Hey folks,

This is an order from a customer that's currently working overseas.

He already purchased a knife from me and wanted another knife, so I offered this finished blade I had here waiting for a handle. (4 3/4" length, San Mai made with stainless 304 and 1085 with a 52100 core)

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward1w_big.jpg


He needed a fat drop point so I reground it to this:
(About 4 1/2" length, 4" cutting edge)

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward2w_big.jpg


He also wanted flat and thin micarta handle in the same pattern as the upper part of the damascus, so I've made that using corn to draw the pattern.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward3w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward4w_big.jpg


Pretty cool, ah? :D (You can still see some corn grains there)

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward5w_big.jpg


Pieces od micarta for the handle along with the blade.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward6w_big.jpg


And since he needed a guard to prevent his hand to slipper into the blade I've decided to use some 1010/1085/copper mokume I had, as the patterns were just screaming to be used here.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward7w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward8w_big.jpg

More later this week, thanks for looking!


Regards,

Ariel

Fudge!~!!!!!! I want one!!!!!! You are the bomb.
Jeff
Maddogknives USA

Ariel,

That is outstanding :bow can't wait to see it finished.

Mike

that look frigin sweeeeet. the micarta looks awesome, cant wait to see it assembled.
how did you make the micarta, im assuming that you sprinkled dry corn kernels and then placed a board on top and put it in a press. am i right?? were there corn kernels on the bottom, how much pressure do you put on it.
brett

Amigo y compatriota Ariel:

Es la primera vez que escribo en este foro, y es para felicitarte por los estupendos trabajos que siempre mostras, y la dedicacion y docencia de mostrarnos un paso a paso de los mismos. Te cuento que he realizado varios cuchillos (soy solo un aficionado, te aclaro) con la micarta que nos enseñaste a fabricar en el foro de Argentina, que excelente material! Barato, facil de trabajar y extremadamente fuerte! muchas gracias!
Se te extraña mucho en el foro de Armasblancas.
Un gran abrazo y felicitaciones.

Andres

PD: disculpen que no posteo la respuesta en ingles tambien, me falta un poco de practica con el idioma aun!

PS: excuseme not submit the reply in English also, I need a little of practice with the language!

Thank you for the comments, guys!

More :)


Two micarta pieces, already hand carved for the exact shape of the blade's spine.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward9w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward10w_big.jpg


After gluing them together (either resin or cianoacrilate gel) press with a manual press to make just one piece out of them.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward11w_big.jpg


After it dries, I fill it with the same glue to later place the spine of the knife there.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward12w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward13w_big.jpg


After it begins to harden, I place it on a vise , making sure to use THICK leather pieces as not to damage the blade.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward14w_big.jpg


Now with the blade completely secured on the vise, I use a screw press (the carpenter type) to achieve a perfect fit with the guard and handle.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward15w_big.jpg


Once this dries up, I'll be ready to work on the shape of the guard and handle.


Thanks again for looking!


Regards,

Ariel

can´t wait to se the finished produkt.......
it looks great.

Truly outstanding Ariel, I really like the way you do it as a tutorial. It really gets the blood going in the brain, this has put some new ideas in the ol' brain.

Thanks Mike

Ariel where do u live in Ar ? because i live in Iguassu, u hv a lot new ideas , i think u´r wizard i would like to see u working , visit me when u comes to missiones, we can make a nice knife , i just work with damascus too , i´ll wait for u contact, grats

L.Pazini

L, I live in Buenos Aires :)
If I ever go to Misiones, I'll call you up! I'm trying to get to the Brazilian Knife Show next year.

Thanks again for the kind words, they encourage me to make more of these type of threads. I will be making a full size tutorial of this later this week.


Adding a mokume pin to make the handle even more secure (and to decorate it a little bit more)

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward16w_big.jpg


Detailed view:

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward23w_big.jpg


Finished knife :)

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward17w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward18w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward19w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward20w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward21w_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images6/ward22w_big.jpg


Regards,

Ariel

:bow::bow::bow::bow::bow:
incredible! :eek

looking forward to the full tutorial....

Gary

Very very nice Ariel!!

Da la la linda impresion de ser indestructible!

That's unbelievable!!! That homemade micarta is seriously cool! You are incredibly creative to say the least.

Thanks for the post.

Sean

Hurah! Fantastic blade.

Doug Lester

Thanks,thanks friends.
regars

Wonderful knife!!!
Could you give us a step by step on how you did the "micarta" ? What types of material did you use? What type of resin/glue ? How did you use popcorn to develop the pattern?

I "think" I know what you did, but Id rather here it from the experts mouth!

God Bless
Mike

Some answers to questions I got about this :)

Do you have any tutorials (or know of any) that describe to shape the scales? Grind? With what?

I just work it as I work wood, I first use an 80 grit belt, then 150, then 220, and then 400.
Once I get there, I polish it with a regular polishing cloth, without applying much pressure.

That leaves a shinny finish (how shinny depends on the type of clothings used)



how long do u leave the piece to set?i'm assuming this depends on the set time of the resin? this turns out as strong as regular micarta?
This IS micarta, just that I've make it on my shop instead of buying it :)
I've had a hard time breaking knife handles b hammering them with a 4 pounds hammer on the anvil, so I guess it's pretty resistant :D


the process is basically layering the fabric with the resin,manipulating to form the pattern,letting it all set in the press, right?
That's exactly right! And once you have the solid block, you can also add patterns by cutting it sideways, or texturing it, or shaping it, etc.



Stupid question time: Why turn it sideways and then clamp it? What is different from keeping it vertical and letting gravity push the tang into the handle?
Is it to keep more epoxy in contact with the guard (and prevent bubbles/air space from being next to the guard)? Or is it extra insurance that the guard fits flush against the handle?
I wanted to press it REALLY hard, way more than the mere gravity force, so I've used a clamp for that. I've used it sideways just because of how my vice is attached to my working desk, but it can be vertical or diagonal as well.
The point it to press all pieces together for an exact fit :)



Thats really neat looking! Would you mind telling me how you did the micarta thing? What is that black fluid and what does it do?
Could you give us a step by step on how you did the "micarta" ? What types of material did you use? What type of resin/glue ? How did you use popcorn to develop the pattern?
how do u make your micarta [if it's not a trade secret]?what resin/glue/epoxy do u use?
Please take a look at this page of my website:
http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/docs/knifemakingtextmicarta.htm

Or you can make a search on the threads I've started on the forums and check out other process pictures I've been posting :)

That "black fluid" is just the transparent resin, that appears black as it's dripping on the black micarta :)

The resin I use is the one that's used to repair fiberglass boats (it's either called fiberglass or epoxy resin)

As for brands, I don't know, I get them on industrial sized containers from a friend, but you should follow the instructions on the packaging to get the proper mix with the hardener.


Regards,

Ariel

Whoa dude!!!!!! That is too awesome. You made the micarta yourself too! That guy will be estatic and God bless you for doing such fine work.
Take care.
Jeff
MaddogMcCray'sKnives.

Beautifully handle I liked it.