Ingeniouse post - im glad its not just me that ends up with rigs that i wouldnt really want to show - to 'normal' people that is ;-)
Following a couple of points raised there though - knife kits - really dont buy them you can get all the pieces individually much better and choose the shape of the knife and then will remember where the wood came from etc etc the finished product will be much more meaningfull to you. Its also rather easy and having the kit i cant imagine would help much.
For removing material from the handle i always used to use a bast#rd file, but have recently tried using dreadnaught files which leave a much nicer finish. Both bits of kit are really very cheap. Although you can just use a knife - its a bit tricky if you want to make inner curves and can take longer. Also if you have blovks with the grain running in different orientations you need to be a bit carefull you dont suddenly slip moving from cross grain to with the grain - or through the epoxy etc and ouch..
Following a couple of points raised there though - knife kits - really dont buy them you can get all the pieces individually much better and choose the shape of the knife and then will remember where the wood came from etc etc the finished product will be much more meaningfull to you. Its also rather easy and having the kit i cant imagine would help much.
For removing material from the handle i always used to use a bast#rd file, but have recently tried using dreadnaught files which leave a much nicer finish. Both bits of kit are really very cheap. Although you can just use a knife - its a bit tricky if you want to make inner curves and can take longer. Also if you have blovks with the grain running in different orientations you need to be a bit carefull you dont suddenly slip moving from cross grain to with the grain - or through the epoxy etc and ouch..