started a new knife

[BrokenolMarine]

A small skinner.

It was going to be a turquoise scaled one, but didn't have the saw to cut the fist size turquoise.  The wet tile saw I have didn't have enough exposed blade to cut through the fist size chunks of turquoise we recently purchased. Kingman was out of the scrap slabs I bought the last time... and we thought we could make passes, flip the rocks and cut them again. Nope, too thick.

new turquoise.jpg

I settled on tortoise shell.  I had a couple scales I picked up at Jantz in the sale bin.  Have had them six months, just got off knives while I was focused on the projects around the farm, and shooting.  I started a couple days ago, working in short sessions like I usually do. 

The first session I prepped the backing and glued that on, then moved to giving the spine some special attention with the dremel and files.  It's looking good.  This morning I went out and took the scales out of the clamps, laid out the pattern and started cutting out and shaping the scales.  I worked a couple hours, then took a break.  Once the knife is done, I'll post a couple pictures before I make a sheath.

If the knife turns out as well as I hope, someone will get this one for a gift this Christmas. if not, I guess it will become a working knife somewhere around the farm. Sorry, I didn't take my phone when I first started, so no work along pics....

[BrokenolMarine]

Miss Tina checked into buying a saw that would cut the BIG chunks into slabs, even reconditioned the most basic saws run in the Three to Four Hundred dollar range. You have to cut the stones with a wet saw. I'll still get use out of the Turquoise, cutting it up on what I have to use as inserts and/or accents.

[rickhem]

I was going to suggest the cut, turn it over, and cut again technique, but you already mentioned that won't work. I have a small miter saw that I have to do that on, to cut boards longer than 6". There's only a small triangle that doesn't get cut on the first try, and while I keep telling myself to get a better saw, I can get those cuts almost perfect now, so I talk myself back out of it again. LOL

Looking forward to following along with your build on this, you do great work and I enjoy your progress posts and pictures.

[BrokenolMarine]

As I said earlier, this isn't really a build along, but here are a few pics, just to keep it interesting. To start, after a couple days of playing at it, I got to the point where I had the scales roughed out and the pins started. They will be brass for this one, which will accent the tortoise shell. The shell is glued to the carbon fiber backing here and I have started the shaping before the glue up. The shell comes in the package with a RED label warning it's fragile. So, I fit the two halves together with the pins and start shaping them OFF the knife blank, slowly and carefully, cooling them often.

01 rough scales and pins.jpg

I also like to add some detail to the back of the spine on the knife blank. I have shown that process several times, including dying the back of the spine, measuring, marking, and the filing process, then polishing. Here we are so far.

02 spine work.jpg

There will be a lot more polishing along the way as the scales are shaped ON blank, and everything moves up through the grades to 800 to 1000 grit, then buffing compounds. I haven't worked with Tortoise Shell before, it might go to 2000 grit to get the peak shine.

I get it fitted, without any forcing, don't want to crack it. Miss T doesn't know WHAT I'm working on, she is working in HER shop on another Diamond Art project. (TOO detailed for me.) You can't see the grain yet, I haven't started the polishing. They are glued in place and the pins fitted. Once it's set, I can' start the final shaping and polish.

03 glue up.jpg

Into the clamps to insure a good connection, and it'll cure for hours. Depending on my recovery, it might "Cure" overnight.

04 in the clamps.jpg

Then the fun begins, wet sanding with a dab of dish soap for lubrication. Just a touch on the fingertip is all you need.
Watch this space.

[BrokenolMarine]

Doesn't look like much now does it? Though even without the grain it could polish up and be a nice "bone" scale.

[BrokenolMarine]

Alrighty then, Got out this morning and started wet sanding and finished the shaping. Took it to 800 grit, and polished the metal bits.

05 wet sanding.jpg

For wet sanding I put a dab of dish soap on the parts I'm sanding, and spritz with water and sand until it starts to dry, another spritz. You build up a slurry, but keep sanding until you decide you are done at that grit, then fully rinse. Move to the next grit and start over. Can't leave any of the slurry or residue from the previous grit or it'll scratch the finer finish from the next grit. I was finally done at 800, and Boom... I could see the tortoise shell pattern. Camera didn't pick it up in this pic.

06 done.jpg

Rearranged the lighting and hoped for better results....

07 bit better light.jpg

Not sure if you can see it all all? But took it out in the sunlight, and you can see it some. I can see it coming through, but NOT as well as I had hoped. It looked GREAT in the package. Black backing was probably a POOR choice. Know better next time. Yellow? Orange? Something that will reflect the light? Duh.

08 okay sunlight.jpg

First knife in months. Some flaws. Miss T was quick to point them out. Aren't wives great?
I'll still make a sheath and give her the knife to use at the barn, or I'll use it. Next time I'll avoid the errors. LOL.

But, it's functional and NOT ugly. (too ugly.... )

[CT_Shooter]