Knife handle from denim and fiberglass resin

[stuartracing1]

Very nice....

[DLeRoyKing]

@stuartracing1

Thanks.

[AndreaGanora]

Good job and nice knife , my compliments

[DLeRoyKing]

@AndreaGanora

Thanks, I appreciate it. Take Care.

[gcboyallday]

what knife is that?

[DLeRoyKing]

@gcboyallday

It is a knife I made, I call it the MorDall (part Mora and part Randall). Here is a short(ish) video of of it just when I finished the blade.

Search for "Maybe a knife - 33 The End "

[gcboyallday]

@DLeRoyKing goodjob man, thats awesome, i love it :) what kind of steel??

[DLeRoyKing]

@gcboyallday

It was a billet of 5160. I've made a few from old pickup and car leaf springs too (reportedly 5160 steel in those older springs too).

[dericcormier38]

i too made denim micarta and like it, it came out soft to the touch which i kind of like but never considered the glue and polish at the end, man i have got to try that , my son and i are making 3 more batches tomorrow, i just hope ours will come out like yours, thats some nice work you did their, keep it up

[DLeRoyKing]

@dericcormier38

Thanks, I really like the knife and handle too. I used SuperGlue gel but I believe I'd use the non gel version next time. Take Care. Dave

[sbjennings99]

Cool Informational Video!!!

[DLeRoyKing]

@sbjennings99

I'm pleased you found it informational.  Take Care

[BrushCountryJamboree]

Try adding Wax Paper between the Denim and your Foil covered board

[DLeRoyKing]

@BrushCountryJamboree

I wasn't sure how hot the mix would get when it cured so I opted to leave the wax paper out of the process. Many folks use the wax paper method but I sometimes bump up against bad luck so no wax paper in these early trials. Take Care

[deptofmisc]

ah if i only had the buffer you do :( my dad has a workshop but its off limits i am 17 isnt that old enough for power tools? haha that looks GREAT in contrast with taht polish i love it! good work!

[DLeRoyKing]

@deptofmisc

Thanks. Power tools are nice but there's one thing they excel at and that is the ability to inflict considerable damage (to a project or flesh) in a short period of time (I think a bench grinder is the worst of the bunch). My father didn't care for me being around sharp or rapidly rotating power tools either, he knew I was prone to experimentation! Thanks for the comment. Take Care. Dave

[TedOfNod]

@DLeRoyKing nah bench grinders arent so bad, i accidentally touched a finger to mine and it just kinda knocked the finger back a few centimeters. . .Well maybe if i had deliberately pushed my finger into that wheel, i'd be a finger short of a full hand today. :D

[heyxilong]

Sir you are a genius...I was thinking of making scales for my bk2 but didnt want wood that wood soak up moisture and you have givin me the perfect material...I have black denim that would look great with a mirror polished bk2. Thanks again.

[DLeRoyKing]

@heyxilong

Thanks but I'm probably more igneous than genius. The denim polished up well once I sealed it with Super Glue (I used gel and that was probably the the less desired version). It shined up really well on a cloth wheel with white rouge. Black denim should be very nice, as you state, once high shined to bring out the contrasts. Take Care

[MrMycoo]

Congratulations!

You made "SOMETHING" from nothing. Just an old blue jeans, resin, and an IDEA!

EXCELLENT JOB!!!

[DLeRoyKing]

@MrMycoo Thanks I borrowed the idea but it was my old blue jeans... Take care. Dave

[StyrianPower]

very good idea with the jeans..and your knife looks really great with the new handle.

[DLeRoyKing]

@StyrianPower

Thanks. I've given it one layering of Super Glue which give the handle a slick texture and a shine, no longer a porous feel to the handle. I like it a great deal. Thanks again.

[survivalmike]

great job dude!.......really nice micarta! LOVE IT!

thx for sharing and showing my friend!

ATB from Austria

Mike

[DLeRoyKing]

@survivalmike

Mike; Thanks, my pleasure to put this video up.

Take Care

Dave



[EDINBURGSTAR]

Wow those look great.

[DLeRoyKing]

@EDINBURGSTAR

Thanks. They turned out better than I had hoped, sometimes I'm lucky like that. Take Care

[ArtistBlade1972]

That came out nice Dave! Tip: Use wax paper and totally wrap your bundle before clamping. You'll get better impregnation and it won't stick to everything. Also, it's very easy to pattern this material. Basically any pattern you can make in damascus you can make with this "micarta"...

[DLeRoyKing]

@ArtistBlade1972 Thanks, it shined up better than I expected but I went to 600 grit and didn't expect to go that far. I had some wax paper handy but I thought the fiberglass might get too hot during the cure for the stuff so I used the aluminum foil. I've seen some twisted patterns but the way it was prepared required a channel mold, I may make one to try it.

[ArtistBlade1972]

@DLeRoyKing Nah it doesn't get too hot for the wax paper, and it'll just peel right off afterwards. Twists, ladder, raindrop, W's etc are all really easy to do with that stuff... You'll like experimenting with it.

[DLeRoyKing]

@ArtistBlade1972

Evan. Thanks. I'm going to try a few more things and I'd venture I get a fine mess going somewhere before I'm done playing. Take care.

[nighthawkshaddow]

Looks very nice. Have fun with the knife and new handle

Daniel

[DLeRoyKing]

@nighthawkshaddow

Thanks. Take Care.

[aokspage]

That looks real nice. Great job.

[tlingetrich]

What a great idea, WOW!!!!! looks great Dave.,

[DLeRoyKing]

@tlingetrich Thanks. I'm really beginning to like the looks of the knife.

[steintanz]

What a good idea to recycle old jeans into handles! That's a really original approach, I'd say. Thanks for sharing, Tim

[DLeRoyKing]

@steintanz Tim: Thanks and you're welcome. I have other plans for the denim and fiberglass resin too, maybe a slingshot and possibly a sheath for my big chopper knife. Take Care. Dave

[Woodenarrows]

Great idea for handle material. I would bet the super glue finish really brings out the material. That's one heck of a heavy knife, plenty of spine.

[DLeRoyKing]

@Woodenarrows Thanks. I like the idea of getting rid of my old blue jeans and yet still having them around. I'm gong to try the Super Glue on a remnant first then maybe on the scales. The knife is pretty stout but the video aspect was 4:3 and made things appear a bit squashed in the horizontal plane. Take Care

[moparmanpete]

Thats a great looking handle Dave!

Thanks for sharing

Pete

[DLeRoyKing]

@moparmanpete Thanks, no problem. (I sort of like making the videos... I'm thinking of starting a dance routine edition or maybe a gourmet cooking series.... LOL)

[RDPproject]

I just had an idear mate. If your willing...I would like to make a nice leather sheath for that knife.

You can ask a number of people, i will need the knife for sizeing and

you WILL get the knife back....(i can supply names of people who can confirm my honesty as I have done this befor)

Rob

[DLeRoyKing]

@RDPproject

Rob. I really do appreciate the offer and would like to reserve a "rain check" if I could. I've made a few leather sheaths in the past (some good and some not too good) and figure to try my hand at making one for this knife so I can say "I made the whole thing!". I just got a "kitchen pass" to buy another shoulder of leather so I'll tackle this new sheath in maybe in a week or two... I'll keep you posted and thanks again for the offer. Dave

[RDPproject]

@DLeRoyKing

As Bart Simpson would say..."No problemo dude"

[DLeRoyKing]

@RDPproject Rob. Thanks.

[RDPproject]

Hi mate....I have known about this for a couple of years.

I found it on the web....but have never got around to making some.

I would love to...but still dont have a proper workshop.

Oh well....

Handles look great......

Rob.

[DLeRoyKing]

@RDPproject

I came across this on the web a few weeks ago but was a little slow in getting going too. Years ago I did some rifle stocks in glossing resin and recall they came out well so I figured to try fiberglass once again. I did this in my basement laundry room -> it had an odor but my wife is accustomed tome making odors ;-).

Thanks.

[1620416204]

That really came out great, I really like it. Thanks for showing this...............Tom

[DLeRoyKing]

@1620416204 Tom. Thanks, it is my pleasure.

[Waldhandwerk]

What a fantastic idea, Dave, great one. Raelly cool and good looking handle, wow. Happy Day and all the best for you and yours Sepp

[RDPproject]

@Waldhandwerk

Damm it!...you got here befor me...ha ha ha

[DLeRoyKing]

@Waldhandwerk

Sepp my friend, hope all is well with you and your family.

Thanks for the fine comments. This knife has been a fun project, lots of opportunities for me to documents some examples of how to and how not to do things. I believe I have the aspect a little squished in the rendering of the video as the knife got shorter and I lost a little weight. Take Care - be safe. Dave

[101boatbuilder]

1st comment!

good video

[DLeRoyKing]

@101boatbuilder  Thanks