billyO Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 On 8/19/2019 at 6:35 PM, Alex Middleton said: piece of maple. Is it stabalized? On 8/19/2019 at 6:53 PM, Conner Michaux said: Yep k&g stabilized I believe. Yes, it was stabilized by K&G. RIP Bear....be free! as always peace and love billyO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 16 hours ago, Joshua States said: While I generally trust K&G to stabilize properly, I still always test any "stabilized" wood I purchase. Fill a small pail with water and drop the wood in. If it sinks, it's stabilized. If it floats, it isn't stabilized all the way through. This becomes less important, if you use the whole piece and only grind into the surface area. If you cut that block into scales, the unstabilized center becomes exposed. Out of curiosity, Joshua, have you had any pieces done by K&G that weren't stabilized all the way through? Not asking to be argumentative, rather, I'm thinking about sending them some larger pieces than I normally do and I was wondering about this. Thanks RIP Bear....be free! as always peace and love billyO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, billyO said: Out of curiosity, Joshua, have you had any pieces done by K&G that weren't stabilized all the way through? Not asking to be argumentative, rather, I'm thinking about sending them some larger pieces than I normally do and I was wondering about this. Thanks I have not had them do any custom stabilization. I have only purchased their pre-stabilized stock. I cannot remember anything I purchased from them failing my test. I have had other company's stabilized wood fail. I am curious about their stabilization services You probably don't know me as well as some of the other forumites, but I love to argue. I'm Sicilian, and arguing is just something we do to pass the time. So don't ever be afraid to get argumentative with me, just be prepared for the long haul if you do. Edited August 21, 2019 by Joshua States 1 2 “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Joshua States said: You probably don't know me as well as some of the other forumites, but I love to argue. I'm Sicilian, and arguing is just something we do to pass the time. Buon giorno, Joshua! Stai attento, mio nonno i nonni vengono Fabriano....so I know a bit about arguing too. I go by billyO because growing up, nobody could pronounce my last name, but there were 4 pages of us "O"s in the Rome phone book back in 2000. 1 RIP Bear....be free! as always peace and love billyO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted August 21, 2019 Author Share Posted August 21, 2019 Oh and I forgot to mention, I got the maple from billy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 1, 2019 Author Share Posted September 1, 2019 I just noticed there’s one heck of a scratch towards the plunge line, and deep scratches are terrible... I’m goong to be taking it back to 400 grit to take any remaining scratches out of the blade, by the time im done sanding this thing, its going to be thin enough to the point that I can just strop it and leave it be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 5, 2019 Author Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) I bought a buffing wheel for the drill so I can a more consistent mirror finish, copper should be here in a few days. This thing should be done soon, but I don’t think I’m gonna have time to buy leather for the sheath, I might be able to make a wooden saya, but chances are low. Edited September 6, 2019 by Conner Michaux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 this things almost done, I’ve got the guard tang hole pretty much sorted, and the hole in the handle is drilled. This week hopefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 Handle roughly shaped. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 All the different flats on the handle are called facets right? Any tips for cleaning up and making them look better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Same way you get sharp facets on metal, use files, then sand with a single thickness of paper on a hard backing. That keeps the edges from rounding over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 It is unbelievable difficult and annoying to get these facets symmetrical to each other. What’s the best way to go about doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) 46 minutes ago, Conner Michaux said: What’s the best way to go about doing this? Slowly Also, laying out the facets and using a pencil to draw lines on the handle helps. So does sticking the sandpaper to the table and rubbing the handle on the paper to flatten the faces (or keep them flat, as the case may be). Edited September 12, 2019 by billyO RIP Bear....be free! as always peace and love billyO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) It’s almost finished, I gotta sand the facets and rebuff the blade. Edited September 15, 2019 by Conner Michaux 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 Well, as I was sanding the last facet on the last grit I realized that there was more filing that needed to happen on one of the facets, so I started filing on it, trying to remove a big dip there was in the back of the handle, I took it out of the vice to get a better look and I realized that I removed way to much material, and now the handle is ruined, it’s beyond saving now.. ignore I can get another block fast enough then I’ll still be able to finish it, but right now it looks like I’ll have to drop out of kith for this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary LT Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Conner!i don’t know where the hole is but probably just below mid center perhaps? )like mine ! Think outside the box.....can you cut off half the handle or maybe a segment in the middle ( cigar band). Add a contrasting or complimentary wood perhaps. Have anywoodworking hobby stores near you? They’ll have a selection and not to pricey. Nix the facets though.....go with a clean tapered oval. Gary LT "I Never Met A Knife I Didn't Like", (Will Rogers) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 (edited) That’s a good idea, but I don’t know what goes with spalted maple. Maybe a thin copper spacer and a piece of black micarta. We’ve only got two weeks left for kith so I gotta decide quick. EDIT never mind that’s not going to work, the whole problem started with a really big dip in the handle right underneath the spacer, and then trying I flatten out all out made the big curve at the bottom, If I were to flatten everything else out to that then I would go right through the tang hole. An then trying to make everything looks better I ruined the facets on the front side of the handle and they are beyond the point of no return. Edited September 16, 2019 by Conner Michaux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 21, 2019 Author Share Posted September 21, 2019 These are the new handle block blocks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 28, 2019 Author Share Posted September 28, 2019 (edited) Guess who just ruined handle number 2... The discs for the sander came earlier than I thought. 60 grit discs ruin wood very quickly. Going to try to get handle 3 done before the kith deadline. I am truly living 1 step forward 2 steps back, but it seems more like 1 step forward 5 steps back Edited September 28, 2019 by Conner Michaux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Middleton Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 As long as you're learning, and applying those lessons on the next try, it's a win in my book. I'm pretty sure a couple days after the deadline wont be a big deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeb Camper Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 You're doing it right, Conner! Never be afraid to knock a handle off and start over. Reminds me of one knife from last year the knife I have in my kith collection 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 Thanks Zeb, it’s just so dang expensive to make mistakes. I’ll get the new handle cut out tomorrow, I used the last of my wood putty in the last tang hole, so I can’t mess this one up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Middleton Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 1 hour ago, Zeb Camper said: You're doing it right, Conner! Never be afraid to knock a handle off and start over. Reminds me of one knife from last year the knife I have in my kith collection Yeah, I wish that one had only been two failures! Just take your time with it Connor, have a plan for each step of the process and dont let yourself take any shortcuts. They do nothing but cost you time in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conner Michaux Posted September 30, 2019 Author Share Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) Let’s hope the third handle works out, drilled holes and found a little bit of wood putty to fill it with, guard and handle tang holes are done, once the putty dries I will attempt the facets again, and hope I don’t make the same mistake twice. I might take the fresh 60 grit disc off the sander and replace it with 400 so it doesn’t grind as fast. Edited September 30, 2019 by Conner Michaux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 On 9/28/2019 at 5:42 PM, Conner Michaux said: 60 grit discs ruin wood very quickly. This lesson is worth more than you can possibly realize! I very rarely go near power tools with handles anymore other than maybe a spindle sander. You can go from "Too much material" to "Where did all my handle go?" in the blink of an eye. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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