surface I have is the counter top, and I don't think I can get away with using that - my wife has been understanding enough with sandpaper lying around and using the oven for baking kydex. I don't need to make her angry!

The bold part of your quote I will especially take to heart. Thank you much!

Respectfully,

Carlton

 

[wall e]

Rudy and chevytrucking thanks for phrasing this differently. I'm a definite newb at knifemaking and alot of the proper terms also. The quick sketch made it clear I had misunderstood what chevy was saying.
Carlton dont beat yourself up over the small hiccups in this craft, it is a learning curve with every knife. My grandfather told me those words today as I got his advice on what he would do if the knife I showed him was going to be for him(it is btw). It is a small error to learn from. Check thrift shops and garage sales for a toaster oven it saves on the oven smelling like baked plastic. I was informed I wouldnt be sleeping indoors if I used her oven for kydex. Lol