Cleaver Kit Instructions
Let's dive in!
Follow our instructions below, remembering to focus on the adventure of craftsmanship.
If you hit a roadblock or need any guidance, just shoot us email and we'll get right back to ya!
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LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ANALOG EXPERIENCE? Are you ready to dive into the traditional art of knife assembly with no digital interruptions? Click here to download our comprehensive PDF instructions. Perfect for those who value the tactile experience of paper and the convenience of detailed, step-by-step guidance. Embrace the classic craft of knife making in a truly authentic way, ensuring your journey to assembling your own classic folding knife is as rewarding as it is educational. |
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1: Wrap the sharp edge of the blade with masking tape. This will protect both you and the blade through the rest of the process. |
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2. Mark the side of your wood scales that you want to be placed against the tang. |
| 3. Lay the blade on top of one of the wood scales you just marked. |
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4. Trace the outline of the tang onto the wood scale with a pencil. This is to make sure the wood will be placed and installed according to your desired handle shape. You may wish to clamp first so the wood scale won’t slip. |
| 5. Repeat with the second piece of wood scale, using the opposite side of the tang. |
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6. Place the wood scale in a vise and using the file, shave off the excess wood (outside of the line you traced). Do not remove all the way up to the line. You will want to leave about 1/8th inch buffer material outside of your tracing. |
| 7. Using the 220 grit sandpaper, sand the wood scale flat on the side that will fit against the tang of the blade. |
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8. Sand the tang of the blade with the same paper. This will remove any foreign material and assure a good adhesion of the blade to the handle. Shaving off all of the excess wood takes ...a while. It can also be intensely frustrating. Send us an email here if you happen invent a new curseword during the process. 🤬 |
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9. Next, carefully attach one side of the wood scale to the tang of the blade with epoxy. Make sure the handle wood is centered properly. |
| 10. Place the blade and handle into the vise and allow to dry. |
| 11. Crack open a beer and wait. |
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12. Now, using the pin holes in the blade as a guide, drill holes in the wood using the included drill bit. Be sure to drill slowly in the center of the holes, taking care not to splinter the wood scale. Use caution when drilling the holes. Be sure the blade and handle are both clamped securely, as drilling may cause the blade or handle to twist. |
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13. Repeat steps #7 - 12 using the other piece of wood scale, but use the holes through the other side of the scale as your guide. Take care to center the holes and drill straight, to ensure the pins will fit properly. |
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14. Now, insert the dry pins through the drilled holes. The pins should fit snugly, but not be so tight they risk cracking the wood when pushing them in or out. |
| 15. Take the pins out and roll them in a small amount of epoxy. |
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16. Reinsert the pins, covered in epoxy, into the holes and allow to dry. Any excess pin material will be sanded off when shaping and buffing the wood scale. |
| 17. Reward yourself with a couple beers. |
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18. Using the file, roughly shape the wood scales to fit into your hand. While shaping & sanding by hand will produce the best results, you can also use an orbital sander or dremel to greatly speed up the process. |
| 19. Once you have the desired shape, use the sandpapers to refine the shape, finishing with a 600 grit wet dry. |
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20. Consider applying linseed oil to finish the wood. Mineral, canola, or coconut oil works, as well. |
| 21. Remove the masking tape and wipe the blade down with a clean cloth. |
| 22. Crack open another beer, sit back and marvel at your newly made heirloom. |