Show your Mule

[enrico]

My Desert Mule ....



http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh18 ... C02000.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh18 ... C01999.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh18 ... C01993.jpg

C.

[demtek9]

Probably not as hard as the wood or micarta handles, but first time doing this took me a few hours.

[Marion David Poff]

Figured this thread could use a bump. Obviously not finished yet, carbon fiber in the background will soon be on the blade.


JUNK

I am very interested to see how yours turns out.

[GEAR_JUNKIE]

Thanks. Unfortunately I haven't had time to start the scales yet. Between school, homework, and soccer I haven't had much free time. Hopefully I can start on them tomorrow since there isn't any school.

JUNK

[Marion David Poff]

I just wrapped all my mules, just to try some different cord out, and get some images.....



I really like the 2mm cord of the second one down, I unwrapped all but the Strider Wrap'd one, and re-wrapped my ZDP-189 with the 2mm cord.

I am also working on a set of Micarta scales for my M4 Mule, but I am still working the hardware out.

[jabba359]

After hours and hours of sanding and experimenting with different finishes and application techniques (on leftover scraps), I finally managed to come up with the low-gloss, high contrast finish that I have been looking for. I sanded the stabilized redwood handles to 1500 grit, wiped on a thin layer of shellac with a cloth, let it dry, and then lightly sanded with 1500 grit again to cut down on the gloss. Overall I'm pretty happy with how this turned out (my first Mule scales) and am looking forward to dressing my ZDP Mule.

[jabba359]

And one more picture...

[DMgangl]

Demtek9,

That is very impressive.

[Marion David Poff]

After hours and hours of sanding and experimenting with different finishes and application techniques (on leftover scraps), I finally managed to come up with the low-gloss, high contrast finish that I have been looking for. I sanded the stabilized redwood handles to 1500 grit, wiped on a thin layer of shellac with a cloth, let it dry, and then lightly sanded with 1500 grit again to cut down on the gloss. Overall I'm pretty happy with how this turned out (my first Mule scales) and am looking forward to dressing my ZDP Mule.

That looks quite nice.

Marion

[DMgangl]

I have 2 S90V Mules right now. Both are wrapped the same way. Here is a crappy pic I took a second ago


DM

[GnifeGnut]

Nice work jabba359. I like that redwood burl.

[jabba359]

That looks quite nice.

Marion

Nice work jabba359. I like that redwood burl.

Thanks for the complements! And welcome to the forum GnifeGnut! I think you'll enjoy the community that we have here.

[Marion David Poff]

I have 2 S90V Mules right now. Both are wrapped the same way. Here is a crappy pic I took a second ago


DM

I like that.

Where does one find instructions on how to do that wrap?

Marion

[DMgangl]

I wrapped it like a Solomon Bar just like the cord propping it up.

First I did a simple wrap. Similar to the way you did the wrap on the second and third mules you posted. The with the blade facing away from you wrap the handle exactly like a solomon bar for the outer layer. You have to have the blade face away from you so the knot area on the sides goes towards the back of the handle and fills your palm.

I did it for 2 reasons. One I have fat hands and it fills my hand very well. Second this is my camping knife and if for some reason I need some paracord in a hurry I can peel of the outer layer and still have a wrapped handle. I didn't gut any of the paracord.

Hope this helps.

Adam

[Marion David Poff]

Thank you.

I remember seeing instructions on how to do that online...

A guy wrapped his hard case Pelican handle like that.

Anyone else seen that how to?

Marion

[Hector Castro]

Do you guys make the final shape of your handles before you epoxy them on? If not, how close are you to final shape before you attach them? i am thinking that the closer you can get to final shape before assembly the better. Also the closer you can get to final length on the pins or sleeves the better?

[FLYcrash]

Hi Hector,

Yes, the closer you can get the better, but cutting it close means you have to be very confident of your tolerances. I think some people give themselves a healthy margin of error even if they have very good hands.

Here's a pic of my S90V Mule in a pair of old jeans. I took step-by-step pictures which I may post in a new thread at some point, but that's mostly as an advertisement for Joel Bolden on britishblades and Quickbeam here, whose tutorials taught me what I needed to know. :)

Actually, on this knife, I cut it too close on one edge and had to sand the S90V down almost a millimeter to match the scales in one spot. Sanding S90V is just as hard as it sounds. :o

[DMgangl]

I decided to re-wrap my mule to day. Not my best work but it is very fat and fills the hand. The pic also includes the handle of my axe.



DM

[Hector Castro]

I was thinking of using my router and a template bit with a bearing to make scales. I would mount a thick block of wood to one side of the mule to make a nice fitting blank/pattern to work off of. Cut it out on the bandsaw so it is close, then sand it the rest of the way,to match the handle.

Then I could just use this on the router table with the template bit to cut all my material to shape. I purchased 5 of the current mules to play with. I am and advid wood worker, so I think this knife project is right up my alley!

Hi Hector,

Yes, the closer you can get the better, but cutting it close means you have to be very confident of your tolerances. I think some people give themselves a healthy margin of error even if they have very good hands.

Here's a pic of my S90V Mule in a pair of old jeans. I took step-by-step pictures which I may post in a new thread at some point, but that's mostly as an advertisement for Joel Bolden on britishblades and Quickbeam here, whose tutorials taught me what I needed to know. :)

Actually, on this knife, I cut it too close on one edge and had to sand the S90V down almost a millimeter to match the scales in one spot. Sanding S90V is just as hard as it sounds. :o

[JohnAPA]

Probably not as hard as the wood or micarta handles, but first time doing this took me a few hours.

That is sweet. Can you describe the materials and if you used a tutorial. I would like to try that style, it looks "Japanese fighting blade."