Well tonight I needed to get in the garage and just spend some time doing work. We've had quite a bit of things to deal with in the family so I just wanted a bit of time to myself, so I thought getting another knife going would do the trick.
I cut this blank about 6 weeks ago along with a few others, many of which you all here have seen become what in come circles would be called a knife. I am still learning, and since I am doing this one my own it's been a semi-bumpy experience.
The blanks were originally cut using a 4" angle grinder, hacksaw and a dremel of out of 3/16" O-1. Once cut out, they were ran across a 4" wide belt sander to remove some burrs and just get down to clean metal. Also the edges were draw filed and sanded down smooth.
The result is what you see above. To get to this point, it took about 20 mins. I'd one day like to have these cut on a mill or waterjet, but for now the limited tools I have are doing the job just fine.
I spent a bit of time changing the shape of the blade on this one. Wanted more of a spear point and less belly than on the previous versions of this knife I've done. Also the full flat grind was shelved this time, in favor of that you see.
I bought a 1x30 belt sander from HF, based on a suggestion from a friend who is a full time knife maker. He literally couldn't believe I was doing the whole bevel with nothing but files. The 1x30", got me to the center line much quicker. I will spend some time with some junk steel over the next few weeks figuring that thing out. I did revert to my files to finish the bevel though. I enjoy the simple and slow process of the files. Yes, it takes MUCH longer, but the chance of me taking too much material off and tossing a good piece of steel in the trash is greatly reduced. Right now I am 6 for 6 with some noticable improvement with each go at it, and want to keep it that way for the foreseeable future. Because I am trading or bartering my "learning" knives away, so far this not a profitable endeavor, so I have to save cash where I can.
Once the center line was reached (sans about 1/16" to prevent warp-age during heat treat) into the lansky type filing jig I built. Saw someone using something similar in a forum and thought it would for my purposes. Simple to build, cheap to maintain, and simple to learn on.
I use an eyelet screw to adjust the angle as material is removed. It is a SLOW and very tedious process, but the results thus far have been pretty good and has great cut the learning curve immensely. Using 3/16" thick material, a full flat grind takes about 1.5 to two hours to complete each side. Having the 1x30" on hand and only taking the bevel about 1/2 way up, took about 35-40mins a side. Hopefully one day I will some time with someone who knows how to properly use a belt grinder and learn the proper way to do this.
About as much progress as I am going to get tonight. I will be on the road for the next few days, but when I get back... Holes for the handle pins will be drilled and the scales rough cut. Then it is into the forge to heat treat and then temper....
I cut this blank about 6 weeks ago along with a few others, many of which you all here have seen become what in come circles would be called a knife. I am still learning, and since I am doing this one my own it's been a semi-bumpy experience.
The blanks were originally cut using a 4" angle grinder, hacksaw and a dremel of out of 3/16" O-1. Once cut out, they were ran across a 4" wide belt sander to remove some burrs and just get down to clean metal. Also the edges were draw filed and sanded down smooth.
The result is what you see above. To get to this point, it took about 20 mins. I'd one day like to have these cut on a mill or waterjet, but for now the limited tools I have are doing the job just fine.
I spent a bit of time changing the shape of the blade on this one. Wanted more of a spear point and less belly than on the previous versions of this knife I've done. Also the full flat grind was shelved this time, in favor of that you see.
I bought a 1x30 belt sander from HF, based on a suggestion from a friend who is a full time knife maker. He literally couldn't believe I was doing the whole bevel with nothing but files. The 1x30", got me to the center line much quicker. I will spend some time with some junk steel over the next few weeks figuring that thing out. I did revert to my files to finish the bevel though. I enjoy the simple and slow process of the files. Yes, it takes MUCH longer, but the chance of me taking too much material off and tossing a good piece of steel in the trash is greatly reduced. Right now I am 6 for 6 with some noticable improvement with each go at it, and want to keep it that way for the foreseeable future. Because I am trading or bartering my "learning" knives away, so far this not a profitable endeavor, so I have to save cash where I can.
Once the center line was reached (sans about 1/16" to prevent warp-age during heat treat) into the lansky type filing jig I built. Saw someone using something similar in a forum and thought it would for my purposes. Simple to build, cheap to maintain, and simple to learn on.
I use an eyelet screw to adjust the angle as material is removed. It is a SLOW and very tedious process, but the results thus far have been pretty good and has great cut the learning curve immensely. Using 3/16" thick material, a full flat grind takes about 1.5 to two hours to complete each side. Having the 1x30" on hand and only taking the bevel about 1/2 way up, took about 35-40mins a side. Hopefully one day I will some time with someone who knows how to properly use a belt grinder and learn the proper way to do this.
About as much progress as I am going to get tonight. I will be on the road for the next few days, but when I get back... Holes for the handle pins will be drilled and the scales rough cut. Then it is into the forge to heat treat and then temper....
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