Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
I found this 'how to' video for hidden pins on Youtube: https://youtu.be/47NG-8vkD5I
I've only done one hidden pin handle, and I wasn't happy with it. Maybe I need to revisit it.
I've only done one hidden pin handle, and I wasn't happy with it. Maybe I need to revisit it.
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Wow, those GITD pins look brilliant. Really nice contrast!legOFwhat? wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:33 amI love using liners just for contrast and appearance, sometimes just to make a mule match a folder.
Here are some I've done in GITD.
- Al
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Thanks for sharing I’m going to enjoy watching that on my lunch break.TomAiello wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 3:31 pmI found this 'how to' video for hidden pins on Youtube: https://youtu.be/47NG-8vkD5I
I've only done one hidden pin handle, and I wasn't happy with it. Maybe I need to revisit it.
- Al
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Thanks for the detailed explanation I have access to a pretty decent machine shop and wood shop at work along with my engine porting tools, so I reckon this might be the next project on the list. I’m making some brass pinned micarta scales with heavy sculpting at the moment, but work has ground to a halt as I’ve been recovering from a virus and sleeping most of my free time away looking forward to giving this a try on one of the new mules that are due soon.RustyIron wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 3:11 pm
I used locating dowels, as you might use for aligning machine parts, such as transmission cases on an automobile. A screw with the head cut off would work just fine, perhaps better. Get some stainless screws and chop them off so they're shorter than the thickness of the blade plus the intended thickness of your scales.
Since the scales are not yet finished to size, it's easy to drill them perfectly. Using the Mule blade to locate where you're going to drill the holes in the scales, drill the first one, but not very deep. The hole needs to be shallower than the finished thickness of the scale. Extra depth doesn't strengthen it substantially. You don't want to be finish sanding the outside of the scale, and break through to the hole that you drilled too deep. After the first hole is drilled, stick a dowel in it to hold the blade/scale together. Drill the second hole, then add another locating pin. Then drill the next hole. If I described it well, you'll see how easy it is. Then do the other scale.
Once your done drilling the locating holes, you can stick pins in the holes to hold the scales together, making it easier to finish the ricasso-sides symmetrically. Next step is gluing it all together. I've been using Loctite AA 326. I don't have a lot of experience with this product, but it intrigues me so I've been experimenting with it. My expectation is that the blade will rust into the ground before the epoxy fails.
Now you have a knife blade with big clunky scales that don't fit. I've found a hand rasp to be pretty good for taking off a lot of wood quickly. A disc sander is great for bringing the sides down to size. When the fit is getting closer, I use a rotary rasp or rotary file chucked up in my mill. A drill press would also work fine. Your high school shop teacher might blow his stack, but we're not in high school. Be careful not to jam your hand into a spinning tool. Try to hold the blade in a way that if you fail miserably, it doesn't fling around and hit you edge-first. It's also a good idea to tape up the edge while working on it. You can run the rotary file/grindstone right up to the metal. You'll feel it, so you won't be taking off any metal, but your wood will be finished exactly to fit the blade. After you get the shape where you want it, finish it up with hand tools.
The stuff I'm using is tabebuia. It's also described as an "ironwood." It's fun to work with.
Tembusu and Tabebuia sound like they might be cut from the same cloth! Tembusu certainly doesn’t reward blunt tools (although it often causes them).
Have a great day
- Al
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
- legOFwhat?
- Member
- Posts: 3139
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:58 am
- Location: Kentucky; Earth
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Thank you, btw, those are actually cf tubes filled with GITD powder mixed with epoxy. https://usaknifemaker.com/glow-powder-1oz-green.htmlJoviAl wrote:Wow, those GITD pins look brilliant. Really nice contrast!legOFwhat? wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:33 amI love using liners just for contrast and appearance, sometimes just to make a mule match a folder.
Here are some I've done in GITD.
Thank you Rusty!RustyIron wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 3:18 pmlegOFwhat? wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:33 amI love using liners just for contrast and appearance, sometimes just to make a mule match a folder.
Those are pretty.
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
MNOSD #0049
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
MNOSD #0049
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
legOFwhat? wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 6:42 amThank you, btw, those are actually cf tubes filled with GITD powder mixed with epoxy. https://usaknifemaker.com/glow-powder-1oz-green.htmlJoviAl wrote:Wow, those GITD pins look brilliant. Really nice contrast!legOFwhat? wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:33 amI love using liners just for contrast and appearance, sometimes just to make a mule match a folder.
Here are some I've done in GITD.
RustyIron wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 3:18 pmWhat a great website - how have I not come across it before?! I hope they ship to Singapore as I’d love to do some GITD epoxy mix inlays. Those filled CF tubes look very cool indeed,legOFwhat? wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:33 amI love using liners just for contrast and appearance, sometimes just to make a mule match a folder.
- Al
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
- legOFwhat?
- Member
- Posts: 3139
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:58 am
- Location: Kentucky; Earth
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
One of my favorite places for handle material. Jantz is another.
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
MNOSD #0049
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
MNOSD #0049
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
I’ve not been on there either. This has been an educational evening!legOFwhat? wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 9:28 amOne of my favorite places for handle material. Jantz is another.
- Al
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
Work: Jumpmaster 2
Home: DF2 K390 Wharncliffe/DF2 Salt H1 SE and K390 Police 4 LW SE/15V Shaman
Dream knives -
Chinook in Magnacut (any era)
Manix 2 XL Salt in Magnacut
A larger Rockjumper in Magnacut SE
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Another place I get materials is https://www.makermaterialsupply.com
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Just a thought. When we first made folders, we made them of stainless handles with no pins showing. There are custom makers, artists really, that use the pins/screws a part of the art aspect of the custom knife. And in reality, you guys are custom makers. We make the motor. You supply the rest, from simple aftermarket scales to making our own, and I must say, very beautiful handles and sheaths. I'm pleased to be able to supply the Mules to you.
sal
sal
- standy99
- Member
- Posts: 2213
- Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 11:07 am
- Location: Between Broome and Cairns somewhere
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Not forgetting PopsTomAiello wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:53 pmAnother place I get materials is https://www.makermaterialsupply.com
https://popsknife.supplies/collections/g10
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
I wonder if someone should write up a 'places to buy supplies' post and gather these all up in one thread in this forum?standy99 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 1:31 amNot forgetting PopsTomAiello wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:53 pmAnother place I get materials is https://www.makermaterialsupply.com
https://popsknife.supplies/collections/g10
- standy99
- Member
- Posts: 2213
- Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 11:07 am
- Location: Between Broome and Cairns somewhere
Re: Homemade Mule Scale Recommendations
Think it’s good to get new members to interact and ask in a thread then just having a resource sometimes.TomAiello wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:44 pmI wonder if someone should write up a 'places to buy supplies' post and gather these all up in one thread in this forum?standy99 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 1:31 amNot forgetting PopsTomAiello wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:53 pmAnother place I get materials is https://www.makermaterialsupply.com
https://popsknife.supplies/collections/g10
We are always happy to comment and it keeps our little Mule forum alive.
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.