Thread: Walnut Bengal

Looks great Gary. The red liners are a nice touch.

Xman,

The scales are on the chunky side, well the first ones were anyway. These latest ones are quite slim. Your point is noted and one that has not passed my attention.

I like the side profile of these and will be making some more that are similar profile to standard offerings. This is the thinest wood I've used so far and I'm happy with the strength of them and the flexibility, they curve easily given that they have three layers. I like this style as the insides will clean easily and the tang does not bind at the pivot point.

Experimenting in shapes, thickness etc teaches quite a bit and my processes are becoming more refined.

Hopefully they will all get better.

Thanks for your comments, it's feedback that helps.

Gary

I don't mean thick, but wide.

X

Xman, got ya now.

I'm going to make some finer scales about the same width as standard plastic scales probably modelled off a Henkels Twinworks etc...

I've just got some very nice grained cherry wood that I'm going to try this weekend and if they turn out perfect I will fit them to a 7/8 Friodur.

I'm refining all the time.

Gary

Gary

Great effort, I rather liked the red liner with the brass.

What about a set in stablised Rimu wood !!!

John

John,

Rimu is not too bad but I'm gonna redo a set in 3850yr old swamp kauri..watch this space.

Gary

Originally Posted by garythepenman

...3850yr old swamp kauri...

Ah yes, the Bronze Age. During the ancient Egyptian 12th Dynasty, the Middle Kingdom at the end of the reign of Pharaoh Sesostris III (AKA Senusret III). The Middle Helladic period, the time of the Ægean Civilisation of ancient Greece. Also during the time of the agrarian Xia Dynasty in China, sometimes called the first dynasty. Before the Mayan Empire even existed.

Since the Maori people used this timber for boat building, carving and housing one might wonder what seafaring barks your swamp kauri's cousin's may have graced, but since no peoples are known to have been on the islands until almost 3000 years later, it could only have been a great descendant of the wood you will use to gird that razor. Almost seems insignificant that that razor may only see a few generations of use.

Perspective is everything,

X

Very deep and meaningful Xman.

Just think what history has passed whilst this wood lay in a swamp. Empires have risen and fallen, kings dethroned etc...

Gary

Nice job Gary. I like the red spacer and brass liner. Nice wood and finish too. I thought you did not have any nice wood in your neck of the woods.

I think you are getting the mechanics down pat. Now you can experiment with the balance between the blade and the scales.

X is right you need to make the scales narrower by about 25%, and also a bit shorter. They should end where the wedge pin washer starts. Their current size dwarfs the blade.

Easy way to check the look is to make a mockup (cardboard or thick paper) before you shape the scales. Faster and less effort so you can try out a few shapes to see how they go with the blade.

You are making scales almost every day. You are really hooked on this aren't you?

Vlad,

your comments are correct, I'm going to ensure custom fits for sure. And yes, I'm hooked.

Gary