Custom wa handle - Gallery of my creations

[KasumiJLA]

Hi there

I've been wanting to make this project a reality for more than two years and I finally found the time and the energy to do it. Very happy to share with you my future creations! Let's start with the first one:

Material - Curly maple & black palm ring
Diameter - 18,5 x 24 x 134
Opening - 4 x 11
Finition - 600 grit and linseed oil

 

[KasumiJLA]

I really like the colour of this wood. It's hard to see on picture but this wood offers reflections of gold color with different light, it's really beautiful!

Material - Stabilized curly redwood & black and gold ring
Diameter - 18 x 23 x 130
Opening - 4 x 9
Finition - 600 grit and linseed oil

 

[Uncle Danny]

Beautiful handles! I only just started on making my own and yours are truly inspirational

 

[jedy617]

Do you have any guides that you followed that you found useful? I am having trouble visualizing turning a block octagonal, I know you draw lines on it with a pencil but I still get a little bit lost there

 

[Uncle Danny]

This was by far the video that helped me the most, as I want to do my handles in free hand. For now, I’m practicing mono WAs

I don’t have the octo finish down to perfection, but it’s getting good, fast. For now, I finish on #400

 

[KasumiJLA]

@Uncle Danny thank you for your kind words! Have fun making yours

@jedy617 I'm working freehand when I do the sides but I know some have a jig or something to keep the angle steady. I have a visual line and I work my way slowly to avoid going too far. It's surely not the fastest method but with caution everything should be shape nicely

 

[KasumiJLA]

I just finished a custom order for a friend and I wanted to go classy for his Merion 240mm gyuto. Subtle wavy effect when playing with light with an elegant vibe

Material - Stabilized pomelle sapele, ebony spacers and curly maple ring
Diameter - 18,5 x 23,5 x 135
Opening - 10,6 x 6
Finition - 600 grit and linseed oil

 

[jaydee]

Very nice choices on woods, design and overall execution on all of these.
The 2nd and 3rd i like especially.

 

[KasumiJLA]

@jaydee thank you sir! I really like darker wood and I have some ebony and wenge blank waiting to be shaped


Edit: I have attached a photo of the next handles

 

[KasumiJLA]

Obviously girlfriend was jealous so I had no choice but to make one! This wood is quite imposing in terms of texture and contrast, but I find that the combination looks good with the sobriety of the blade.

Material - Black palm & curly maple spacers
Diameter - 18,5 x 23 x 130
Opening - 12 x 5
Finition - 600 grit and linseed oil

 

[dragjp]

Life hack for sure- more knives and rocks if the lady is happy.

 

[KasumiJLA]

Three new handles that will soon be ready to dress these blades! I'm not a big fan of handles with a lot of colors, but I must admit that I love this combination of pink and blue. With the varnish it will be darker and I think it will be great with the nashiji finish of this Santoku.

Gyuto - Fujimoto shirogami 2, soft iron clad, 210mm with wenge handle, stabilized maple burl ring and ebony spacers.

Nakiri - Fujimoto shirogami 2, soft iron clad, 165mm with ebony handle, stabilized maple burl ring and sycamore spacers.

Santoku - Fujimoto aogami 2, San mai inox, 165mm with wenge handle, natural box elder burl ring and stabilized maple burl spacers

 

[KasumiJLA]

New handle is freshly finish for this Santoku! I really like this box elder burl wood, it's warm and eye catchy without being too much. At least for my taste

Material - Wenge, box elder burl ring and stabilized maple burl spacers
Diameter - 18 x 23 x 130
Opening - 13,1 x 5,7
Finition - 400 grit and linseed oil

 

[KasumiJLA]

A new handle is ready but not the blade! I'm gonna give this gyuto a nice kasumi before putting new pants on it. I'm gonna go crazy on mirror hagane and uchigumori jigane, because I miss to make this kind of finish..

Material - Wenge, stabilized maple burl ring and ebony spacers
Diameter - 18 x 24 x 136, tapered 2mm
Opening - 13 x 5,9
Finition - 400 grit and linseed oil

 

[KasumiJLA]

Classic and elegant, just how I like it! The marriage of ebony and myrtle burl really hit the mark. I'm really tempted to polish this Nakiri as well to make it even more pleasing to the eye

Material - Ebony, stabilized myrtle burl ring and sycamore spacers
Diameter - 17 x 23 x 133, 2mm tapered
Opening - 13 x 6,4
Finition - 400 grit and linseed oil

 

[brimmergj]

This latest batch looks fantastic!

 

[naptight]

I love the pattern contrast with that black palm wood and the tight grain wood like the maple!

 

[KasumiJLA]

A new handle is finished and for this one I tried different things. It's always fun to experiment and even if it's not my favorite, there is something that calls out to me! This wood was so fun to work with and I just love the rich detail in the grain.

Material - Spalted myrtle burl stabilized, curly maple ring & black and gold resin spacers
Diameter - 16,2 x 21,7 x 130
Opening - 14,3 x 5,2
Finition - 600 grit and linseed oil

 

[KasumiJLA]

@brimmergj thank you for letting me know that you like it, it's really appreciated

@naptight yes me too I like the difference in texture and color for this one! Girlfriend is still in love with it and I can now order more exotic wood without justifying anything

 

[KasumiJLA]

I must admit that I really love this combination! It's warm, sober but with lots of little details in the ring. It's a handle that goes well with several types of finish. I shortened the ferrule by 5mm and the ring now stands more proportionate overall.

I received a lot of exotic wood this week and I already have some in the making (cocobolo, buckeye burl stabilized, rosewood stabilized, spalted myrtle burl stabilized and a new resin with a hint of celadon color)

Material - Bolivian rosewood, stabilized maple burl ring & black and gold resin spacers
Diameter - 17,5 x 23 x 131
Opening - 6 x 13
Finition - 400 grit and linseed oil

 

[naptight]

Gorgeous and yes, very sober for something exotic.

How does the stabilized said take the oil finish?

 

[Dan-]

They all look like extremely fancy cigars. Nice work.

 

[KasumiJLA]

Gorgeous and yes, very sober for something exotic.

How does the stabilized said take the oil finish?

Thank you sir! No particular issues, it just drink a little bit less oil. They can withstand 3 coats without problems

 

[daddy yo yo]

Fantastic work, wow! I love pretty much everything I am seeing here…

 

[KasumiJLA]

Fantastic work, wow! I love pretty much everything I am seeing here…

Thanks for letting me know, it's really appreciated

 

[KasumiJLA]

A new handle is ready and this wood is absolutely amazing! It's funky, but not too much. I really like the vibe on this one

Material - Maple burl, maple burl stabilized and pearl resin ring & highlander green resin spacers
Diameter - 18,2 x 24 x 135
Weight - 31g
Finition - 600 grit and linseed oil

 

[Carbonara]

Classic and elegant, just how I like it! The marriage of ebony and myrtle burl really hit the mark. I'm really tempted to polish this Nakiri as well to make it even more pleasing to the eye

Material - Ebony, stabilized myrtle burl ring and sycamore spacers
Diameter - 17 x 23 x 133, 2mm tapered
Opening - 13 x 6,4
Finition - 400 grit and linseed oil

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This one is my favorite. Really elegant!

 

[KasumiJLA]

One of the things I like the most is discovering the grain of the wood when I form the shape. It's always a surprise! For this one I love the details and the peach color which is delicate and warm. That ring is absolutely gorgeous and I have enough material to make two complete handles with it

Material - Rosewood burl, stabilized buckeye burl ring & ebony spacers
Diameter - 18,3 x 23,3 x 131
Weight - 25g
Finition - 400 grit and linseed oil

 

[KasumiJLA]

A new handle is finish and I'm pretty happy with the look of this one! This one will be match with a Watanabe 180mm Ku finish. This Buckeye burl have a lot to give and there's so much little details to look at

Material - Buckeye burl stabilized, curly maple ring & ebony spacers
Height [front to back] - 21,1 to 22,5
Width [front to back] - 17,8 to 19,6
Length - 131,5
Weight - 45g
Finition - 600 grit and linseed oil

 

[plantgainz]

A new handle is finish and I'm pretty happy with the look of this one! This one will be match with a Watanabe 180mm Ku finish. This Buckeye burl have a lot to give and there's so much little details to look at

Material - Buckeye burl stabilized, curly maple ring & ebony spacers
Height [front to back] - 21,1 to 22,5
Width [front to back] - 17,8 to 19,6
Length - 131,5
Weight - 45g
Finition - 600 grit and linseed oil

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Wonderful, buckeye burl has always amazed me! Great handle for a great blade