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Post by chrisperoni on Aug 13, 2013 0:05:42 GMT
I'll be putting up some in progress pics and more on the steps I took, but for now I have this video to give a quick breakdown and show off. This is a sweet knife and I really enjoyed the project.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Aug 13, 2013 0:37:09 GMT
That looks outstanding, Chris. Great colors and flow.
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Post by chrisperoni on Aug 13, 2013 3:14:47 GMT
thanks friend. I thought about rounding it a bit more but from my test piece the yellow canvas doesn't pop when you sand back the layers- not like the denim does anyway. So I opted to use the canvas as a kind of border- think it worked out well and it is pretty darn comfortable.
I hope Fallen likes the clothing on his blade - he's been poking me to get this done for a while now.
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Post by chrisperoni on Aug 13, 2013 4:15:02 GMT
Earlier version of the handle design - see the mushroomy butt on the grip? Well, I didn't keep that shape - too constricting on the side of my hand. Tang outline shown inside the grip shape. Example of some of the stages of making micarta, or as some call it when it's home made, "mycarta" :roll: . I followed instructions found online at various knife forums. To be honest it's worth making only if you want a certain design, but it's not really cost effective. I chose to buy the yellow canvas and once I added in the cost for fiberglass resin, I could have bought the same amount of micarta online for the same $. I suppose if you buy resin in bulk and use all recycled fabric it could save cash. (Denim was from old jeans I saved for this) close up of rough cut and quickly polished scale to give me an idea of the look. I did 25 layers total, alternating in 5 layer groups. roughed out copper bolsters (my 2nd set of these - lost the 1st ones). Poor mans countersink - a bigger drill bit! Cut the countersinks by hand turning the chuck Brass rod rivet all hammered in and sanded down. On one side the brass cracked and piece chipped off - but I was able to sand past this and still keep the countersink filled. The bolsters are epoxied and riveted to the knife. After carving out the tang slot using a rotary tool I slathered epoxy all over the insides, on the tang and fitted the scales to the knife. used an old trick from my shop teacher back in school- old drill bits as temporary pins to align everything- easy to pop into a drill press and twist out- less surface for epoxy to hold to and the cutting edge on the drill makes it easier to move them through any epoxy. Rough shaping of the grip Some more shaping and now that I'm closer to finished size I set the hollow copper rivets. Spread them wide by hammering a punch into the hole, epoxied in place as well Pretty much all shaped up now. Used belt, wheel and drum sanders to fiddle with the shape. Wet sanded with oil - 100, 200, 320, 800, 1000. Dry sanded with 2000, then a light coat of lacquer. Just as soon as the lacquer was dry to the touch I buffed the bejeezus out of the handle with a cotton rag. Still have to sharpen it but I'll do that after the sheath is made.
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Aug 13, 2013 6:09:51 GMT
About time you got it did, now get it sharp and make a sheath for it. You're getting behind on your honeydos, and making clothes for my stuff.
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Post by chrisperoni on Aug 14, 2013 0:32:59 GMT
sheath might get done this weekend if my football draft goes quickly. Sharpening should be right after. Thinking of a simple stitched leather belt sheath
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Post by chrisperoni on Aug 23, 2013 16:42:13 GMT
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Post by chrisperoni on Aug 24, 2013 0:28:22 GMT
hmm - sam brown studs? have to look those up. I was thinking of a strap at the back end of the grip where it narrows again - but meh - it really doesn't need it and all together this piece is pretty busy already --- edit/add: It wasn't too noticeable in person but the pics really showed that the leafs edge markings on the front side were not as uniform as the back. I went ahead and re-burned them. I like it better now. [/URL]
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Post by WEWolf on Aug 28, 2013 7:36:25 GMT
That's some excellent work, starting with one of Fallen's great pieces and then adding in your wonderful work. You've really got something to be ptoud of there.
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Post by chrisperoni on Aug 28, 2013 22:01:26 GMT
Thanks! I really like how it all turned out - this one will stay with me forever.
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Talon
Member
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,554
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Post by Talon on Aug 29, 2013 4:57:45 GMT
That turned out great and I really like the use of Copper for the Bolsters and pins,elegant and functional.
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