December Hunter Project

[BrokenolMarine]

I spent a couple hours in the shop this afternoon. First things first, got the knife, I can start calling it that now, out of the clamps.

30 out of the clamps.jpg

As you can see in the pic above, the pins and the scales are a bit (just a bit... lol) proud. Time to start shaping. The first step is to take the knife to the 1x30 belt sander with the firm back plate and sand the pins flush. Remembering to sand a bit, cool with a spray of water, sand a bit and cool. Repeat until the pins are flush on both sides. This is necessary because the knife has to lay flush on the oscillating sander to sand the scales flush to the knife blank to begin shaping. I changed the size of the sanding drums three times to maximize the efficiency of the process. Large drum for the long spine, medium for the belly of the knife and a small one to get inside that finger groove.

Then over to the 1 x 30 belt sander with NO back plate which lets the belt flex and move. This allows the belt to wrap a bit around the scales and shape the scales to the spine and round over the edges to conform to the hand. I have learned in the past to keep the knife moving. Stop, even for a second, and the belt will cut a groove in the scales, ruining the scale or forcing you to take too much off the scales making them too narrow.

Back to the oscillating sander to shape the edges of the belly of the knife and the finger groove. Just roll the edges. Then put the knife in the bench vise and tape the back of the 320 grit and 600 grit and cut thin strips. This last sanding technique is what I call Shoe Shine.

31 shoe shine sanding.jpg

I work my way through the belly and the spine until they are glass smooth to match the sides. Two hours gone, I'm done and it's looking pretty good. I might hit the metal portions to make them glisten tomorrow, but all that's left is applying the finish, and then waxing the knife. BUT, you get an idea what the finished knife will look like.

32 needs finish.jpg

Join me tomorrow to see the unveiling.

[Hatchdog]

I get puckered just reading about your sanding efforts. Knife is looking great and I love that Birdseye Maple and can’t wait to see it with a finish applied.

[BrokenolMarine]

Back out to the shop this morning after Coffee and Biscuits and Gravy. (Miss T is so good to me.)
I spent an hour or so polishing the brass pins and the exposed belly and spine portions of the liner and the blade blank. Wanted them to look good before I added the Golden Oak Watco Oil to the Maple to make the eyes pop. Once I was ready, it was time for the payoff for all the work... ready, set....

Pop!

Here is a view of the knife, a tour around the four sides..... Let's start on the left.... The "Eyes" of the Birdseye Maple are the most visible on this side of the knife.

33 left side.jpg

Then roll to the belly of the knife, the grain is beautiful here.

34 belly.jpg

Another roll and we are on the right. A little more plain than the left, but not ugly...

35 right side.jpg

Last but not least, the Spine of the knife. The red lining really accents the tooling on the metal of the spine. Not bad.
I dyed the epoxy silver before using it. I didn't pull it out of the tooling but left it in. This filled the holes I tooled into the knife. This way, if the knife is used hard, the gaps won't fill with "stuff" that might contaminate things. In the pic, I see a little piece of epoxy on the guard just off the bone accent that I missed. I'll catch that before I move forward. Sorry guys....

36 spine.jpg

I left the knife to air cure, allowing the Watco oil to soak in, and any residual to rise to the surface of the wood. I will lightly sand the surface with 1,000 grit paper and may retreat with Watco again if needed. If not, Wax on/Wax off, two or three coats... heating the wood a bit to drive the wax deep.

Almost done.

[Mags]

Beautiful!

[markiver54]

Looks GREAT!
I really like the spine!

[Hatchdog]

Outstanding, looks wonderful and that spine pops too with the liner you put in. Good idea on leaving the expoxy in, those of us who have gutted and skinner large game understand just what you mean when you say leaving junk in the knife.

I did a back and forth on the birdseye with and without the oil and yep, “pop” is the perfect word to describe the difference.

Sorry BOM, we just can’t un-see that microscopic bit of adhesive.

[BrokenolMarine]

Outstanding, looks wonderful and that spine pops too with the liner you put in. Good idea on leaving the expoxy in, those of us who have gutted and skinner large game understand just what you mean when you say leaving junk in the knife.

I did a back and forth on the birdseye with and without the oil and yep, “pop” is the perfect word to describe the difference.

Sorry BOM, we just can’t un-see that microscopic bit of adhesive.

I know... me either.
Like most craftsmen, I don't look at my finished projects and see all the beauty that others see, I see all the little things I wish I had done better and swear I will do them better on the next try.

[BrokenolMarine]

Out in the shop after coffee this morning and put the first coat of wax on and while it dried I did a bit of shop cleanup, vacuumed the benches and all like always after a long project. Then buffed 'er out. Applied the second coat of wax and headed in to let the second coat of wax dry really well before going back out to buff it out.

Using a cheap hair dryer my wife found for me at a second hand shop, I heat the wax in the can, heat the knife scales, then quickly apply the wax. It drives it into the wood a bit and the wax and the oil help protect the wood. (At least that's what they tell me.) If nothing else, it helps spread the wax easier. Pics coming after the second coat is buffed.

Then I'll make a sheath for the practice... and might fancy that up a bit to do the knife justice.

Watch this space.

[daytime dave]

That is looking FANTASTIC!

[BrokenolMarine]

Thanks Dave... thought you guys might like a peek, almost time to buff the second coat.
In the pic below you can see the can of British Bee's Wax, the cheapo Dryer Miss T found for me at Goodwill, and the knife drying on the Leather Cutting Table.

37 waxing the knife.jpg

I'll buff 'er out in an hour or so and we should be good to move on to the sheath. Haven't decided on the style yet. Crossdraw? Paddle? Straight drop strong side?