Home made knife handles

[AtlLaw]

I came across two scales that I bought years ago and never used.  They are finely figured curly maple and are just under 7/8 inch thick.

I also have 2 Green River finished blades.

As I remember, most pre-cut scales that I see for sale are around 3/8 inch thick.  What are y'alls thoughts on being able to cut the scales I have in half, width wise, for use on the blades?  In other words, make 2 - 3/8 inch scales from 1 - 7/8 scale?  Would the resultant handle be wide enough after shaping?

How in the heck would I cut these things in half anyway!?

[john keyes]

- 3/8 inch scales from 1 - 7/8 scale?  Would the resultant handle be wide enough after shaping?

How in the heck would I cut these things in half anyway!?

I'm just a noob but I've done three handles so far.  3/8 sounds a  little thin to me, its late and I have everything put up or I would go out and get some measurements for you. For instance I ordered handle blanks from Dixie, the osage came in pairs (no need to slice) but the bocote and zebrawood (and some ziricote that I already had) I cut them with a $100 bandsaw that I bought. It is the old CRAFTSMAN 12" BANDSWAW SANDER.  the fence I made by C-Clamping a piece of two by four and the cuts came out nice, I didn't even measure anything (hey, we are supposed to be having FUN here) and I was pleased.  I got a drill press for forty bucks and it is very crucial for cutting straight holes and counterboring.  I also have a router bit on the way so I can hog out a slot for a hidden tang.
I just ordered some small sanding drums and sleeves from klingspors, the kit was eight bucks and something.
The way I do my pins is I ordered some 5/32 brass rods from Tower Hobbie.  I just glue everything up, leave about an 1/8" of pins sticking out then peen them into the counterbore that I drilled in the pin hole.
the most expensive thing I bought (beside the blades) was the 1x42 Kalamazoo. I got a set of belts in different grits and I was scared to death to grind the edge but starting out with the coarse and dipping in ice water all the way until I got to the 320 then 400 grit followed by the leather belt holy cow do I have some SHARP A$$ KNIVES.

[cwlongshot]

Here is mine!!



Simple red Oak and Brass rivets.

CW

[GRIMJIM]

How in the heck would I cut these things in half anyway!?

I have split wood for handgun grips. A band saw works great, leave the cut sides out to shape and have the square sides against the steel. A fresh blade is best or it will want to walk on you. You can possibly do the same on a scroll saw.

What are the other dimensions on the scales? I wouldn't recommend cutting anything too small on a table saw unless you have a lot of experience on one.

[john keyes]

Nevermind what I said, I just measured some of my stuff and 3/8 is PLENTY

I wouldn't recommend cutting anything too small on a table saw unless you have a lot of experience on one.

 
that gave me the heebie jeebies just reading it....
also you can push with a piece of wood instead of your fingers   

[mechanic]

3/8 should be plenty on a green river.  You won't have a lot for finishing but put the cut side in if you cut with a band saw.  A scroll saw will have minimal kerf and you won't lose much material.  Handle thickness is kinda' a personal preference anyway.  I made a tanto knife for a ranger dude once, and he cut the scales off and wrapped leather around it.

[Joel]

The thickest scales I use are 3/8 inch.  Sometimes they are thicker than that if it's wood I cut myself, but all the extra is, is excess wood.  I get most of my stabilized wood in 1" blocks that I cut in two with my bandsaw using a metal cutting blade.  I just draw a line down the center of the block and carefully cut down the line.  I use the cut sides as the outside of the handles.  Here's a pic of one I just finished laying on some scales of the same maple that's on the knife.  They were 15/16 before cutting.

[GRIMJIM]

Nevermind what I said, I just measured some of my stuff and 3/8 is PLENTY

I wouldn't recommend cutting anything too small on a table saw unless you have a lot of experience on one.

 
that gave me the heebie jeebies just reading it....
also you can push with a piece of wood instead of your fingers   

Definitely a push stick would work but if it is too small it will snap around on you and might come up the back of the blade . Also you're cutting pretty dense wood and removing 1/8 of an inch of material. A band saw will remove 1/16 and a scroll saw even less.

[AtlLaw]

Lotsa good stuff!  Thanks!  More later, I'm trying to get to the range!