Time for a Timor…. | Page 2

Darkbulb · Dec 29, 2014

Pretty sure this is all photoshop.

45auto · Dec 29, 2014

Are the scales usable?

HolyRollah · Dec 29, 2014

45auto said: ↑

Are the scales usable?
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I suppose they would be for the right blade. 4/8 and short enough length. I'll hang onto them in case I come across another small blade in need of scales.

Boojum1 · Dec 30, 2014

HolyRollah said: ↑

Well, I checked my supply of G10 and thought it too thin for the scales. On to Plan B: makes scale from black horn.

Using the scribed outline of the previous scales, I cut the two scales from a horn blank. Trimmed to size and began sanding and shaping the scales.

Shaped and chamfered: now on the critical hand-sanding process to ensure a proper fit...

After much time and some progress-checking, I discovered I overdid it on the sanding. I had removed too much material and made the scales too small to fit the brass bolsters properly….
Back to Square One: cut another set of scales, slightly larger than the ones I just finished. Lets just say I was more diligent in shaping the scales to ensure a good fit with the brass.
New set of scales sanded, test-fitted & with the first coat of poly finish applied:

Scales after 3 coats of poly & buffed…

Some clean-up: Hand-polished the brass pieces, VERY carefully, yet still managed to drop each piece at least 2-3 times in the process.
I made a brasso bath for the pieces, and after a short soak, carefully removed each with long tweezers and used a q-tip to clean up the tight spaces.
This sort of tiny detail work is not my personal 'cup of tea'—but I was pleased with the results (no pieces were lost or harmed in the process).

The Blade: Once I began working on the 4/8 wedge blade, it became obvious there was quite a bit of underlying pitting on both sides of the blade—much more extensive than I initially thought looking at the earlier blade pics.
With this in mind, I'm not really that happy on how this 'glossy' blade turned out. I may take it back to the buffers and remove some more material and perhaps go more toward a matte finish.

More to come……..
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Bee-you-teeful Kevin!