Bidor Parang Blanks

C

cityofthesouth

Joined
Jan 29, 2014
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Scored these blanks several months ago and finally got to working on one of them this weekend. Being an axe enthusiast my first notion was to make one of them have an axe-like handle. Took a chunk of rough sawn oak (not sure the origin), chopped it into rough shape and burned in the tang. Finished with linseed oil, of course. Right now it is fixed with epoxy but I think I will put a pin in it. What do you guys think? I know that they are often unpinned but I dunno, my brain just thinks it needs a pin. Anyway, it's 12 inches and pictured with my Thai Enep. Hopefully I will get to working on the others, and I want to do a different style for each handle and press some kydex. Thanks for looking!

parang_blanks by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

parang_oakhandle by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

parang_enep3 by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

parang_enep1 by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr

parang_details by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr
 
The results looks very nice to me. The darker color hued handle seems more appropriate to me as I'm thinking the handle will darken from use as perspiration, plant sap, etc. gets on the handle.
 
Rey HRH said:
The results looks very nice to me. The darker color hued handle seems more appropriate to me as I'm thinking the handle will darken from use as perspiration, plant sap, etc. gets on the handle.
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You're probably right. This was just the only wood I had that was thick enough for a first try, and without heading off to the woods to find something.
 
Looks like it turned out pretty darn cool!

If it were mine I'd morph the pommel into something more rounded, but that's just cosmetic preference and I'm sure that handle shape will get the job well done.

I agree with your inclination, if it were me I'd press a pin or two and let usage patina the wood. How heavy is it?
 
HeavyHanded said:
Looks like it turned out pretty darn cool!

If it were mine I'd morph the pommel into something more rounded, but that's just cosmetic preference and I'm sure that handle shape will get the job well done.

I agree with your inclination, if it were me I'd press a pin or two and let usage patina the wood. How heavy is it?
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I just tossed it on the postal scale and it comes in at 1lb, 1oz. The Enep is 1lb, almost 11oz. There is certainly more weight forward power in the Enep, but I think they are somewhat different tools. Mostly, I just like these jungle machetes.

Similar taper in both but I think the parang is more drastic and starts out a bit thicker.

parang_enep_bladethickness by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr
 
cityofthesouth said:
I just tossed it on the postal scale and it comes in at 1lb, 1oz. The Enep is 1lb, almost 11oz. There is certainly more weight forward power in the Enep, but I think they are somewhat different tools. Mostly, I just like these jungle machetes.

Similar taper in both but I think the parang is more drastic and starts out a bit thicker.

parang_enep_bladethickness by city_ofthe_south, on Flickr
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Very nice, thanks for the weight #s.
One pound is about the max for me these days if I have to use it for any length of time. The Parang has been on my possible list for a few for backpacking, looks like a good GP solution.
 
JayGoliath said:
Awesome! do you see a need to pin the handle onto the tang?
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Dunno. I was asking in the OP what others felt about it. Sometimes they are pinned, other times they aren't. I am leaning toward pinning it. Shoulda worked on it this weekend, but didn't make it happen.
 
if it doesn't have a hole for the pin already drilling into the tang of the HT blade would be hard I tried on a parang that I have and no luck
 
I love what you did to them but I'd make the pommel rounded for chopping ergos - the fancy pommels don't make good choppers, it doesn't allow for a full unfettered wrist snap. I like the lighter coloured handle, and the grainy look. And I second that they should be pinned. If anything, it's psychological.
 
BITEME said:
if it doesn't have a hole for the pin already drilling into the tang of the HT blade would be hard I tried on a parang that I have and no luck
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I would find it hard to believe the tang would be hardened that a normal HSS drill would not work.As I don't remember watch the Bidor factory vid of them using carbide drills on their drill presses
 
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