Knife thread that will change your life.

[HoosierBuddy]

Phil
We need to see photos of the knife as it progresses. Let's see some of the tools your using too !

Craig

The list of tools I haven't used would be shorter.

First...the included brass guard was too big for the tang...so I had to get out my welder, grinder, dremmel and belt sander to resize the tang.

Then I had to make the handle. That involved my table saw, band saw, drill press, disk sander, palm sander, dremel sander, and a lot of hand sanding. OH...I forgot the PATTERN for the handle was worked out on CAD...so I used a PC and a printer too. I printed it full size and used my sissors to cut it the shape out.

The brass pommel was cut from 1" bar stock. I chucked it up sideways in my 4-jaw chuck on my old South Bend Heavy 10 Lathe and turned it into a retangular bar and then shaped it down with a grinder and the aforementioned belt sander. Then I had to drill and tap it in my drill press for a mounting bolt coming off the tang and a set screw to keep it from rotating that runs into the handle. OH...and not to forget...I had to use my first aid kit to staunch the bleeding when the pommel caught on the drill bit, spun and caught **** out of my left index finger. I've found out over the years that all of my projects require a good blood quenching before they are through.

Speaking of the mounting bolt on the tang? I had to cut the tang on my metal cutting bandsaw and then use my MIG welder to weld the stainless bolt to the tang and the proper angle to spin into the pommel. Then, since I kind of **** at welding...I had to dremmel a lot of the weld bead back off and retap (using an 8X32 NC Tap) the bolt to get enough usable threads to get the pommel all the way home.

Let's see...other tools. I used a polishing wheel a bunch (along with red and white compound) to polish the brass and the base of the knife handle. I also bought a set of hobby files at Menards and did some custom filing near the bolster.

Today, another box came in from the knife supply with my brass pins for the handle and some spacer material for the handle that I really don't know if I can use or not. I also got a blueing kit that I'm going to use on the blade to bring out the pattern in the demascus and some gun stock oil that I think will be perfect for finishing the birdseye maple handle.

I don't know what I'm doing well enough to take pictures and show my work in progress. I keep having to go backwards. Sometimes redoing something to make it better. Sometimes (like in the case of my first maple handle) because I screw it up and have to start over completely.

Phil

 

[Major Ramifications]

To the OP, when do we get to see one of the knives you made? Was that one back there that you posted a picture of (folder)?

 

[Amitygravel]

There's no such thing as too many tools to pick from when making knives.
Buffers and knives can make for some very startling moments in the shop.

The supplier catalogs a very dangerous to bank accounts.

Try ferric chloride for etching damascus. Get it from Radio Shack. 2 parts water 1 part ferric chloride. About 10 minutes should be good. Rinse and dry then oil to prevent flash rust. First seal all handle and guard or bolster material with clear fingernail polish. Just use acetone to strip it off after the etch.

Keep grinding.

Wear a respirator and eye protection.

 

[c/o say]

Just keep on trying you will get good at it T bose started out making knives and selling them to the guys he worked with. Now there are a bunch of guys that wished they got one b/c now they can't afford one. Unless its one of his collabortion made by CASE. BTW he is a hoosier too.

 

[Notwerk]

Yeah, those fancy knives are cool and all, but I'd really rather see what you're working on. I actually think it's cooler to see someone who IS learning going through the process. Gives the rest of us mortals hope that, maybe, we can do it, too.

Even if it isn't fancy Damascus with carved handles, it's pretty cool that you're making a knife at all.