When I emailed them they said they only bring in the heat stop for a couple of knife makers, pretty special bunch us guys
Ive been in and out of the shop periodically doing other projects but should be doing HT this weekend. Its all downhill after that. I assume we are making pants for the blades as well?
If there's time I will make a sheath. A less than a month to go. May Long's over, the garden's in and I am going to have some more time in the shop soon.
I cut some 416 on the arc I was looking for. After drilling, the bolster pieces are clamped and shaped on the grinder. I sometimes use plain 1/8" rod to align the bolster pieces. Once everything is straight and aligned, it sanding and buffing time. This is black compound on a 6" wheel. It looks all wavy gravy, but the reflected light is that gravy.
Got to glue up last night. Pressing the bolster pins in the 20t. They really squash out. Cutting some maple burl scales to just outside the line. These I shaped with the disc sander to conform to the arc of the SS bolster. Drilling out the scales. There is one 3/16" in the middle, flanked by two 1/8". Everything prepped for epoxy. Voila! Wait a day to see how it all works out.
OK, I've started shaping the handle. It's rough at first with a 60 grit belt. Focusing on the bolster so we don't make a big gouge in the wood/steel transition. That would feel sharp on the hand when holding. Once the bolster is close, I start some slack belt. Rotating the knife to round the handle. I whetted the handle a few times when grinding the bolster end. Finished product to follow. Dan
Worked on it a little this morning. I am kind of disappointed in the alignment of the two halves of the bolster. Cursed devils they are, especially when they are curved. It may not bother the new owner, but even a few thousandths off bugs me. C'est la vie.
I know your pain, just started sanding a handle and the curved bolster was to have a blue glue line. Thought I had it all nice and even but nope
The steel lines up okay. It seems to be more a gap in between the fibre spacer and the wood. Epoxy is in there, so it's solid. But, of course it won't show up until you grind 'er down and see.