Started on the handles today. I put a 40 grit belt on my 1x30 Harbor Freight belt sander and went to town. Im using black palm wood

I got it all roughly shaped. I cant take any thickness off yet because I still need to harden the blade. Then Ill be epoxying the handles on. So I need to be able to take the handle screws out until then.

I did the top of the handles by the plunge line. This part would be a pain to do after you had epoxied the handles because you would scratch up your blade.

The handles are going to look sweet when they are done. I knew palm had a stringy like grain, but it looks awesome when its sanded down.

Here they are after some sanding with 80 grit.




And here they are after a quick sand up to 1500 grit. I can get them shinier with some more sanding. We will see what I want.




I sanded the blade up to 220 before I harden it. That way I can pick up there once it comes out (hopefully) and bring it up to a nice shine. Ill probably go with a satin finish. I used an orbital sander with some 150 then some 220 grit. There are still a few scratches I need to get out from the earlier grits. And some scratches on the spine from the 40 grit. Those will be fun to take out. Also, 40 grit will remove a good bit of finger nail VERY quick it you accidentally tap it. Don't ask me how I know. lol

Heres what it looks like. The orbital sander gave it a nice satin finish. I may stick with it for the later sanding.




So if I have time to finish sanding the scratches out then I should be hardening tomorrow, and Ill epoxy the handles that night, and then Monday I might be finishing it up. Im excited, but at the same time I don't want to rush it and screw something up. Ive got so much time in this thing. so far.