HEY GUNNER...

by pokynojoe, Monday, April 28, 2014, 16:24 (3804 days ago)

I got the stuff this afternoon from that knife place.

Here's what I got together:

[image]


[image]

I think I'm off to a pretty good start, only problem is, I don't know what to do next, or is it first. Anyway, what do I do first?

Joe

Plan of attack....

by Gunner @, St Louis, Monday, April 28, 2014, 21:18 (3804 days ago) @ pokynojoe

First find the best location for the screws/standoffs on the tang of the knife. Center down the middle of the side, the front one will be the pain in a$$ one due to the angle of the cut out in the tang but we will rely on the handles to hold that one in place. Pick one handle, lay the textured part facing down, put the tang on top of it, align the scale to your liking and best fit on the tang, mark the location of the screw/standoff and outline the tang on the back of the handle. Now flip the knife over and do the same thing to the other handle.

Tricky part.....drilling the handles, the threaded part of the screw is the only thing you need to stick thru the handle, if the standoff is too long and keeps the handles from sitting flush on the tang you will need to shorten them. Drill a hole all the way thru the handles in the four hole locations, then on the textured sides drill a slight recess for the screw head, go slow and careful doing this, not a lot of meat on the handles. You are wanting to get the screw head flush with the outside edge of the handles, don't want them sticking up, will be a rough on your hands when using the knife.

Now at this point you need to decide when to rough shape the handles.....your drawn outline on the back of the handles is your cut to line, you can trim now or after the epoxy dries. Best option is to trim a little now and flush trim after all the parts are epoxied together. Whatever you decide to do, triple check EVERYTHING before cracking open the epoxy, once that is applied there is NO turning back. Also take some 120 or 150 grit sandpaper and lightly rough up the tang and handle backsides, then clean the parts really well, no oil, dust etc on the parts so the epoxy will adhere better.

Once you are ready to epoxy, lay everything out, double check everything then mix the epoxy. You don't need a thick coat, I use a light coat on all parts, sandwich everything together, double check alignment and lightly clamp everything together. Do not over tighten the clamps, you want a little squeeze out but not to much or the epoxy will not adhere well enough. Again double check everything, you only have a few minutes or so to adjust before the epoxy starts to set, like what you see, then carefully wipe off the excess, double check the clamps and put the whole thing aside to dry/set for a full 24 hours, in a dry, warm out of the way place.

--
https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

Thank you Gunner...

by pokynojoe, Tuesday, April 29, 2014, 06:36 (3804 days ago) @ Gunner

Those are very good instructions, clear and concise. When I get it glued up, I'll let you know. My neighbor has a drill press, I may have to see if I can get him to countersink the holes for the little screws, you're right, the handle material is thin, and my drill isn't too good, I'm afraid it would pull the drill bit right through the material.

Anyway, thanks again.

Joe

Well...I learned something this evening...

by pokynojoe, Tuesday, April 29, 2014, 20:29 (3803 days ago) @ pokynojoe

Rule No. 1: Tape up the blade BEFORE you start to do anything else!

After I stop the bleeding, and clean everything up, I'll give it another go in a day or two.

Oh...

by Rob Leahy ⌂ @, Prescott, Arizona, Tuesday, April 29, 2014, 21:45 (3803 days ago) @ pokynojoe

been there done that...

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

Me too and have the scar to show for it

by stonewalrus, Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 06:24 (3803 days ago) @ Rob Leahy

Nm

Knew I forgot something....

by Gunner @, St Louis, Tuesday, April 29, 2014, 21:49 (3803 days ago) @ pokynojoe

My bad, totally forgot to mention taping the blade before starting. It's old habit for me to tape up the blade before I start on a knife, so used to seeing blue taped blades it didn't dawn on me to mention taping.

--
https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

Some things should be patently obvious...

by pokynojoe, Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 11:19 (3802 days ago) @ Gunner

live and learn, or so they say.

I learned a few more things last night. This is going to be a litte more involved than I thought(aren't most things?).

First off the two screw things I ordered, not sure they're going to work. I'm going to have to figure out a way to cut the bushing(?) that the little screws screw into to match the width of the tang. Once I do that, there ain't going to be much left to screw into.

Second; those screw things are tiny and very hard to find when one drops them on the garage floor(especially MY garage floor!).

Third; if I don't loose them before this project is over, I'll be amazed. I spent more time last night bleeding and searching for dropped screws than actually working on the knife. I don't think my fingers have the dexterity to work with such miniscule parts.

Fourth; I see now why custom knifes cost so much.

Lastly, I fear that this project will turn out just like others of this ilk that I've attempted in the past, and that is generally they turn out so bad, hell wouldn't have them.

I have aspired to be like my Pop my whole life. He could fix anything and make just about anything, the guy was a real McGuyver. Sadly, after 60 some years, I think it's finally time to face facts, and accept the fact that I didn't inherit that gene.

I will continue to persevere, however, my expectations have been lowered to the least common denominator, which is my compentency, or lack thereof.

Thanks again for your help.

Joe

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