Share in my madness: Some of my Conan projects...

I finished replacing the grip on my Chinese Atlantean. The grip is made from 1 1/4 inch oak dowel, about 8 inches long. I only have drill bits up to 5 inches long. so I started off trying to drill the hole for the pommel by drilling from both ends. 1st attempt, drilled the holes from both ends and got them to allign close enough, and screwed up paring down the wood to fit into the guard and pomel. The second time, I didn't get the holes lined up. 3rd time, I sanded the grip by hand until it just fit, and got a gunsmith to drill the hole for me (5/16 inch bit). I set the pieces wth epoxy, so now everything is tight.

I initially wrapped the grip with a nylon blend string, but it looked too clean, and it actually made the grip feel slick when I was holding the sword. I re-wrapped it with a hemp cord, now it feels great in the hand.

I'm still trying to figure out this forum, so I've got the pictures hosted at my running forum (it's halloween, I can get away with it for now). Either link lets you scroll through the pics of the sword deconstructed, without the grip wrapped, and with the final wrap.


[http://www.runnersworld.com/community/persona/index.jsp?UID=1000010000031424&plckUserId=1000010000031424&plckPersonaPage=PersonaGalleryPhoto&plckPhotoID=64f6dba0-8af7-41aa-a9f1-224e7dd46dcf

http://www.runnersworld.com/community/persona/index.jsp?UID=1000010000031424&plckUserId=1000010000031424&plckPersonaPage=PersonaGalleryPhoto&plckPhotoID=569cc9e8-68f2-46c0-a5b0-f5e52122c08c

http://www.runnersworld.com/community/persona/index.jsp?UID=1000010000031424&plckUserId=1000010000031424&plckPersonaPage=PersonaGalleryPhoto&plckPhotoID=812d0193-46a5-458d-ab88-18b26ff02602

Great stuff.

nice work dude