Fullscaler's Scales

A place to share your experience with our Mule Team knives.
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FullScaler
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Fullscaler's Scales

#1

Post by FullScaler »

I figured I would try out an ongoing thread to post up my Mule scales as I make them. Partly to just keep track of my projects in one place as well as discuss with and motivate others.

I don't have many fancy tools and I am in the middle of a move right now so my recent handles have been done with all basic hand tools.

Once I get my new shop set back up I will be working on some stone scales (jade, jasper, etc) as well as some multi media scale projects.
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FullScaler
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Re: Fullscaler's Scales

#2

Post by FullScaler »

MT28 in SPY27 steel with Ironwood scales, brass pins, and boiled linseed oil finish.

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Last edited by FullScaler on Sun Jun 13, 2021 5:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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FullScaler
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Re: Fullscaler's Scales

#3

Post by FullScaler »

MT31 in S45VN steel with Birdseye maple scales, brass pins, and boiled linseed oil finish.

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TomAiello
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Re: Fullscaler's Scales

#4

Post by TomAiello »

Those are really impressive. I'm honestly in awe of the handwork on the Birdseye maple. I can't imagine how patient you must be.
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Re: Fullscaler's Scales

#5

Post by FullScaler »

TomAiello wrote:
Sun Jun 13, 2021 5:51 pm
Those are really impressive. I'm honestly in awe of the handwork on the Birdseye maple. I can't imagine how patient you must be.
Thanks Tom!

I create a ton of different things and when you are used to carving, sanding, and polishing hard stone like jade, then a few hours filing and a few hours sanding wood scales around the fire doesn't really seem that long.

I'm going to take that maple up a couple more grits before I dunk her in the blo and can hardly wait to really see those colors and details pop.
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Bolster
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Re: Fullscaler's Scales

#6

Post by Bolster »

Strong work. Looking forward to seeing a stone handle too, but I am really digging on wood handles due to their natural beauty and light weight. I have yet to find a manmade material that can beat wood for strength/lo weight combo. I'll get around to micarta eventually, but...wood is so nice...it might be awhile.

I've been experimenting with BLO myself (having read Xplorer's posts) and have been amazed what starts to happen around the 7th (?) application. No stain needed for either walnut or cherry, the natural colors are vibrant. And with a nice grain pattern, the grain "moves" as you rotate the knife, almost an opalescence.

If you sand with >400 grit while the scales are still wet with BLO, the dust goes into the pores of the wood and then dries with the oil like a natural filler. Can get extremely smooth wood scales this way...doesn't obscure the natural grain patterns, either...try it...
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Re: Fullscaler's Scales

#7

Post by JRinFL »

Bolster wrote:
Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:58 am
Strong work. Looking forward to seeing a stone handle too, but I am really digging on wood handles due to their natural beauty and light weight. I have yet to find a manmade material that can beat wood for strength/lo weight combo. I'll get around to micarta eventually, but...wood is so nice...it might be awhile.

I've been experimenting with BLO myself (having read Xplorer's posts) and have been amazed what starts to happen around the 7th (?) application. No stain needed for either walnut or cherry, the natural colors are vibrant. And with a nice grain pattern, the grain "moves" as you rotate the knife, almost an opalescence.

If you sand with >400 grit while the scales are still wet with BLO, the dust goes into the pores of the wood and then dries with the oil like a natural filler. Can get extremely smooth wood scales this way...doesn't obscure the natural grain patterns, either...try it...
I think that is referred to a chatoyancy or chatoyance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatoyancy
https://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Chatoyance.html
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Xplorer
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Re: Fullscaler's Scales

#8

Post by Xplorer »

Really nice work!

And, wow... view from your workshop is a million dollar view!
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Bolster
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Re: Fullscaler's Scales

#9

Post by Bolster »

JRinFL wrote:
Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:40 am
I think that is referred to a chatoyancy or chatoyance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatoyancy
https://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Chatoyance.html

How cool is that! French for "Cat's-eyeness." Love words. This is a new one for me. Thanks!!!

I've noticed that (ahem) chatoyance seems to really show up in the later applications of BLO, and may not be noticeable in the early applications at all.
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