Recent content by CPD

For me it depends on the project. If it's for aggressive shaping handcut pattern makers rasps are great. They come in medium and finer grits and they work fast without sacrificing quality. They can be expensive but they outperform most options I've tried. For cleaning up a handle hole...

Putting any water inside - hot or cold - will raise the wood grain and could give some improvement but it's also risky. Wet wood expands and contracts pretty aggressively. Depending on the grain alignments, it could warp the whole saya, pop the glue joints, of if the glue joints are stronger...

PM sent about possible trade, if interested.

Preizzo, just got notice my inbox was full and missed a message from you. Sorry. Box is now empty

+10 to Dave and Stefan's earlier answers. Epoxy doesn't like heat so if you're going to use metal spacers that conduct heat, its best to predrill and try to minimize the amount of grinding necessary. I always use dowel construction for metal spacers as well. It's more work and can be...

yep, exactly what I was thinking of, James. I've shattered (as in blown up with wood chips flying) African blackwood from friction heat on a drill press when I got careless.....And I've cracked a doweled ebony handle from the heat expansion that happens in a burn in. Now, if I put a handle on...

was hoping to hear you'd changed your mind and gotten that antique beast! congrats. sure you'll put it to good use.

Looks like you've got this settled by now but I'll add a second to James' approach with hot glue for removable handles for future reference. I will sometimes cut a few wedges of a hot glue stick and put them into the tang hole. Heat the tang and slide it in....glue melts right around it and...

meant to include this pic. This is the sister knife that I finished a couple years back. Same starting point but no wa conversion, no reprofilng the edge. straightforward vintage sab with clunky original bolsters. Ziricote coke bottle handle, walnut saya (friction fit sayas with bolstered...

I started on two vintage sab blanks a couple years ago as a random project. Shaped, heat treated, and finished one as a western the I got sidetracked. Better late than never, finally got around to finishing other. This one is Wa-conversion to more of a line knife. The handle is black and...

Stefan - I haven't been on the board that often in the past few months....but if you ever have any questions always feel free to shoot me a PM or send me an email if you still have my email address. Always glad to answer any questions I can. I've heard nothing but good things about the...

Hey Stefan, Glad to see you're back in the game. Hope all is well. Bandsaw accuracy has been a frustration in my little workshop too - especially with good handle hardwoods. In my experience, it's a frustration with any bandsaw short of the big shop monsters unless you tune them...

thanks.

Can anybody help identify the maker/translate the kanji for me in this photo? Thanks.

Mark - are you looking for blanks for a western or Wa handle? (eg/ block for hidden tang, regardless of handle shape...or scales?) Think I may have some highly figured cherry burl (not yet stabilized but should be), pale moon ebony, curly beeswing eucalyptus, mallee burl, maple burl...