Triple-T Thursday #22 - Handle Shaping

In this Triple-T (tools, tips and talk) Thursday, I'll be demonstrating how to do handle shaping to get a beautiful handle that fits well in your hand.
Tools used in this video:
Surface Plate (6" x 18"): amzn.to/2MdzEfR
123 Blocks: amzn.to/3hyhFwl
Height Gauge: amzn.to/3hnqF7a
Digital Calipers: amzn.to/3aHSdD3
(These are Amazon Affiliate Links and this channel gets a commission with no cost to you)
Tyrell Knifeworks Instagram: / tyrellknifeworks
Tyrell Knifeworks Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/TyrellKnife...
Full List of Product Links:
General Tools
Wen Horizontal Bandsaw - amzn.to/3nS7Vzi
Wen Drill Press: amzn.to/2YkqfG1
Wen Portable Bandsaw: amzn.to/3aKJvDX
Titanium 200 Welder: amzn.to/3jkqNoQ
Bosch 4.5" Angle Grinder: amzn.to/36I2tbA
Propane Torch kit: amzn.to/3oT3JyF
5" Vice: amzn.to/34PvAsF
Vice for quench plates: amzn.to/3hlZd9M
Checkering/Jimping File: amzn.to/34L2SJa
Magnetic Plastic Vise Jaws: amzn.to/3aLL4lh
Metal Ruler pack: amzn.to/2WOkHmr
Equal Distance Tool - amzn.to/2JoMUgD
Epoxy Color Powder pack: amzn.to/3nXgtoC
Edge/Center finder: amzn.to/38E3vFJ
Magnetic Angle Meter: amzn.to/3aKLBUo
Blue Dykem: amzn.to/2WQ4k8Q
Center Drills: amzn.to/3mTn3ev
Cle-Line Drill bits: amzn.to/3mMpTSo
Countersink Drill bits: amzn.to/38DoecD
Light Box: amzn.to/3sFvOgh
Gas shock (10", 35lbs): amzn.to/3qM81JH
Nicholson Files: amzn.to/3dFLDyv
Nicholson 6" Files: amzn.to/3bnMJ0f
Nicholson Needle Files: amzn.to/3dGJS3Z
Carbide Burrs: amzn.to/2O2qjc8
Leatherworking
Thread spacing tool: amzn.to/3psKcpw
Springfield Leather 13ft Double Shoulder: amzn.to/3psoNgl
Leather Dragon Scale Stamp: amzn.to/3prNidr
Leather Basket Weave stamp: amzn.to/34NO0dd
Leather Stone stamps (combo pack): amzn.to/3rysUJp
Leather Dye - Dark Brown: - amzn.to/34QpbgS
Leather Dye - Burgundy: amzn.to/37S1yGH
Leather Dye - Light Brown: amzn.to/37RHx2Q
Leather Dye - Tan: amzn.to/2KHR4kj
Leather Dye - Blue: amzn.to/34Mbpfd
Leather Snaps: amzn.to/2WPj1Jy
Daubers: amzn.to/3ugJIWJ
Grinding / Sanding / Finishing
Norton abrasives combo 6-pack (2 each of 36/80/120): amzn.to/3o6lg7j
Norton abrasives 3-pack 36 grit: amzn.to/3hlqeKF
Surface Conditioning Belt (medium): amzn.to/3o5Gx0w
Surface Conditioning Belt (2pack, very fine): amzn.to/3pvkBw6
Belt Cleaning Stick: amzn.to/3hoyzwY
Dust Collection System: amzn.to/34QqsVc
Loc-Line Dust Collection Tubing - amzn.to/3hlri17
Mother's Wax: amzn.to/2WQILF6
2x72 Leather Belt: amzn.to/3hqtdRZ
Sanding Drum Set: amzn.to/34MSlgB
Sanding Drum Sleeves: amzn.to/3rA6nMn
Grinding Wheel (variable speed grinder): amzn.to/3ppMSV2
DuraGold 220 grit Roll: amzn.to/3aK9TxI
Forging
100 lbs propane tank: amzn.to/3hnqhFK
Propane adapter: amzn.to/34OM6Jf
Pyrometer Gun (-2700deg): amzn.to/38HVgIy
Rigidizer: amzn.to/2M6otoZ
Kaowool 24x24x2: amzn.to/3ht50KT
Forge Scale Brush: amzn.to/3nWWgyY
Stainless Steel double forge burners: amzn.to/37RFFqG
Sealcoat HT Caulking: amzn.to/3poDTDB
1 1/4 Gate Valve: amzn.to/3hiV5HO
Pulley Block: amzn.to/3rHkn7k
1/4 Pressure Gauge: amzn.to/3pvmicW
1.4 Ball Valve: amzn.to/2M89evP
1/4 Needle Valve: amzn.to/3hne18d
Dayton Blower: amzn.to/2KZXPhf
Insulated Firebrick (12): amzn.to/3o5EZ6I
Mizzou Refractory (10 lbs): amzn.to/3pCQBhW
ITC-100 Refractory: amzn.to/3boZW9n
Ferric Chloride: amzn.to/3pwfNqj
Brownell Oxpho Cold Blue: amzn.to/3aTzcgO
Parks 50: amzn.to/3mV4eYd
Hardness Files: amzn.to/2L3O41C
Hydraulic Press
Pump ($155): amzn.to/34PEshP
Switch ($18): amzn.to/3pyqrx7
Valve ($79): amzn.to/2KId7am
Oil Filter ($22): amzn.to/37SJDzG
Motor ($229): amzn.to/38KohDQ
Reservoir ($143): amzn.to/37To4Pj
Coupler ($19): amzn.to/34MR7Sx
Surface Grinder
Slide table: amzn.to/3sFvKwM
Magnets: amzn.to/3sCMCV7
Linear Guide rail: amzn.to/3thKGBE
(These are Amazon Affiliate Links and this channel gets a commission with no cost to you)

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Do you have other tips on shaping handles?

[@mcrich1978]

I'm currently using a 2 x 42 and it's too fast I ended up buying some sanding drums for the drill press of all varying sizes and can reload them with cut outs from sheets of paper which works out very nice for me and it's definitely fun getting to the hand work. Great video Dennis! 🤘

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Good tip! I do have sanding drums for my drill press. I mainly use them for the interior of things I can’t reach with the grinder but that’s a great way to do handles. 👍

[@mcrich1978]

@@TyrellKnifeworks adapt and overcome bro. 😉 but yeah if I could control the speed of the 2x42. I'd do more handle work with it for sure.🤘

[@ZackofAllTrades87]

With a real knife it's important to shape and hand sand the very front of your scales near the ricaso. Once you glue up its almost impossible to sand that area without touching the blade.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

@@ZackofAllTrades87 Yes, absolutely. That was assumed in this video and we went on to shaping. 👍

[@jjppres]

I can relate to what you said in the end of the video. I am 63 and been making knives for 5 years now. Really enjoy it and I enjoy your channel and your take on making a knife. Thanks!

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Glad to have you aboard for this adventure! 👍

[@theriversexperience9383]

This is a great video with tons of great tips.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Thanks Erick!

[@haroldnutt8837]

Thanks for the great help! I’ll watch it several more times, it takes a new knife maker at 71 to comprehend all the quality of your knowledge. Thanks again

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

I’m glad it was helpful, Harold! 👍

[@jab0321]

Awesome video and thanks so much for all your time and effort making these! I am mostly a knife sharpener, but am in the process of making my first handle for an old machete I have. It's been a really fun project and tips from you and others really help dial in the details. Much respect for your beautiful knives and skills! Thanks!

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Thanks for tuning in! Good luck on the handles. You’ll be smithing in no time. 😉

[@Anderson-HandForged]

awesome video you must have been reading my mind my handle shaping skills need work this is gonna help alot thank you Mark

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

I'm glad it helped you, Mark!

[@ReignForever]

What a great video! Its like my youtube knows what i am doing today, and it showed me this video for a reason!!! Thank you, good youtube algorithm!! 😂 keep up with the great content Tyrrell!! Your knives are absolutely beautiful. I follow 3 channels on youtube for my blade smithing infatuation. And one for blacksmithing. The work that you guys do is amazing and I sure hope i can produce handles and blades like you eventually. I have no shop, i built my forge, i work outside.... itll be a while before I can bang out damascus, but I am officially obsessed now haha. At least its a somewhat healthy obsession 😅

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

That’s exactly how I started just 5 years ago. Thanks for watching!

[@davidscadlock5569]

Great demo - Thank You!!!

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Glad it helped, David! Thanks for watching.

[@RestorationAustralia]

Nicely done.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Thanks for watching!

[@georgecuyler7563]

You've given me the perfect idea for making wooden ceremonial knives for pow wow dancers.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Glad I could help! Send me some pics when you’re done. 👍

[@lukegraham1945]

A very helpful video indeed, thanks for all the tips!

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Glad you got something out of it, Luke! Thanks for watching!

[@HeavyForge]

Great vid Denis! That’s a really nice grinder btw!🔥

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Thanks for recommending it! 👍

[@bobbygervais6185]

Great video 👍

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Thanks Bobby!

[@ZackofAllTrades87]

I've never used lines before. I will try that. I aslo take the corners of more horizontally and sometimes get gouges. I will try vertically like you next time.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Glad you got some new ideas! 👍

[@gstanley75]

Extraordinary tutorial on handle making and great idea to shape an entire knife including rough blade from wood to get the feel of the finished piece. The only other makers I have seen go into such detail on handles are Bob Loveless in his book and Walter Sorrels on his YT channel. I completely respect the desire for symmetry leading to a beautiful knife until… I saw some Japanese knives with both asymmetrical blades and handles. I asked Murray Carter to make me a matched set of sushi knives using Sanbar stag and suggested he channel his inner left handedness and feel free to shape the handles with more swell fitting better to my left hand. The finished work have the best hand feel of any knives in my collection. Anyway this is my way as a collector and user of gently suggesting that symmetry may not always be the best design. I look forward to your continuing teaching series and design challenges.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

That’s true, symmetry isn’t always the most important thing. If you’re dealing with “handed” knives for sure. Most western knives though it’s an important factor. Thanks for watching!

[@ReignForever]

I was thinking about this while watching the video too. Also some people have much bigger hands than other people. Even if a person makes a symmetrical handle design, knowing a bit about who will be using the blade can help make it fit better for them. I'm a lefty but I do knifey in the right, lol... I'm just weird haha

[@rodgerklindt3165]

Good mention on filing. I fix a lot of booboos from the grinder with my files.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Files for the win! 😜

[@evaderknives]

Man, you got that nice new grinder, ya need to tip that bad boy horizontal for handles, especially with the small wheels... Look down on what you're doing, get that better angle... I wish I had the patients to do all that measuring & marking, probably would of saved a lot of time in the long run... Hope all is well, take it easy...

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Yeah, I need to get used to horizontal grinding! I forget I can do that sometimes. I don’t always do the markings myself but wanted to show it for folks unfamiliar with it. Thanks for checking it out, Dave.

[@dominicdwk]

So that's how you do a coke bottle, thank you. That 4" interior radius is what I was missing. Thank you. One finger hold is perfect for universal indexing. IMHO.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!

[@brysonalden5414]

Very helpful! I second your recommendation on using files; I am far more accurate with files than I am doing the final grinding with my 2/72. I know, practice, practice, practice!

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

It’s sooo easy to screw up a handle on a 2x72, particularly if you don’t have a VFD. I’m a big fan of files! 👍

[@brysonalden5414]

@@TyrellKnifeworks I do have a VFD. I still screw up, even at low speeds.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

@@brysonalden5414 guidelines and practice. 👍

[@DBCraftWorld]

Nice tutorial as always:)! Using grinder make work faster, but it's easier to make a mistake- good that you mention that it's possible to fix it with files. I'm curious if you have any suggestion ho to use belt grinder if the handle is more complicated. Maybe part 2 in the future:)?

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

What are you referring to when you say "more complicated". Meaning it has more interior curves and/or bevels? I think it's all a matter of adding guidelines and going slow. For really complicated handles, I would tend to do more with files. (like the quillion dagger build). Thanks for watching and commenting, David!

[@DBCraftWorld]

@@TyrellKnifeworks generally yes, quillion dagger handle is good example of what I was referring saying "more complicated"! One thing goes to my mind now: when you grind a handle what range of frequency/rpm you are setting?

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

@@DBCraftWorld hmmm, I don’t really take note of the actual speed but I would say it’s between 25% to 40% of max, which is typically 3500 rpm.

[@DBCraftWorld]

@@TyrellKnifeworks I suspected you might not get further than 50%. Thanks a lot:)!..

[@jbyrd3304]

what is the dividers called you are marking with

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

I’m not sure exactly which you are talking about. If it’s the one with the pencil, that’s a compass. You can do the same with calipers. Thanks for watching.

[@widneyburton1077]

Where can we find your contact email for submitting our knives?

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

It’s in the About of the channel, but you have to be on a desktop browser, not mobile. It’s the channel name, no dots, at gmail.