Handle profile help

[Doug in MI]

I'm getting ready to put a handle on my first knife. Its a full tang and I have some diamond wood for sides. I would like to get a nice fairly thin handle. The diamond wood is 1/2" thick. Should I mount the slabs on the blade and thin it down or sand it close to the thickness I'm looking for first and then mount to the blade.
I'm working with very limited tools mostly sandpaper, files and rasps.
Thanks for any help.

[beaver#1]

i would temp. mount then with a pin or something to get them close.  then like you said to finish it up.

[OconeeDan]

Finish the front end of the scales first, hard to do that with it mounted.  Hold both together, profile the front end and finish sand it.  After front end is done, glue it all up with pins, and work everything else down with a rasp.  Then files, then sandpaper.
Dan

[skullworks]

Originally posted by OconeeDan:
Finish the front end of the scales first, hard to do that with it mounted.  Hold both together, profile the front end and finish sand it.  After front end is done, glue it all up with pins, and work everything else down with a rasp.  Then files, then sandpaper.
Dan

X2!   :D

[madness522]

Originally posted by OconeeDan:
Finish the front end of the scales first, hard to do that with it mounted.  Hold both together, profile the front end and finish sand it.  After front end is done, glue it all up with pins, and work everything else down with a rasp.  Then files, then sandpaper.
Dan

Wouldn't the pins chew up the rasps?  I believe I would finish the front ends as Dan suggested and then get your thickness close enough with the rasps.  Then mount and finish the handle.

[mwmwmb]

you can split them if you a scroll saw and make to knifes. depends on how much you are wanting to take off.

[OconeeDan]

Yes, correct myself, don't use rasp on pins.  But you can use rasp on wood everywhere else and use files on pins. dremel tool with tootsie roll  can be faster if you have one, but be careful with power tools, they work fast.

[chiger]

Doug,

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to skin a cat.  ;~)

I clamp or hold each scale on individually and mark the profile of the tang onto the wood.  Then I cut them to near finished tang profile.  

After that I use a few drops of super glue to temporally attach them to the tang.  Then I shape the scales to fit the tang.  

After that I tap um a couple times and pop um off again. Then I do what ever drilling or finish I have to do to the blade and tang.  When all that's done I attach them permanently.

I do it this way so when I have the scales shaped and off I can fix the scratches I will inevitably put on the tang by filing and sanding.  

I don't like to have to be careful during shaping and if the scales are permanently mounted you really have to take your time.  

I'm just not that patient!  ;~)

Having said all that...I urge you to take your time and think everything you do out before you do it.  Rasp don't have glue buttons.  Once it's gone it's gone.  So take your time and it will go just fine.