A couple of videos of how I take the knife handle from the square to the finished shape using bandsaw, belt grinder and rasp. All the knife details can be found on my website http://www.vongruffknives.com/ The JT Ranger knife in the last video is the prototype knife and the sample pic will be uploaded to the website in a week when the knife is finished although all the details are there under the knife design/other knives section.
Thanks Mitch. cutting the initial shape on the bandsaw has reduced the grinding belt usage and can now do over 4 to 5 times the number of handles on the one belt than I could by doing it all on the belt grinder. I use the cheaper AO belts for the handles so I can keep a sharp belt that cuts quicker and more cleanly.
Helpful videos ther vongruff. Just been re-shaping my old mans knife blade that snapped at the handle, just wondering what wood would you recommend for a handle? not too sure on where to look and what to look for. thanks anything helps
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Von Gruff
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Re: Shaping knife handles Reply #5 - May 1st, 2018 at 6:39pm
Any of the hardwoods will make a good handle. I have used walnut, jarah, rimu, hickory, bluegum and a lot of exotic woods as well. The other thing you can use is to go to a kitchen bench maker and get a piece of corian which is one of the synthetics or make your own micarta with strips of paper, linnen or canvas soaked in fiberglass resin and pressed together.
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Re: Shaping knife handles Reply #6 - May 2nd, 2018 at 8:45am
thanks ive actually got some fiberglass resin so might look into that. does the wood have to be dry? If I was to harvest my own how long would a good time to wait before I use it. cheers
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Re: Shaping knife handles Reply #7 - Aug 30th, 2018 at 9:22pm
Hi there. I like the idea of shaping the handle with the bandsaw. What about your stainless/brass pins, bolts, tubes etc that holds the scales to the tang? Doesn't that blunt your blade too much when cutting through them??
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Von Gruff
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I have bi metal blades (10 tpi) for my wood working bandsaw the same as the 18tpi bi meta blades on my meta cutting bandsaw. Buy from NZ Bandsaw Brian 09 267 8570
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tinass
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Wasn't getting much conversation over them so stopped posting but have made over 250 in the last 18 mnths nad they have customers in 7 different countries now. Buffalo horn and brass Safari Hunter Damascus Buffalo skinner with buffalo horn bolster and spalted eucalyptus Buffalo skinner with buffalo horn bolster and exhibition walnut, with a Pocket Ranger with Zebrawood. Pair of daggers with brass and walnut Buffalo skinner with copper and ebony Pair of Old Westerns with Buffalo horn bolsters and Swamp Kauri 7 1/2 inch Chef with exhibition walnut Hunter skinner with brass and Accacia A pair of Bowies Copper and Tambotion one and micarta with eucalyptus on the other Bowie with blued steel guard and eucalyptus
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Von Gruff
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General purpose kitchen knife with paper micarta and a paring knife with benchtop acrylic A thumbrest skinner and a mini skinner, both with buffao horn bosters and accacia A pair of Lion knives. One with Accacia and the other with eucalyptus Mini skinner (buffao horn and wanut) and Hunter skinner with accacia Filleter and Fisherman with natura canvas micarta Safari knife with buffalomhorn and zebrawood set of table knives/steak knives with paper micarta over red liners 7 1/2 inch Chef with eucalyptus Safari knife with buffalo horn 8 1/2 inch carving knife with paper micarta AH EDC with Giraffe bone Pair of 7 1/2 inch Chef knives with exhibition eucalyptus Pair of Safari knives brass and buffalo horn and brass and giraffe bone