How to install handles on a knife!!

[@Bushcraftnbaseball]

Thanks again Matt. It looks even better in person. Handles are comfortable as all get out. Im looking forward to getting this out for use

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Awesome to hear and thanks for checking out the video!

[@mikeonderko3555]

I haven’t done handles yet but have all the pieces. Great video for those of us who haven’t done handles.

[@bomaite1]

I like to clamp the two pieces together and refine that front edge a little more where it is going to meet the blade. I don't want to be doing any shaping later where I might accidently scratch the blade. Then I glue one scale on with 5-minute epoxy. When it is set, I drill the pin holes with the blank facing up. The blank is the guide, so it can't go wrong. Then I glue the other scale on. When it is set, I drill back through the other way. This makes it impossible to goof up the holes. I really like those g-10 pins you used. I did not know you could even get those.

[@tomruark1839]

Excellent teaching! Thank you so much for being so thorough.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you for watching!

[@roderickharvey1427]

I enjoyed the Chaos. Reminds me of working in my garage. Good Video

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!!

[@KennethRutledge-i3m]

Dude !!! Ya know , I’m glad I stopped for a minute to watch ,, I’ve been out of picture for a season,, other issues have taken my time , but I’m back in the grind so ta speak!! Haha!! Yea,, you always teach me sumthin when I watch !!! I didn’t know you could use mycarta pins for holders on the scales!!! That’s wild !! I’m gonna try it !! The contrast between the liners and pins is the ticket !! Appreciate your time ,, thank you!!!

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you for watching!

[@mds6387]

I'm about to do my first handle. Thank you for posting this excellent video. I learned a lot.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Awesome thanks for watching!!

[@TheLayla33]

Excellent explanation, nice and clean work.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!!!

[@ericargento4429]

Looks really good. Thanks for the thorough and complete information. Getting ready to put Scales on a Damascus blade.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Glad to help!

[@DavePerkins-v5k]

Great project. I'm just starting out myself and love these videos

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Awesome thank you!!!

[@ROE1300]

👍 Nice looking finished product. Good instructional video.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!

[@lobstersrs]

Almost identical to my glue up process, I tend to be a tad lazier with my pin material and cutting my scales to fit on the bandsaw, although that's often for spine filing fills. Thanks for sharing, I always like seeing other people's processes, helps me refine my own.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thanks for watching!

[@jhoward1973]

Great Instruction Matt. I think you do a great job and your process makes great sense.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Really appreciate that!!

[@michaeldequatro1012]

Thanks for the video. It looked great. I'm saving this video for when I'm ready to make my own.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Glad to help!

[@michaeldequatro1012]

This is the second time I'm watching this. I bought the knife, I bought the wood, but those pins that came with the knife aren't long enough. I don't know if I should get thinner wood, sand the wood that I have down, or get longer pins (I don't even know where to get those. Can you help? Thanks@@gentrycustomknives8008

[@uslanja]

WoW! Well done.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!!

[@foniksreader]

Well done! I'm just getting into knife making and this is a very helpful video!

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Awesome! Glad it helped!

[@Birdman884]

Nice work! Thanks for posting this.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you for watching!

[@tnekkc]

I learned somethings. I thought I had figured it all out, but this video showed the wax paper trick. I just did it with 5 min epoxy to stick Koa to the white G10. Works great. The drill press trick, I copied with sacrificial board in the mill vise. Works great.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Glad to help!

[@trainwon5699]

Thanks for sharing!! I’m starting on a Bushcraft knife tomorrow...a big help thanks

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Nice!! Good luck on the build!

[@ivaraarrestad4604]

I really liked this. Very informative for me, just about to start with my first knife. Thank you :-). OH! Loved the orange details!

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Awesome thank you for watching!

[@pmechanista6630]

Very cool! Came out good in the end 👍

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!

[@SugarMapleForge]

Saw your blued knife on knife making Facebook group! Good to find you have a channel! Awesome work!

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Awesome thank you for checking it out!!

[@altonbarbee8864]

Knife turned out beautiful, I have tried a couple of knife kits but haven't had the greatest results. Doing this with basic tools is most difficult.

[@ozarked2363]

It's doable, but tedious. A drill press is probably the most important tool for getting good scales. You can drill them with a hand drill, but you'll throw away a few sets of scales. I started with a few blanks from Jantz Supply. I screwed up several before I figured out the best process for me. Have no fear, you can always burn the scales off with a torch, just put the blade part in water so it doesn't get hot enough to change colors. My background was wood working so I love finding unique pieces of wood with good grain character for the scales. I do it as a hobby, not trying to create a side hustle or a full time job. I just glued up an 11" hunting knife with Wild Plum scales with an ivory G-10 liner this morning. I cut and milled the plum wood from our farm. I don't forge. I make my blades from old saw blades and files.

[@altonbarbee8864]

@@ozarked2363 I have recently purchased a small drill press, bandsaw and a 1x30 belt sander for my shop. Maybe I will get better results on my next one.

[@davidscadlock5569]

Thank you! Great presentation. Learned some tricks!

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Awesome, thank you for watching!!!

[@Kenn_Baker]

I bought my first forge yesterday, thank you for this. It was very educational. Is there a reason no one uses hardwood handles? I have tons of ash and thought I would use it.

[@american_patriot6218]

Inspired me to do my first knife handle replacement, thank you

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@phila1714]

Nice knife i literally just did the same orange liners with mahogany scales! It's a great knife but condors are on the soft side imo. I have several condors and love em but soft 1075. Cool video love your channel!👊

[@BourbonDrinker]

Turned out beautiful.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!! Fun project!

[@BourbonDrinker]

@@gentrycustomknives8008 I hadn’t thought about buying a blank and making a handle. Any blank makers you would recommend?

[@trainwon5699]

@@BourbonDrinker knifekits.com

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I have never used one so I unfortunately don’t have any recommendations for you! This one was from Amazon .

[@BourbonDrinker]

@@gentrycustomknives8008 I googled it and there are some American made blanks in all verities and price ranges. Thanks.

[@Thesteveb333]

As always great info

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you for watching!!! 😀😀

[@edwinmcnew4389]

That looks very nice,

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!

[@barnjob75]

FANTASTIC JOB MATT A+!

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!!

[@johna.9742]

Great video Matt. I plan to use walnut for my scales on a kitchen knife for a friend. You mention an oil finish. What type of oil finish are you talking about? Also, would you recommend oil for a walnut scale or something else? I thought of using brass pins, any recommendation in that respect?

[@Commoncents44]

Excellent learning video Matt. Some great tips there.👍

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!! 😀😀

[@papapita4713]

Good Job

[@gregdubois647]

What extra/different steps do you use for wood scales. My first knife will have teak handles.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Same process

[@ja_rew]

Hey man really loved the video! I was wondering what brand of belt sander do you have, looking into getting myself one and really liked yours!

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Kmg TX!

[@Jimgoodwin846]

Beautiful job Matt! I was a little anxious watching the part with the belt grinder with no tape over the cutting edge of the knife. Since this isn’t the first knife you have built…probably doesn’t need tape. The knife I’m going to build is a Damascus steel kitchen knife that has a razor edge. Question: do I drill both scales at the same time on my drill press? Thanks for this awesome video.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I drill them one at a time normally, but it’s totally personal preference! Good luck 👊

[@merleswanger5749]

Where do you get your Makita pins at ……. That’s and awesome knife with at orange inlay really set the handles off

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I believe maker material supply!

[@chrisp1598]

Have you every tried a slack belt on your grinder to knock the corners off and smooth it a little instead of using the dremel?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

No but I should!

[@dannydauphin1166]

Do you think micarta is better then a wooden handle? Beautiful work. Looks great thanks.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I really like how durable micarta is!

[@JohnAlanDay]

What type 2” sander/grinder do you suggest. Fairly new and dont want to spend $3,000

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

housemade.us/products/ultimate-bundle?srsltid=AfmBOor4gGUFKQCqwn2eC0IWFYyMCXYmpZJBONgoUTZ2N-twYu0xMtXE

[@dougepalmerchopchop]

Great video. Thanks. What speed do you run your 2x72 at for doing wood and micarta scales?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Around 20% power!

[@donniedale3522]

This is the second belt grinder I have seen like this. Have not found one like it anywhere. What kind is it, and where do you buy these. How long is the belt?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

beaumontmetalworks.com/product/kmg-tx/

[@donniedale3522]

@@gentrycustomknives8008 Thank you.

[@donniedale3522]

@@gentrycustomknives8008 Now that I have a clear picture of this I can build one with my own mods. I want at least a 6 inch wide belt. Got a large weld/fab shop, 21/2 ton lathe, mill, and lots of welders, metals formers etc. Work with a lot of Armour plate.

[@lenbloom338]

I'm just starting to do knife handles and would love to try Micarta. Do you still have some that I could buy to give it a try?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I have a few sets still !

[@lenbloom338]

@@gentrycustomknives8008 Great, what do I need to do to have some sent? Thank you for your chanel. You do an awesome job explaining the process.

[@lenbloom338]

Not sure if my last reply got to you. Do you have a set or two that I could buy?

[@jamesharmon3827]

​@@lenbloom338just Google micarta knife scales

[@beauplatt1924]

Great video, would love a some some of those scales. What’s the thickness of the g10 ?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you! Email me and I can hook you up with some of this micarta!

[@azcarteranderson]

Out of curiosity, have you tried waterlox for finishing? If so any thoughts? It seems like it be a lot more durable

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I never have 🤔 I’ll look into that

[@andrewfischer6055]

In house micarta? any chance you will do a video on your process?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

In house cut micarta! I picked up two GIANT blocks of industrial natural micarta a couple years ago that I have slowly been processing into scale material! A lot of work but such great material.

[@dudleymoe1]

@@gentrycustomknives8008 Would you mind sharing where you got your industrial block of micarta from?

[@themichiganangler4746]

@@dudleymoe1 I received that in trade from a customer a few years ago! Would love to find more!

[@Daniel.Liddicoat]

This is almost exactly what I need to do with my knife. It's a Casstrom Lars Falt knife blank and I'm fitting orange G10 liners, blue micarta and brass fittings for max visibility. The regular knife is black liners and curly birch. That's a bit too boring for me. The inside of the handle is skeletonized, I guess I'll just fill up the inside with epoxy. I don't want any water to sit inside the handles and rust the O2 steel.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

That’s a good call!

[@jrcouch5436]

Could I still get some scales

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Yea email me

[@DefectorOfFutureDays]

What do you oil the handle with for the finish?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Pelican paste wax!

[@bitsurfer0101]

What source(s) do you have for the G10 material?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Maker material supply

[@Canadaman4403]

What type of oil are you applying to the micarta scales?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I use paste wax now! Works great! Www.pelicanpaste.com. ( discount code gentry)

[@SugarMapleForge]

What do you do for ventilation in your shop? I want to work with micarta and normally have my garage door open but winter is almost here and can't do that anymore.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I use a vacuum to suck up the dust under my grinder

[@daveh777]

This guy doesn't care about safety whatsoever. Look what he does at the drill press!😅😅😅😂

[@SugarMapleForge]

@@daveh777 Lol I have a 16inch exhaust fan in my shop now. Works great

[@johndenver5029]

I just snort my micarta dust

[@markzerinskas1806]

Where do you get your 5/16 G10 tube from?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Maker material supply

[@johnnyguerra3754]

Do you ever buff out the handles?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Not with micarta

[@tomblount5635]

Where did you get the pins?

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Maker material supply

[@domknife-ind]

I do the finish sand paper on 5000 grit

[@joemagaro5690]

Funny you should say it drilled easy.. I have the same blank, and it wont hold an edge at all! Wondering if its a fake...

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Or just not heat treated how it should be! It was definitely on the softer side

[@johna.9742]

g\Guess I didn't wait for the end of the video; I see you said linseed oil. My bad.

[@garethwilkins-sr8gq]

Why is there always a u cut by the hilt of the knife

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

The sharpening choil?

[@milohenry1233]

CONdor

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

??

[@glenpaul3606]

I had my drill bit grab while drilling and it spun the knife into my hand. I almost lost my thumb and got several other deep cuts from it. Luckily I was not hit by the knife when it flew off the bit and went across the garage. I only drill with the work clamped or in a vise now. Just saying because saw you holding with your bare hand like I was. Be safe.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

I’ve heard of that happening!

[@glenpaul3606]

@@gentrycustomknives8008 Yes so had I but I got careless. Not worth the risk.

[@TheLayla33]

Excellent explanation, nice and clean work.

[@gentrycustomknives8008]

Thank you!