Putting on a handle w/o scuffing the blade...

[OkKeith]

Hey Guys,

I still have yet to graduate to forging my own blades...yet. In the mean time I have made a few from blades buddies have forged and from purchased blades.

A good friend gave me a blade that has a really nice satin finish on it. I want a good fitting handle but am worried about scuffing up the satin finish in the process of mounting the handle.

I know I can wrap the blade with tape to protect that area, but how do you file in or sand down the edges of the handle scale to get a good fit and finish without scuffing the spine of the blank or at the base of the blade (ricasso)?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

OkKeith

[theunluckyhunter]

wrap it thick with masking tape, and go slow!

[Ray Hammond]

build a knife vise like this one- its a modified Loveless knife vise I believe...

 

This vise holds the knife by the wrapped blade, protecting it from slips and gaffs. The biggest thing I have learned is not to be impatient. You cannot put material back on once removed. Be slow and deliberate.

 

I used to have a ton of material to remove after I applied my scales.

I now remove a huge amount of material from the back side of the scale, so when the epoxy is dry I have very little to do to the outside. Just a little shaping with my grinder, then 220 up to 800 paper and then its on to the buffer.

[d. ward]

Masking tape at least and duct tape is even better...as mentioned go slow.Nice vise Ray I like that one..bowdoc

[theunluckyhunter]

duct tape i find leaves nasty black gunk that is hard to get off

[skullworks]

I use a scroll saw or belt sander to get mine pretty close to final shape before I put them on. I also use tape to guard the blade. I use the blue tape covered with masking tape. Patience is the real key as all the others have said.

[d. ward]

A little finger nail polish remover acetone will clean the gunk(tape residue)right off the blade with one swipe.bd

[madness522]

glue the scales together using a piece of paper between them and several dabs of yellow wood glue. you can grind and shape to your hearts content then pop them loose sand and apply to the blade.

[skullworks]

Good idea, madness!