Protecting the Blade and Preparing the Scales
The first step in assembling a knife is to protect the blade from any potential damage. In this case, the creator uses painters tape to cover the blade, which will prevent it from getting damaged during the assembly process. It's also recommended to use a pair of scales that can be attached using double-sided tape or super glue. If you're using hybrid scales, make sure to align them correctly before attaching them together.
Attaching the Scales
Once the scales are prepared, it's time to attach them to the blade. The creator prefers to use super glue for this process, as it provides a strong bond between the two scales. However, if you're using hybrid scales, you can use double-sided tape instead. Make sure to get the alignment correct, as this will affect the overall fit and functionality of the knife.
Drilling the Pinholes
Now that the scales are attached, it's time to drill the pinholes for the pins. The creator uses a drill press to ensure accurate and precise drilling. It's essential to have a flat drill bench when doing this process, as it helps with the fit-up at the end. Once the first pinhole is drilled, the creator puts the brass pin back in and aligns the back hole before taking it out.
Roughing Out the Scale Outline
With all three pinholes aligned, it's time to rough out the scale outline. The creator uses a file or sandpaper to shape the scales to fit perfectly onto the handle. This is also an opportunity to adjust the length of the 2 by 72 and make any necessary adjustments to the bolster transition.
Swapping Out Belts for Cleaning
Before gluing up the handles, it's essential to clean and prepare everything thoroughly. The creator uses finer belts to clean up the transition and remove any excess material. This is also an opportunity to swap out old belts with new ones and ensure a smooth fit.
Glueing Up the Handles
Now that everything is prepared, it's time to glue up the handles. The creator prefers to use the West System G-Flex, which is a 24-hour cure. It's essential to apply a small amount of glue to avoid overloading the handle. The creator also recommends doing a dry test fit-up before applying any glue to ensure everything fits perfectly.
Cleaning and Pressurizing the Handles
After gluing up the handles, it's crucial to clean them thoroughly using wax and grease remover. This ensures that the handles are free from any debris or excess material. The creator also emphasizes the importance of keeping even pressure when working with the handles, as excessive pressure can cause unevenness.
Assembling the Knife
With everything prepared and cleaned, it's time to assemble the knife. The creator uses light taps to secure the handle onto the blade, ensuring a precise fit. This is the final step in assembling the knife, and the result should be a functional and well-crafted knife that meets your needs.
The Best Approach
While the creator has found this approach to work for them, it's essential to note that there may be better ways to assemble a knife. The key is to find an approach that works for you and your specific needs. The creator invites feedback and recommendations from readers, so don't hesitate to reach out if you have any suggestions or ideas.
Conclusion
Assembling a knife requires patience, attention to detail, and the right tools. By following these steps and using the recommended materials, you can create a functional and well-crafted knife that meets your needs. Remember to always follow safety guidelines and take your time when working with sharp objects, as accidents can happen if you're not careful.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enfirst thing you want to do is protect the blade we're just using some painters tape for this get yourself a pair of scales any scales you can use double sided tape for this but i prefer to use super glue all you're doing here is just using the super glue to glue the two scales together if you're using hybrid scales make sure you get the alignment correct you can use double-sided tape for this but i prefer the glue deeper your pins is it always a good idea now that you have the scales glued together it is simple as putting your first pinhole in what this will do is it will align your scale so make sure you have the knife sitting exactly where you want it to sit on the scales so i just start the pinhole now i'll be putting it all the way through and then test fitting it just make sure that your drill bench is always flat when you do this it always helps with a fit up at the end now that the first pin hole is in i'll put the brass brass pin back in and then align the back hole and take it out just to finish off the hole i'll be putting the pin back in and then just making sure the scales fit back onto the handle properly and as you can see it's perfect now i'll just be drilling the last hole now just a note on this this isn't a very powerful drill it's just a cheap railroad stand drill so i'm not using any sort of clamps and just remember don't do this with any sharp things because it can catch and flick back into now that you have all your three holes aligned i just rough out the scale outline and i'm just going to take off a bit on the 2 by 72 and put the front of bolster transition in here this part isn't completely necessary the only necessary part is to do the bolster transition that is the most important part because you cannot do that after the blade is glued i swap out for finer belts to clean up the transition a little bit because you can't sand this as well when it's on the blade you're ready to start the transition to gluing up i just pry the very gently pry the glue apart and then i'll clean them up on a high grip belt and just remember to keep the even pressure you don't want to eat into any corners because it will cause it to sit uneven when you do glue up on your handles wax and grease remover is always important to prep your back your scales and for the knife blade this part is mandatory always do it we like to use the west system g-flex it is a 24-hour cure but it is really nice i always like to do a dry test fit up before i do any gluing and i like to have everything ready and nice and clean bench just so it avoids any hiccups you don't need to go overboard with the glue just a nice even coating this isn't also necessary but i do dip the pins in the glue before i put it into the holes not necessary but i do it anyway now i'm putting the knife onto the blade these are only very light taps you shouldn't need to be hammering away here if you've done the drilling properly and just the final part of the fit up just slight tapping you can see it just goes in perfectly perfectly lined this is the best way i've found to put on full tank scales if you have well the best way i find may not be there may be better ways but if you like it let me know i have any recommendations let me know like and subscribe if you don't try to make the video as short as possible and show you the exact way we do it and don't forget to clean the bolsters youfirst thing you want to do is protect the blade we're just using some painters tape for this get yourself a pair of scales any scales you can use double sided tape for this but i prefer to use super glue all you're doing here is just using the super glue to glue the two scales together if you're using hybrid scales make sure you get the alignment correct you can use double-sided tape for this but i prefer the glue deeper your pins is it always a good idea now that you have the scales glued together it is simple as putting your first pinhole in what this will do is it will align your scale so make sure you have the knife sitting exactly where you want it to sit on the scales so i just start the pinhole now i'll be putting it all the way through and then test fitting it just make sure that your drill bench is always flat when you do this it always helps with a fit up at the end now that the first pin hole is in i'll put the brass brass pin back in and then align the back hole and take it out just to finish off the hole i'll be putting the pin back in and then just making sure the scales fit back onto the handle properly and as you can see it's perfect now i'll just be drilling the last hole now just a note on this this isn't a very powerful drill it's just a cheap railroad stand drill so i'm not using any sort of clamps and just remember don't do this with any sharp things because it can catch and flick back into now that you have all your three holes aligned i just rough out the scale outline and i'm just going to take off a bit on the 2 by 72 and put the front of bolster transition in here this part isn't completely necessary the only necessary part is to do the bolster transition that is the most important part because you cannot do that after the blade is glued i swap out for finer belts to clean up the transition a little bit because you can't sand this as well when it's on the blade you're ready to start the transition to gluing up i just pry the very gently pry the glue apart and then i'll clean them up on a high grip belt and just remember to keep the even pressure you don't want to eat into any corners because it will cause it to sit uneven when you do glue up on your handles wax and grease remover is always important to prep your back your scales and for the knife blade this part is mandatory always do it we like to use the west system g-flex it is a 24-hour cure but it is really nice i always like to do a dry test fit up before i do any gluing and i like to have everything ready and nice and clean bench just so it avoids any hiccups you don't need to go overboard with the glue just a nice even coating this isn't also necessary but i do dip the pins in the glue before i put it into the holes not necessary but i do it anyway now i'm putting the knife onto the blade these are only very light taps you shouldn't need to be hammering away here if you've done the drilling properly and just the final part of the fit up just slight tapping you can see it just goes in perfectly perfectly lined this is the best way i've found to put on full tank scales if you have well the best way i find may not be there may be better ways but if you like it let me know i have any recommendations let me know like and subscribe if you don't try to make the video as short as possible and show you the exact way we do it and don't forget to clean the bolsters you\n"
