Help Contouring Mule Scales

[Rwb1500]

I'm constantly blown away by the level of craftsmanship some of you bring to scale construction, so I figured I'd ask the best.

How do you contour scales? What shape do you go for, and how to you arrive there? Is it all mental, an eyeballed guess?

I've got two flat slabs of wood on my Mule now and am struggling with where to go next.

Thanks all.

[gaj999]

After the glue sets, I rough cut close to the tang with a jigsaw and then go after the scales with a wood rasp and files. Periodically I'll wrap my mitt around it to see how it fits. When I like it, I finish it with decreasing grits of sandpaper and a trip to the buffing wheel.

Gordon

[Rwb1500]

After the glue sets, I rough cut close to the tang with a jigsaw and then go after the scales with a wood rasp and files. Periodically I'll wrap my mitt around it to see how it fits. When I like it, I finish it with decreasing grits of sandpaper and a trip to the buffing wheel.

Gordon

Thanks. That was going to be my general approach. I guess fit all depends on ones hand.

[jabba359]

I used a $3 scrap wood 2x4, traced out the mule handle, and then mocked up a few solid wood handles, contouring them and making ergonomic adjustments on each one. After four prototypes (when making my first Mule), I ended up with a shape that fit my hand very well. Then I just shaped the real scales/mule handle to match my mockup. The solid wood mockups also allow me to try some crazy ideas for extremely cheap, as I don't use the final wood until I've developed something I like.

[Rwb1500]

I used a $3 scrap wood 2x4, traced out the mule handle, and then mocked up a few solid wood handles, contouring them and making ergonomic adjustments on each one. After four prototypes (when making my first Mule), I ended up with a shape that fit my hand very well. Then I just shaped the real scales/mule handle to match my mockup. The solid wood mockups also allow me to try some crazy ideas for extremely cheap, as I don't use the final wood until I've developed something I like.

Very nice. Lol, maybe I should have thought about doing trial runs. Oh well, too late for that now! I'm going to try to get some more work done today, if the wife permits me. She's got a to do list as long as my... Military. Maybe some pics later.

[bdblue]

I have a small bench belt sander that I use for shaping knife scales. It works well enough but you have to be careful when doing complex 3-dimensional shapes or you will take off too much material from the wrong place. I have read that some people use various wood rasps and this makes sense because you can probably go slower and work more carefully. I have also been advised to use strips of sandpaper similar to how a person would use a long cloth to polish a leather shoe by putting one hand on each end of the cloth and pulling back and forth over the shoe.

Here are some in progress shots and finished shots of a different knife I did recently. For sanding wood against metal you need to use a hard material to back up your sandpaper such as a wood block or a wood dowel. Otherwise you will sand the wood faster than the metal and the edges of the metal will end up sticking up. Using the belt sander against the curved inside edges of the metal will leave a scalloped surface that is real hard to even up by hand so be careful with that.

Before beginning work on your scales you should tape up the knife edge very well. A sander can grab the blade out of your hand and throw it at your legs or feet, or at least fingertips.

[Brock O Lee]

My only one to date was all rasps, files and eyeballs. :)

I like the feel of hand-tools, because it gives me a bigger margin for error, as it doesn't remove too much material at a time.

I'll give the mock-ups a try for future projects...

[dsmegst]

I use files, and dowels of various sizes along with sandpaper to shape things the way I like. Then I use a handheld sander with various attachments to finish. Some of the attachments are good for getting into dips and rounding edges. Final finish is by hand.

[kadinh]

this was my 1st one i did. i just did mine by eye and used a 1x30 belt sander, various grits of sandpaper, and LOTS of elbow grease. it wasnt perfect, but it was pretty good IMO for my first try.

[hiredgun]

kadinh,

Nice work. I like it. Are you mosaic pins .375 and are those all nickel or is there brass in there too? I'd really like to know where you got those. Thanks.

[kadinh]

kadinh,

Nice work. I like it. Are you mosaic pins .375 and are those all nickel or is there brass in there too? I'd really like to know where you got those. Thanks.

i got them right here buddy

http://www.knifemaking.com/product-p/mp410.htm

[bdblue]

this was my 1st one i did. i just did mine by eye and used a 1x30 belt sander

I want one of those sanders. They are relatively inexpensive and I think they would be great for handles and scales. Plus you can read elsewhere that they are a good inexpensive solution for quick sharpening of knives when used with the right grit of belts.

[hiredgun]

i got them right here buddy

http://www.knifemaking.com/product-p/mp410.htm

thanks!

[bc]

Dremmel tool with sand "drums". Really fun to work with