Show your Mule

A place to share your experience with our Mule Team knives.
Tarheelpwr
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Re: Show your Mule

#1181

Post by Tarheelpwr »

Assuming I want grippy denim micarta handles, what grit should I sand to?
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Xplorer
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Re: Show your Mule

#1182

Post by Xplorer »

Since grippy is subjective, it really depends on how grippy you want it to be. If you want very grippy and you want it to remain very grippy you'll need to touch it up from time to time because micarta will absorb hand oils and smooth out over time. I'd say that at about 400 grit you're getting very smooth. 320 grit might be considered grippy compared to 5000 grit polished, but 80 grit makes 320 grit seem slick. I'd say start at 80 grit and focus on getting everything nice and even. Then if you want it smoother, go to 120, 240, 320...until you like it. I don't know exactly how you want it to feel but my guess is you'll probably like 120 for mix of grippiness and a nice look.
:spyder: Spyderco fan and collector since 1991. :spyder:
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
Tarheelpwr
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Re: Show your Mule

#1183

Post by Tarheelpwr »

Thanks. I finally got my g10 in, but unfortunately the 1.5” pre-cut scales are about 1/16” too small. I have to send them back and get more. Hopeful they’ll cut 2” scales and spacers for me.
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Show your Mule

#1184

Post by legOFwhat? »

Over the Christmas holiday I played around with making a few scales. 15 sets to be exact, funny thing is I only have 4 mules. :D I'll eventually get around to using woods but for now it's micarta and kirinite. Linen, paper, and canvas Micarta and various Kirinits including some glow in the dark. Messed up a few times but I don't mind...learning curve. My kids teamed up and bought me this PD#1 mule and it's my favorite so far:

Image
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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Re: Show your Mule

#1185

Post by Xplorer »

legOFwhat? wrote:
Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:36 am
Over the Christmas holiday I played around with making a few scales. 15 sets to be exact, funny thing is I only have 4 mules. :D I'll eventually get around to using woods but for now it's micarta and kirinite. Linen, paper, and canvas Micarta and various Kirinits including some glow in the dark. Messed up a few times but I don't mind...learning curve. My kids teamed up and bought me this PD#1 mule and it's my favorite so far:

Image
Nice work! I like the R/W/B theme on the 2 I can see in the picture. Sounds like you must have had fun with it if you made 15 sets!
:spyder: Spyderco fan and collector since 1991. :spyder:
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Show your Mule

#1186

Post by legOFwhat? »

Xplorer wrote:
Sat Jan 12, 2019 12:42 am
Nice work! I like the R/W/B theme on the 2 I can see in the picture. Sounds like you must have had fun with it if you made 15 sets!
Yep loads of fun! I have enough material to make another 10 or so sets just to practice and get a feel for what materials I like most, then maybe buy a few more mules for the scales I like best.
Image

Image
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Show your Mule

#1187

Post by legOFwhat? »

Finally got around to grabbing four more PD#1 mules (6 total) and fitting them to the scales I made over Christmas vacation.

Image

Left to right: Sun spot kirinite/gitd, chocolate brown canvas micarta, red pearl kirinite, white Pearl Kirinite, red linen micarta, olive drab canvas micarta/ green gitd, textured g-10, black/red linen micarta.

Probably make about 8-10 more and pick up some mules other than the PD#1 and PMA11's. Thought I'd share...
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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Mom3ntuM
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Re: Show your Mule

#1188

Post by Mom3ntuM »

Very Nice Lego, that red Pearl kirinite really pops, and is by far the most appealing to me.
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Show your Mule

#1189

Post by legOFwhat? »

Here is one I just finished for my son. PD#1 and Raffir spalted beech with dragon pin. He has a thing for dragons and I purchased this 3 headed dragon in Bangkok Thailand a few years ago, so I found a 1/4" dragon pin and thought it would fit in perfect.

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This is my 1st pinned knife attempt and it got a little scary with the 5 min epoxy :eek:
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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Xplorer
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Re: Show your Mule

#1190

Post by Xplorer »

5 minute epoxy = STRESS! :eek: :D . Good job getting it together in time. The handle looks beautiful!

CK
:spyder: Spyderco fan and collector since 1991. :spyder:
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
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standy99
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Re: Show your Mule

#1191

Post by standy99 »

C201D9F2-F5B8-4A02-ABBB-3784F1C3EA99.jpeg
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Show your Mule

#1192

Post by legOFwhat? »

Love that sheath! Handle too!
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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any longer
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Re: Show your Mule

#1193

Post by any longer »

Thanks for sharing
SpyderGrill
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Re: Show your Mule

#1194

Post by SpyderGrill »

Im hoping to get my first Mule in Spy27,,,,,,will be watching,,,,
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standy99
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Re: Show your Mule

#1195

Post by standy99 »

legOFwhat? wrote:
Fri Jun 12, 2020 6:01 am
Love that sheath! Handle too!
Thanks (Finally worked out how to add slightly better pictures)
Image
Image
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Show your Mule

#1196

Post by legOFwhat? »

standy99 wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:53 am
Thanks (Finally worked out how to add slightly better pictures)
Looking good! Really like the mosaic pin location too!
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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standy99
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Re: Show your Mule

#1197

Post by standy99 »

legOFwhat? wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:17 am
standy99 wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:53 am
Thanks (Finally worked out how to add slightly better pictures)
Looking good! Really like the mosaic pin location too!
Few of your Spare scales I would like to pinch to use on another PD1 ;)
I kind of love how you have left most of yours interchangeable....
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Show your Mule

#1198

Post by legOFwhat? »

standy99 wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:25 am
Few of your Spare scales I would like to pinch to use on another PD1 ;)
I kind of love how you have left most of yours interchangeable....
Having them interchangeable has really helped me find what I like and don't about shape, material and appearance. There is also an amount of insecurity on my part, in that if I mess up at least the knife can be reused with less work. That was my thinking in the beginning while just learning, but I've grown to really like the fact that I can maintain under the scales.

I didn't realize, with heavy use, how much sweat and water would wick underneath especially on a few PMA11's.
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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standy99
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Re: Show your Mule

#1199

Post by standy99 »

legOFwhat? wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 11:20 am
standy99 wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:25 am
Few of your Spare scales I would like to pinch to use on another PD1 ;)
I kind of love how you have left most of yours interchangeable....

I didn't realize, with heavy use, how much sweat and water would wick underneath especially on a few PMA11's.
Have used a thin layer of felt sprayed to damp with Inox (food grade) Placed under the scales stops most of the wicking effect.
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
autoxer
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Re: Show your Mule

#1200

Post by autoxer »

This has become one of my favorite threads - quite a lot of skill and amazing work going on here.
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