Wa handle making (learning as I go)

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Project 2 Munetoshi petty

Step 1 - straighten the blade
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
I don't have the skills to bend the knife by hand, so I went a different route.
link:
After following the instruction above, the blade still wasn't straight enough so I thinned the blade down.
I will say the result is in between fair to good.

https://imgur.com/VWBAOBM
https://imgur.com/pv4IPoA
https://imgur.com/fRXRGOK


Step 2 - Stabilize my own wood
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
So I spend the past weekend playing around with the tools, I though I was doing everything right but somehow it wasn't turning out correctly.
https://imgur.com/cUW7jAt
https://imgur.com/bShRA48

Then thanks to Milkbaby I realized that I purchased the wrong juice..
I have reorder the Cactus juice, hopefully this time is correct.
upload_2018-8-21_11-17-35.png




Step 3 - Cutting the dowel
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
I didn't want to slow the project down while waiting for a week for the Cactus juice, so I went ahead and cut the dowel with a hacksaw.
Overall I was shocked by how straight it ended up, very happy that I succeed during the first attempt.
https://imgur.com/sNQLnur
https://imgur.com/TWIy3Iw
https://imgur.com/jTYQDK3
https://imgur.com/ryc6xCG

Step 4 - Line things up
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
Basically prepping all the parts I will need for this handle and lining them up to see how things look.
I made a decision to try metal, I know its not beginner friendly and I probably should get some rods in there.
But anyway here we go, if it falls apart then I will go with something else later lol, the point is to experiment.
https://imgur.com/XzDZ1KL
https://imgur.com/dHOz63I
https://imgur.com/LvFfNar


Step 4 - Glue the bottom piece of the handle
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
I am planning on drilling the dowel hole after this is completed, hopefully it won't fall apart lol.
https://imgur.com/mZafJBX
 
Unfortunately, unless you turn or carve green wood, Pentacryl doesn't have much use.
 
Step 5 - Cutting pieces to the right width & Drill holes
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
Everything are going pretty smooth. No safety issues and no screw ups.
Pictures below are pretty self explanatory.
https://imgur.com/q86Cdmu
https://imgur.com/MEyxJHi
https://imgur.com/xTURMeV
https://imgur.com/9aMVE0k
https://imgur.com/1jVb19d
https://imgur.com/bpYtTgk
https://imgur.com/1H5eZuZ
https://imgur.com/ibU0eGN
https://imgur.com/e7F4WKz

Step 6 - Cutting pieces to the right length
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
No issues, just parts being too long had to cut some length off.
https://imgur.com/SFRDAbc
https://imgur.com/8cDizOa
https://imgur.com/bUea8cH

Step 7 - Line up everything making sure things are straight
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
No issues, everything line up correctly so far.
I am planning on adding 4 more metal spacers before and after each black spacing material.
Once that is done, I will start glue everything together before shaping.
https://imgur.com/k92sWEe
https://imgur.com/gvOChZm
 
At what temp did you heat the blade for the petty straightening process?
Or did you just clamp it down without heating?
I am thinking it might have screwed up the original tempering, meaning your carbon steel has lost hardness.

To be sure to straighten a blade without interfering with the temper, I bend the blades using 2 wood sticks that have notches sawed into them. There are plenty of videos that show how to do it. Best way is to bend in a conservative way, check straightness and repeat as many times as necessary.
 
woodworkcan said:
At what temp did you heat the blade for the petty straightening process?
Or did you just clamp it down without heating?
I am thinking it might have screwed up the original tempering, meaning your carbon steel has lost hardness.

To be sure to straighten a blade without interfering with the temper, I bend the blades using 2 wood sticks that have notches sawed into them. There are plenty of videos that show how to do it. Best way is to bend in a conservative way, check straightness and repeat as many times as necessary.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice! I forgot what temperature I used, but its the same as the guy doing the demonstration. I have tried to bend the knife, didn’t work as well so I figure I give it a try. Lol
 
woodworkcan said:
At what temp did you heat the blade for the petty straightening process?
Or did you just clamp it down without heating?
I am thinking it might have screwed up the original tempering, meaning your carbon steel has lost hardness.

To be sure to straighten a blade without interfering with the temper, I bend the blades using 2 wood sticks that have notches sawed into them. There are plenty of videos that show how to do it. Best way is to bend in a conservative way, check straightness and repeat as many times as necessary.
Click to expand...

Went back and checked, I believe I used 375F or 400F
 
While 350 should be "fine" it's hotter than I temper many blades. A safer temp to use not to interfer with temper is using 150 c(300f) or 160c as a max. (unless you can ask the actual maker what temp was used.
 
Gjackson98 said:
Gotcha, Thank you much for the advice! If I use 150C or 160C, would this process still work?
Click to expand...
You actually don't need such a super safe way for a laminated blade. They're super easy to straighten, one of their big benefits. I typically put them on the anvil and straighten with hammer, but that takes a bit of care. I would recommend three brass rods in a vice, or a straightening stick as described. heating the blade to 150 before bringing it out for the straightening is a little safer, but actually not 100% necessary on a san mai blade, as it will take the correction no problems even cold.
 
RDalman said:
You actually don't need such a super safe way for a laminated blade. They're super easy to straighten, one of their big benefits. I typically put them on the anvil and straighten with hammer, but that takes a bit of care. I would recommend three brass rods in a vice, or a straightening stick as described. heating the blade to 150 before bringing it out for the straightening is a little safer, but actually not 100% necessary on a san mai blade, as it will take the correction no problems even cold.
Click to expand...
Thanks again! Hopefully I will never have to do this again, but if I do, I will for sure take your advises as guideline!
 
Step 9 - Shaping the handle, sanding the handle
Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
No problem.
https://imgur.com/KaD4PUQ
https://imgur.com/JHlkjKM


Step 10 - Oil the handle and wax

Issues/ Safety issues/ Screw ups?
No problem.
https://imgur.com/CBQUYZ7
33.jpg
Overall I followed the same process as handle 1 for these two steps. The result was much better than the last run.
Thanks to everyone's suggestions! Shaping the handle after installing the blade is for sure much easier and accurate.
 
Haven’t checked in on this thread recently and just caught up. It’s a great thread, interesting to watch the learning process. I’ll be giving it a try soon enough. Thanks again for sharing the journey.
 
nakneker said:
Haven’t checked in on this thread recently and just caught up. It’s a great thread, interesting to watch the learning process. I’ll be giving it a try soon enough. Thanks again for sharing the journey.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Hopefully you will find some of the stuff helpful when you give it a try! Let me know how it goes!
 
great read! reminds me of all my trial and error. thanks for sharing and it looks like you picked it up pretty quickly! way to go on such an analytical mindset :D
 
nicestslice said:
great read! reminds me of all my trial and error. thanks for sharing and it looks like you picked it up pretty quickly! way to go on such an analytical mindset :D
Click to expand...

Thank you! I am glad you had fun reading it.
It’s more fun to learn while sharing it with the big family here. Got a lot of help and advices from everyone, that’s why things are actually getting done fairly smoothly!
Big thanks to everyone again!
 
Read all of this, very interesting. I am trying my hand at a WA handle too.

For slotting a dowel I did the folllwing:
  1. Got a piece of wood wide enough to push through a band saw without worrying me
  2. Viced it up in the pillar drill against another scrap piece
  3. Drilled a hole the diameter of my dowel down the centre between these two pieces
  4. You end up with a slot, half the size of your dowel
  5. Place dowel in wood
  6. Line centre up in band saw
  7. Cut
You have a simple jig to get consistent slots every time.

This really helped me after I tore 3/4 dowels trying to do this by hand.
 
ForeverLearning said:
Read all of this, very interesting. I am trying my hand at a WA handle too.

For slotting a dowel I did the folllwing:
  1. Got a piece of wood wide enough to push through a band saw without worrying me
  2. Viced it up in the pillar drill against another scrap piece
  3. Drilled a hole the diameter of my dowel down the centre between these two pieces
  4. You end up with a slot, half the size of your dowel
  5. Place dowel in wood
  6. Line centre up in band saw
  7. Cut
You have a simple jig to get consistent slots every time.

This really helped me after I tore 3/4 dowels trying to do this by hand.
Click to expand...

Good read! Thanks for sharing!
 
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