I was never going to buy this stuff because it looked funky to me, but another knifemaker said how much he likes it so I bought a bunch to try. Here's the first 2 small Utilities with it: The top one is Desert Camo and the bottom one is Tigerwood. They both look pretty neat! I finished the handles to 400 grit and then used Flitz Gun Stock Wax on 'em.
At least one of these will be for sale, along with the first small one I made with red/blue G10 handles. The wife claimed it but now decided she likes other colors better. Sheesh!
Valkman, I'm just curious - how many knives are you putting out a week/month now. I'm sure they are very labor intensive but you seem to have completed many different models.
Usually it's been pretty slow, I mean Loveless historically put out almost 400 a year and I'm lucky if I do 2 a week! Right now though I've turned it up a notch (from "Crawl" to "Slow") and have a bunch going. Making sheaths really slows us down - they would come out faster if I farmed that out, which I may yet do. The wife wants to make 'em but I need more production (and I can't yell at her or I won't get any!). :-o As I progress (I've been doing this 6 months now) I will get faster, and also it's really hot here so that limits the time I'm out in the garage. I expect that next month I'll be able to spend more time out there.
Yea, I have Kydex and a press. I just hate the stuff and won't let my guns touch it and I guess that carried over into knives. I think a fine knife should have leather, although Kydex is good on some stuff. I tried to make a Kydex sheath today in fact and failed miserably! I need to get a rivet press and practice some more, because I should be able to make them.
SO it doesn't work like a shrinky dink? I thought you'd just put the kydex and the knife in an oven and Presto! Sheath
I wish! I made "Knifemaker" over at USN and I'm so pumped about it, that after I shoved my greatly-expanded-head out into the garage I started grinding in amazing ways I'd never ground before. I could never grind with higher grit belts before, but I took these three all the way to 800 grit. I'm making three small ones and these will have a far better finish than before, maybe even mirror. One is for Melbo and one is Seacowboy's and one is extra. Haven't started yours yet, Teresa!
Kydex is pretty good stuff!... I like it better than leather for a lot of reasons... although you just can't beat leather for looks.... pretty easy to work with.... Valkman's knives would work pretty well with them based on their design... got some black, desert cammo and woodland camo oh and white..... hollow rivets I'm not any expert... but if anyone needs a sheath.... let me know..... got some lok teks small and large I can slap on too..... sorry no pics right now.....
Bear, where do you get them colors of Kydex? I need a rivet setter too, just haven't wanted to buy one.
