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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: srtben on March 20, 2014, 10:48:00 AM

Title: Another fiery maple belt knife
Post by: srtben on March 20, 2014, 10:48:00 AM
I just finished up this simple frontier belt knife with some FANTASTIC curly maple. This stuff has tons of curl and great chatoyance.
The blade steel is L6 and the pins are carbon fiber. It has hammer textured flats and I gave it a nice antique finish as well.
It is ground nice and thin, and is shaving sharp. OAl is about 8 1/4"

Any and all comments welcome!!
Thanks for looking.


 (http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/Belt%20knife/IMG_3772.jpg) (http://s1023.photobucket.com/user/srtben/media/Belt%20knife/IMG_3772.jpg.html)

This one is currently available in the sponsors classifieds. : )
Title: Re: Another fiery maple belt knife
Post by: KSCATTRAPR on March 20, 2014, 02:00:00 PM
Awesome, love the knife.
Title: Re: Another fiery maple belt knife
Post by: Hopewell Tom on March 20, 2014, 03:36:00 PM
Beautiful!

Could you please explain the chatoyance.
Title: Re: Another fiery maple belt knife
Post by: Ric O'Shay on March 20, 2014, 09:00:00 PM
That, is a fine looking knife!!
Title: Re: Another fiery maple belt knife
Post by: Bodork on March 20, 2014, 09:56:00 PM
Way nice!!
Title: Re: Another fiery maple belt knife
Post by: kbaknife on March 21, 2014, 08:43:00 AM
I do admire that knife.
Ben, would you share your coloring/finishing techniques with us?
Title: Re: Another fiery maple belt knife
Post by: Lin Rhea on March 21, 2014, 10:17:00 AM
Yes sir. That is pretty.
Title: Re: Another fiery maple belt knife
Post by: srtben on March 21, 2014, 11:38:00 AM
Thanks very much guys!!

Here is a video explaining Chatoyance

http://youtu.be/ipD8SybPgRM

Karl, I use fieblings dark or light brown leather dye to stain my maple. This one was dark brown.
I take my wood handles to pretty high grit, 2500 grit and then the pink 3M polishing cloth. which is 4000 I think.
You will want to start applying the dye several grits before whatever you finish grit is. As it will raise the grain a bit. I usually apply the first coat at about 800. I finish by touching up the color a bit after I sand with 2500, and then hand polish with Pink 3M cloth (4000gr). I then apply several coats of Tung oil and buff with a terry cloth towel. Easy Peasy!!