Shaping The Handles

Asssiss

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Hello folks...I am doing a pair of handles for my very small pair of sheep shears knife.
They are Burgon Ball British brand made in Sheffield.
I choose Gonçalo Alves as the wood handle.

I"ll add more pictures from each step progress.
See the pictures below:

The blue one at right
IMG-20241111-WA0025.jpg
Burgon Ball
IMG-20241111-WA0030.jpg
Cutting Gonçalo Alves
IMG-20250528-WA0057.jpeg

IMG-20250527-WA0018.jpeg
Shaping by hands
IMG-20250526-WA0047.jpeg
Spokeshave in action
IMG-20250528-WA0139.jpeg
Preparing for epoxy glue
IMG-20250602-WA0034.jpeg
All ready
IMG-20250602-WA0036.jpeg

IMG-20250602-WA0040.jpeg
The blade is very good for the age
IMG-20250602-WA0045.jpeg
Thanks for attention
 
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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2
Hello folks...I glued the wood handles yesterday and today I glued the brass pins...in fact they are bolts 4mm .I purchased long ones and use they in sections until all used.Tomorrow I'll still shaping the handles for final shape and sand all blade and body...after that start at sharp the blade step.

Gluing handles
IMG-20250604-WA0022.jpeg

IMG-20250604-WA0020.jpeg
Drill step
IMG-20250604-WA0026.jpeg

IMG-20250604-WA0028.jpeg
Brass bolts 4mm
IMG-20250604-WA0033.jpeg
Gluing pins (bolts)
IMG-20250604-WA0037.jpeg
After dried file the heads off.
IMG-20250604-WA0040.jpeg
Thanks for attention
 
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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3
Hello folks...I just started to work at this project again.
I need to shape the handle for start to finish the edge of blade and sharpening after.

I never used a concave spokeshave before...I have one from Kunz for a long time but always at tool box.

Yesterday I started to sharpening the blade and it was very bad about back flatness.
The cap was bad too.But to me the worst part was how to sharp the round blade.

I choose a simple and nice way to do it.I glued a piece of leather at a PVC 60 mm coupling and used a fine water sandpaper (just a finger water applied) for sharp (400,600 and 1200 grit)...after a honing compound at leather strop.
It worked very well.

*If I work a lot with a concave spokeshave maybe a metal pipe can be better but for my use the PVC will last almost lifetime*

See the pictures below:

Checking the radius size
IMG-20250626-WA0053.jpeg
Contact cement
IMG-20250626-WA0055.jpeg
Like this
IMG-20250626-WA0057.jpeg
Sanded a little
IMG-20250626-WA0060.jpeg

IMG-20250626-WA0062.jpeg
Good grip
IMG-20250626-WA0064.jpeg
Green compound
IMG-20250626-WA0066.jpeg
Works very well
IMG-20250626-WA0070.jpeg
This is sandpaper and you cnan see the metal dust
IMG-20250626-WA0072.jpeg
Fits very well
IMG-20250626-WA0074.jpeg
Thanks for attention
 
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Hello folks...I just started to work at this project again.
I need to shape the handle for start to finish the edge of blade and sharpening after.

I never used a concave spokeshave before...I have one from Kunz for a long time but always at tool box.

Yesterday I started to sharpening the blade and it was very bad about back flatness.
The cap was bad too.But to me the worst part was how to sharp the round blade.

I choose a simple and nice way to do it.I glued a piece of leather at a PVC 60 mm coupling and used a fine water sandpaper (just a finger water applied) for sharp (400,600 and 1200 grit)...after a honing compound at leather strop.
It worked very well.

*If I work a lot with a concave spokeshave maybe a metal pipe can be better but for my use the PVC will last almost lifetime*

See the pictures below:

Checking the radius size
View attachment 275222
Contact cement
View attachment 275223
Like this
View attachment 275224
Sanded a little
View attachment 275225

View attachment 275226
Good grip
View attachment 275227
Green compound
View attachment 275228
Works very well
View attachment 275229
This is sandpaper and you cnan see the metal dust
View attachment 275230
Fits very well
View attachment 275231
Thanks for attention
Gotta love your creative solutions! Great launching point for other ideas! Chuck
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5
Hello folks...some more pictures...

The cap back after stone
IMG-20250625-WA0081.jpeg
I add an eletric insulation tape as a fence
IMG-20250625-WA0079.jpeg
Look how bad the back was
IMG-20250625-WA0075.jpeg
The tape fence limit how far you can go
IMG-20250625-WA0073.jpeg

IMG-20250625-WA0071.jpeg

IMG-20250625-WA0069.jpeg
Thanks for attention
 
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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6
Hello folks...today I did one more step...

I filed the brass screw heads and started to sand the handles...

Gonçalo Alves is so nice to work with.

See the pictures below:

Time file the brass pins
IMG-20250627-WA0059.jpeg
Done
IMG-20250627-WA0065.jpeg
Medium file
IMG-20250627-WA0067.jpeg
Sanding the wood
IMG-20250627-WA0069.jpeg
So nice wood
IMG-20250627-WA0071.jpeg



IMG-20250627-WA0073.jpeg
After sanded 'll cut for final size


IMG-20250627-WA0077.jpeg

IMG-20250627-WA0083.jpeg
Thanks for attention
 
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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7
Hello folks...the nice thing to be an amateur woodworker is you can do things in your time...no timeline... not necessary to hurry up.
Today I finished my pair of small sheep shears knives.Three months after started.
Just wax at handles...the blade is so sharp.
Short Video at YT:

See the pictures below:

Green compound
IMG-20250906-WA0032.jpeg
Brand new leather strop
IMG-20250906-WA0034.jpeg

IMG-20250906-WA0036.jpeg

IMG-20250906-WA0038.jpeg
So sharp now
IMG-20250906-WA0040.jpeg
Just wax at handles (for while)
IMG-20250906-WA0053.jpeg
Gonçalo Alves wood
IMG-20250906-WA0055.jpeg
I let some scars at blade...they are original corrosion process and I need some of history and not a brand new knife
IMG-20250906-WA0058.jpeg
Thanks for attention
 
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Very nice. I use diamond stropping compound because it doesn't break down and it has much less variation in grain size. While your chromium oxide likely says it has between 1 and 4 microns grain size it will have grain between 30 and 0.3 microns. I switched to diamond stuff mainly out of interest but have found it to yield slightly better results.
BUT would the shears still feel authentic after using diamonds on them? Not really.
Anyway most impressive work.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11
Very nice. I use diamond stropping compound because it doesn't break down and it has much less variation in grain size. While your chromium oxide likely says it has between 1 and 4 microns grain size it will have grain between 30 and 0.3 microns. I switched to diamond stuff mainly out of interest but have found it to yield slightly better results.
BUT would the shears still feel authentic after using diamonds on them? Not really.
Anyway most impressive work.
I do have diamond compound but they are more expensive and I keep they just for m hi-end plane blades and spokeshaves as well.
That knives someone can use too and make dull for bad use...so green compound will be enough for while and did a great job.
Thanks so much for comment and share your expirience.
 
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