Book of Eli machete Finished

[fuelish]

Using Ghostsoldiers blueprints, This thread, I started on the machete.
I used 3/16 mild steel and cut it out with a saber saw then ground down to the lines with chop blade and angle grinder. It still needs some trimming and I will hand finish the blade and surface. I plan to leave the edge pretty flat, don't want to accidently chop off a foot.
Pattern:

Progress so far:

Big and heavy, two pounds, ten ounces.

In the next couple of days I should get it shaped like I want, make the scales and wrap the grip.

 

[bladefans]

Re: Eli machete started

That looks very nice. Great job! Hopefully the movie ends up being as good as the previews. Do you think you might do an interest thread or anything like that for these?

 

[Bowelrock]

Re: Eli machete started

Nice job
I will be making one of these also. With the sheath. Fantastic movie..

 

[fuelish]

Re: Eli machete started

bladefans-
Thanks, I have not seen the movie yet but the writer was on a gaming podcast I listen to and he really sounded excited about how it turned out.
I would consider making some if anybody wanted one but I would want to ask ghostsoldier if he is cool with it because I am using his plan.


Bowelrock-
Thanks, I may do a sheath(My wife and I just started leatherwork for clothing and bindery, but we could try a sheath) but I will probably hang it on the wall so the sheath would be more of a "can I do it?" project.

 

[chuckyAPP]

Re: Eli machete started

thats pretty badass, how hefty is that thing? Great job

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Re: Eli machete started

Fuelish....you make me proud, brother...THAT'S FREAKIN' SWEET! :thumbsup

By all means, you guys use the pattern and build-away...it was made for you folks to enjoy, and I'd love to see some more of these made! :cool

As a matter of fact, I'm gonna build myself one, too!
Rob

 

[fuelish]

Re: Eli machete started

Thanks man. I hope I can finish it up this week. I really need to get to a theater and see this movie.

 

[Shinsei]

Re: Eli machete started

Cool looking machete. Can't wait to see how it comes out.

 

[Soulinertia]

Re: Eli machete started

Everyone should see this movie!

Fuelish, you look crazy. :lol

 

[fuelish]

Re: Eli machete started

Everyone should see this movie!

Fuelish, you look crazy. :lol

With that machete in your hands you feel ready to do something.

I did not get loads done today.

I started cleaning up the blade. Looks like this now:

Pretty shiny but close up there is still a lot of texture to the steel:

I like it, good contrast between edge and blade, but I think it needs to be a more polished finish to how it appears in the premiere props photos(Those are screen used right?).

So I am going to need to get a sanding head for my angle grinder(Actually a second head, the one I have does not fit the grinder I have now) to remove the texture and then I will finish it with an orbital sander and hand polish.

And here are the scales and the cording I will use for the grip.

The scales are just rough cut and I need to dig thru the pile for some rod that will work for pinning them. The cording is from Tandy leather. It was the larget dia. they had and looks, maybe, a little small. I did a test wrap on some dowel and it does look nice.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Re: Eli machete started

Damn...that's lookin' nice, fuel...I gotta get in gear!:cool
Rob

 

[tain669]

Re: Eli machete started

Kind of looks like a Phippino Barong

 

[fuelish]

Re: Eli machete started

Finished.

Here I have the scales installed. I epoxied them on as well as pinning them to the tang. (These are a little thick, slightly moe than 1/4", but the finished grip feels right

This is after using a rasp and sandpaper to shape the scales.

The grip wrap. This was using the 2mm leather cord from Tandy(Which looks like is not the right stuff). I did it in three steps. The first part pictured here.

Each end is bound but I also glued it using 3M adhesive. Then I did the "balls" at each end. The one that is the pommel was pretty tough. I really had to do a lot of lacing under(using a little screwdriver as a guide) to get the cord to stay in place. I am probably going to use some stain or paint to help bind it in place. It would be easier if the tang were made with a ball shape. Plan on using the entire roll of leather(I will probably add to ball end with the little I had left)

Another thing I should have done was stain the scales so any gaps did not show. The gaps really show in this flash shot

I also enlarged the center hole and polished the blade up.

And here it is.

 

[propologist]

very nice Fuel , needs some blood..lol

 

[Balaram]

It's a beauty! Well-done, you should feel proud indeed!

 

[bigcow]

Awesome, great job !:cool

 

[Soulinertia]

Good job on the wrap!

 

[fuelish]

Thanks guys, it was fun. I am going to do another one for our shops IT guy. He just wants the blade and is going to make a carbon fiber grip(sacrilege )

 

[TallDarkandDisfigured]

Can I ask how you pin the scales to the blade? I know nothing about knives so it's something I've always wondered..

 

[ReaverReject]

very nice Fuel , needs some blood..lol

My thoughts exactly, but only where the hand used to be... 'Nuff said!

And if you display it in a shadow box, include a few of these...

and one of these:

RR