Rehandling a Mora, once again...

[Draven]

OK, this really is getting to the point of ridiculous, so I do apologise...
Basically, my main problem with the last handle I made was its shape. It felt great for a while, but didn't so much later... it was too fat. I had replaced a handle I found too small with a handle I found too big...
Well anyway, by then I had become rather sick of the sight of it. There was a major mess-up with the drill which didn't look too pretty anyway, and for some reason the whole thing started to annoy me, so it's in a drawer now.
I decided to make a new handle that wouldn't even get the opportunity to be too fat... drew a rough shape onto some pine (22mm thick) and hacked it out with files and a knife. Did the rough shaping with a knife and then sanded it smooth. Applied some linseed oil and then fire hardened it (specifically so that the oil would both sink in more and burn a bit)... I quite liked it, even though it was a bit boring. I drilled four pilot holes for the tang, and then heated the end of the tang to a cherry-red. Pushed it into the wood and it burned itself a nice hole
Used thin wood wedges so far to hold the blade in, and it's holding up surprisingly well with woodcarving and such. I'm really just waiting for the blade to come out so I can epoxy it in, because I can't seem to pull it out...
Anyhoo, today I figured I'd be adventurous and carve something into the handle. And settled on runes...
Found a website that listed the runic alphabet (Futhark) and just picked out my name... carved it in with a craft knife, and then painted in the letters with black linseed oil based paint. Theeen I took the blowtorch to it again and burned it a bit more to get the handle darker near the top and bottom of the handle... also showed some pretty nice patterns from the grain, I guess it was because it burned quickly.
Anyways, here we are folks:

Brightened the image so that it would show up better, it's really a bit more orangey than that
Opinions, criticism, whatever, just spit it out
Cheers folks!

 

[Seagull]

Hey ho, Draven.

A few comments all well intended.

First thing, if Ive read this right, this is the handle that replaces one you had previously fitted and found too fat?...
Its either a very short Mora, or you are gifted with mitts the size of Sundays roast.

But, just assuming its a 4 incher, it is still a very very clonky handle.

Anyway, while doing Moras, myself, I learned this.....They dont like their tangs used as hot gouges.....If you do so, it effects the temper aaaand, as youve just found out, they usually get stuck. So, in removing it, you either cut yourself or bu88er up the handle, sometimes both.

I found it much better to use a red hot flat kebab skewer, to finalise the drilled hole and it was easy peasey.
I wasnt happy at the idea of using epoxy direct on to the burned bit, so used the same kebab skewer with rough glasspaer, to scour it all away, and it worked.

I actually went the full handle length with the hole, and utilised the original small circlip ( you see, I actually stripped down the original handle) to centre the tang, the full length hole cleared up the niggles I had had, with my first attempt, about getting sufficient epoxy staying in and the blade, from creeping out.... if you get my drift.

I,m dothering here, due to lack of grub...apolls.

You dont mention any plans to use a bolster to cover up the outboard end of the hole , where it meets the full width of the blade, ; its much tidier than just having dried epoxy in plain veiw.

However, when all is said and done, the fact is, that to get the best out of ones own endeavours, you have gotta practise and reveiw ....and if youre happy with that, then , thats all that really matters.......

I may just get back to you for some more, after re-nourishment.


Ceeg

 

[Seagull]

Due to lack of brain food, I,ve spouted off, without clarifying what it was that you began with....Ive just assumed it was a stick tang job

Fer Chrissakes get a grip, Ceeg!


Ceeg

 

[OldJimbo]

That looks good. If you aren't going to use a bolster then recessing more of the blade into the handle will make things look better and stiffen the blade.

 

[Draven]

First thing, if Ive read this right, this is the handle that replaces one you had previously fitted and found too fat?...
Its either a very short Mora, or you are gifted with mitts the size of Sundays roast.

But, just assuming its a 4 incher, it is still a very very clonky handle.

lol yes, this is the second handle that I've fitted to it... the first was too fat.
And the blade is four inches, I do just have big hands It's actually a fair size smaller than the last handle... it's about the same width but quite a bit thinner.

Anyway, while doing Moras, myself, I learned this.....They dont like their tangs used as hot gouges.....If you do so, it effects the temper aaaand, as youve just found out, they usually get stuck. So, in removing it, you either cut yourself or bu88er up the handle, sometimes both.

I found it much better to use a red hot flat kebab skewer, to finalise the drilled hole and it was easy peasey.
I wasnt happy at the idea of using epoxy direct on to the burned bit, so used the same kebab skewer with rough glasspaer, to scour it all away, and it worked.

Cheers for the skewer idea, I'll keep it in mind
I don't think I'm going to bother removing the handle. I do quite a bit of carving in my spare time, so I'll just wait and see if the blade comes out of its own accord... dunno whether it will though

You dont mention any plans to use a bolster to cover up the outboard end of the hole , where it meets the full width of the blade, ; its much tidier than just having dried epoxy in plain veiw.

I don't think I'll be adding any furniture to this... don't know why, it just doesn't seem right with the way the wood's turned out. If I ever get the urge to cut it up though, I'll stick in some buffalo horn on the top and bottom!

And for the record, I started with the half tang, right out of the clipper handle

That looks good. If you aren't going to use a bolster then recessing more of the blade into the handle will make things look better and stiffen the blade.

Cheers mate, if I ever get the blade out then I'll make a deeper hole in the handle before I glue it