Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Pat B on February 22, 2013, 11:31:28 am

Title: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: Pat B on February 22, 2013, 11:31:28 am
I'm making a few small knives from some blades Keenan cut out for me. I wanted to haft these two blades to cholla handles but I'm not sure how or what is the best way to do so. Any suggestions?
Here is what I'll be working with...
Title: Re: Help with Jolla knife handle
Post by: bowtarist on February 22, 2013, 12:13:08 pm
I've never worked w/ "jolla" before, but those are some cool looking blades.  On the flitknapping page, guys post regularlly w/ that type of handle.  Epoxy filled, sinew wrapped and add a bone, horn, or osage butt cap and those babes will be awesome.  Can't wait to see the finished product!  Man, are those this years leaves already?  Look how green it is; I usually love winter, but can't wait for spring this year it's all icy here today. dpg
Title: Re: Help with Jolla knife handle
Post by: Pat B on February 22, 2013, 02:37:00 pm
Thanks, I'll post on the Knapping thread.
  The leaves are evergreen. Not spring here yet.  ;)
Title: Re: Help with Jolla knife handle
Post by: vinemaplebows on February 22, 2013, 02:41:18 pm
Pat,

           I would start by beveling the edge down tward the blade, choose your wrapping sinew..ect.  The top piece of Cholla I have used antler burr as a end cap, or a wood that is to to your liking. Wish I still had pics of the one I did some yrs back, but don't any more.
Title: Re: Help with Jolla knife handle
Post by: YosemiteBen on February 22, 2013, 04:58:49 pm
Bubby's son did one I think. Wrapped the handle in saran wrap and then mixed the epoxy and poured it in then sanded the outside. I saw another post besides that one somewhere in here.
Title: Re: Help with Jolla knife handle
Post by: bubby on February 22, 2013, 06:36:55 pm
pat, taper the cholla to the blade till you like the look's and feel, if you have some stretch wrap wrap it tight but so you can still get the blade in, take some 2 part epoxy and fill it up, you can add some food color to the epoxy to get the color you want, then set it upright in a bucket of sand and set the blade, you can also wrap with saran wrap and tape it on if you don't have stretch wrap, then when it's all setup unwrap it and you will have to do some detail sanding to clean it up, comes out really nice, Bub
Title: Re: Help with Jolla knife handle
Post by: bubby on February 22, 2013, 06:40:19 pm
here's a link to one that ended up as a do a long http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,35762.15.html
Title: Re: Help with Jolla knife handle
Post by: Pat B on February 23, 2013, 12:39:16 am
Thanks Bubby. That is what I was looking for. I guess I should thank George.  ;)
 I was planning on shapeing the cholla where it joins the blade for a smooth transition and adding an end cap. I just cut this piece of cholla in half so I'd have a handle for each blade. I need to do some fitting of the blade to the handle too.
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle
Post by: Pat B on February 23, 2013, 12:41:52 am
Man, I hate photobucket!!!  >:(
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle
Post by: osage outlaw on February 24, 2013, 03:20:37 am
Pat, I was browsing through the build-a-long pages and found this Cholla How-To from El Destructo

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,13252.0.html

Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle
Post by: Pat B on February 24, 2013, 06:24:05 pm
I should have guessed. I got the cholla from Mike.  ;)  I'd haft a stone blade the way Mike does but for a metal blade I think epoxy is the way I'll go. Thanks fot the input everyone.
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle
Post by: lowell on February 24, 2013, 09:20:25 pm
Pat....enjoying this thread!!!   Thanks!! 8)

 I have had some cholla in my gun closet since we took a trip to Arizona last April.  Now I am starting to make a knife also. 

  I have it shaped and have an end cap on it but have to come up with a blade yet.  Hoping it ends up to be a neck knife!!
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle
Post by: Pat B on March 02, 2013, 11:37:50 am
Here is where we are today. Unfortunately Photobucket deleted the original pics so I will post the before and after here.
Before...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/Jollaknife_zps9475281e.jpg)
  I used 2 mothods for hafting the blades to the cholla handles. I used JBWeld for both.
 On one I use the JB Weld like pine pitch and just put some down inside the handle and set the blade in that. I like the results of this method better because it looks more rustic and more fitting for the cholla handle but more tedious because I had to hold the knife until the JBWeld set enough so the JBWeld wouldn't run out.
  The second one I wrapped saran wrap around the handle, poured the JBWeld in the handle until it wouldn't hold any more then set the blade in that. I then stood it in a small tub of sand so it stayed upright until the JBWeld was cured. After removing the saran wrap I sanded the handle  to clean up the excess JBWeld for a more finished looking handle.
  Before I did any hafting I tapered the front end of the cholla so it made an easier transition to the blade and added an osage end cap to both and covered another opening in one handle with a small piece of unknown wood.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/chollaknives001_zps0509f3d9.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/chollaknives003_zps1a87960d.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/chollaknives002_zps5dae760c.jpg)
  Anyway, here are the two knives with handles attached and a Tru-Oil finish.
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: Adam on March 02, 2013, 11:43:38 am
Those turned out great Pat!
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: osage outlaw on March 02, 2013, 05:26:39 pm
Nice job on those Pat.
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: bubby on March 03, 2013, 12:03:59 am
nice job Pat, both came out great, Bub
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: Pat B on March 03, 2013, 12:21:18 am
Thanks guys. It was a fun project. I will be doing more.  ;)
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: Gus on March 03, 2013, 12:22:37 am
Yes Sir!
Like the look of Those...

-gus
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: vinemaplebows on March 03, 2013, 01:53:55 am
First time using JB WELD for this Pat? Nice work. :)
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: sadiejane on March 03, 2013, 08:11:29 am
pat-those came out real nice. how longs the blade? and handle?
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: Pat B on March 03, 2013, 10:17:58 am
Sadie, the blades are 2 3/8"x1 1/4" and the knife is 5 1/4" oa.
  VMB, I have used JBWeld before. I built up a handle area on a few bows years ago and onetime  many years ago repaired a V-8 marine engine when a numb-nut(not me  ;D ) tightened down a long head bolt in the hole for a short head bolt.  ::)  It worked very well in all those situations.
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: vinemaplebows on March 03, 2013, 11:28:32 pm
Yes, JB is good stuff think it has good applications for splicing since it will be a rigid joint, don't think it would be good for bendables.,
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: cracker on March 04, 2013, 06:39:06 am
looks good Pat which one is mine?
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: Pat B on March 05, 2013, 12:16:20 am
Take your pic, Ronnie!  ;)
Title: Re: Help with cholla knife handle (finished)
Post by: cracker on March 05, 2013, 09:21:48 am
I like em both Pat you really did a bang up job. Ron