Mule Team Tutorial

A place to share your experience with our Mule Team knives.
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CaptainBeaky
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#81

Post by CaptainBeaky »

JNewell wrote:Welcome to this thread and the forum.
Thank you, kind Sir :D
On the snip above, are you referring to the holes in the tang for pins/screws, or the hole for the lanyard at the rear top? That hole is .250 ID and matching tubing is readily available in stainless, titanium, brass and nickel silver. I don't particularly like the location and I'm guessing that is not your question. In terms of tubing that fits the holes for the pins/screws, I have not tried.
No, I don't like that location either ;) which is a shame as I have loads of 1/4" tubing and rod - I meant the small holes for pins and the larger holes like the one down at the butt.
Your work looks great, though I'd think (YMMV) that that many holes in the scales might weaken the scales (especially if natural wood; less of an issue with a synthetic like micarta, G10 or carbon fiber).

Knifekits.com has "hidden" fastners that fit the holes perfectly. They're typically ground/sanded flush with the scales.

Welcome again. :spyder:
Thank you again - this was my second Mule and the (counts quickly on fingers) 14th pair of scales I've done, so I'm getting slightly less cack-handed. My first Mule used Corby bolts, as the chap I bought the blade from had already opened out the small holes with a carbide drill - fortunately, as none of my drill bits would touch it :eek:

Quickbeam wrote:Rather than opening the holes out with a file I sand down the pin by mounting it in the chuck of a drill.

I also use carpet tape to fix the two blocks together, its very strong stuff, they don't move anywhere while I'm drilling.

Nick
That sounds like a better idea - sometimes even the 6.4mm drilled hole is a bit snug.
gaj999 wrote:Once I have two holes pinned, nothing is going to move, so I just drill the rest. I have a crappy drill press from Harbor Freight that I can stall while hanging onto the Mule, so I don't actually clamp it down. :eek: Not exactly proper procedure! And yes, I did it right, with a drill press vise, until I figured out that it was safe as long as I was careful. Now I just clamp the mule to the scales and let 'er rip.
:eek: :eek: I don't think I'd dare try that on my drill press - I'm already down one finger, so I don't think losing another would go down too well :rolleyes:

Now wondering about getting a few of the MT05s...
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JNewell
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#82

Post by JNewell »

"The Green and Pleasant Land" - Blake, right? I didn't know you guys had gone metric for things like fasteners. ;)
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CaptainBeaky
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#83

Post by CaptainBeaky »

Mr Blake it is ;) Closest thing to an English national anthem, and it's a great piece of music in it's own right...

We still do Metric and Imperial sizes in fasteners, steel stock, rope, wood, etc etc. It can be a bit confusing :rolleyes: I tend to do metalwork in metric and woodwork in inches, but not exclusively :D
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Monkeywrangler
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#84

Post by Monkeywrangler »

Can somebody PM me a list of folks in Texas who might be willing to make/mount a set of Micarta or G10 scales on the MT05 for me? I have some of the equipment necessary, but have never done this before, and am not equipped for G10 work. Personally I love the woodwork, but DH likes the synthetics...and for a potentially hard-use knife, I can see a reason to go synthetic.

Thanks!
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gaj999
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#85

Post by gaj999 »

I've been pretty happy with the dymondwood. Works like wood, flat and stable like plastic, no finishing required other than a quick run over the buffer. Looks good, too.

Gordon
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gaj999
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#86

Post by gaj999 »

OK, here's some pics, I hope. I love how the handle regrind came out on my 9Cr18Mo came out.

Gordon
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gaj999
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#87

Post by gaj999 »

Couple more pics. Thanks, Quickbeam.

Gordon
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Quickbeam
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#88

Post by Quickbeam »

Nice work, they both look great Gordon. I'm going to have to try a cord wrap soon.

Nick
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whkento
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#89

Post by whkento »

gaj999 wrote:Couple more pics. Thanks, Quickbeam.

Gordon
Interesting--that looks like accessory cord over para cord. Hadn't thought of that, but will try it out. Thanks for the pics. ;)
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Hector Castro
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#90

Post by Hector Castro »

Gordon,

Is that a rivet or solid piece of brass for your pins?

I really like the one with the 4 brass tubes. That is nice! I wondered what one would look like with all the large holes used. VERY Nice.
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gaj999
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#91

Post by gaj999 »

Hector,

The solid pins are 3/8" brass rod. The tubing on the pins that aren't solid is also 3/8".

The cord wrap is 3mm accessory cord over parachute cord that I removed the core from, so it would lay nice and flat. The parachute cord is flat wrapped.

Thanks, Gordon
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bluesmandan
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#92

Post by bluesmandan »

If I were to use screw in binding posts, such as those found in
http://www.mcmaster.com/#binding-posts/=palyhk

What kind would be the right size/type?
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jabba359
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#93

Post by jabba359 »

bluesmandan wrote:If I were to use screw in binding posts, such as those found in
http://www.mcmaster.com/#binding-posts/=palyhk

What kind would be the right size/type?
The small holes are 3/16", which is smaller than the minimum diameter offered by these posts. The large holes, however, are 3/8" which seems it would accommodate the 3/8" Socket Drive Binding Posts which have the same diameter. You need to make sure your scales are thick enough, however, as the minimum post length is 1/2" and then you need a little room to countersink if you want the heads to sit flush.

They seem awfully expensive however at $15.23 each. You can find 3/16" knife pivots (which work great for attaching scales) at various knife making vendors for around $2-3 each and if you want 3/8", you can get titanium ones for abut $12 each.
-Kyle

:bug-red
Latest arrivals: Lava Flow CF DLC Para2, Magnacut Mule, GITD Jester

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bluesmandan
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#94

Post by bluesmandan »

Please excuse my noob ignorance. Do you perhaps have a link or two to some specific products you could recommend? I've never made knife handles before, so I'm new to the lingo and don't know the best websites to find the products. I don't know what's good, or what's a good price...
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jabba359
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#95

Post by jabba359 »

bluesmandan wrote:Please excuse my noob ignorance. Do you perhaps have a link or two to some specific products you could recommend? I've never made knife handles before, so I'm new to the lingo and don't know the best websites to find the products. I don't know what's good, or what's a good price...
This is what I use on my Mules: http://usaknifemaker.com/folding-knife- ... lders.html
-Kyle

:bug-red
Latest arrivals: Lava Flow CF DLC Para2, Magnacut Mule, GITD Jester

http://www.spydiewiki.com
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bluesmandan
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#96

Post by bluesmandan »

jabba359 wrote:This is what I use on my Mules: http://usaknifemaker.com/folding-knife- ... lders.html
Nice. thanks. Looks like a good website for lots of resources.
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sal
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#97

Post by sal »

Hi Bluesmandan,

Welcome to our forum. Some very astute knife afi's visit here.

sal
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