Another EDC

[David LaFerney]

How do you like this one? I haven't hand sanded the blade or made the sheath yet, but what do you think?

1/8" 1084 and birdseye maple.

 

[i4Marc]

Looks very nice. You seem to have done some very clean and careful work. Typically though, people hand sand their blades(if they are going to finish to that level) before they glue up the handles. It makes working on the finish much easier. Also, it looks as though you've run the plunge line straight up to the spine. That line tends to look nicer if radiused at the top and blended into the spine. It helps to maintain the flow of the knife. Otherwise the eye wants to stop at that straight plunge line.

 

[David LaFerney]

Hah! Both points are well taken, and both are related to my lack of skill at this point. By the time I just get my grinds even the plunge shape sometimes just kind of happens as a by product, but I'm working on it.

Before gluing up the scales I went up to 800 on the grinder hoping that I would be satisfied with that, and therefore eliminate a lot of tedious hand work, and I'm kind of in a quandry about that. They just look so much better after hand sanding - because it gets rid of the minor blems that I just can't avoid on the grinder at this point - but if the knife is intended to be used (which it is) all that hand polishing is kind of gone in a few days of use.

 

[i4Marc]

Take my comments with a grain of salt. I have only been doing this a couple of years. What I have found is that in the higher grits the belts generally have a more flexible carcass. When you use too much pressure against the belt (I'm not saying you did. I'm just making an observation) the belt can bunch up slightly and cause uneven grinds. I find that when using any belt over 120 grit, I get better results by letting the belt do the work. Smooth even passes with light pressure allow the belt to go by without distortion and results in a much nicer finish. Also, it is important to check your platen regularly. They wear. Platens with significant wear like vertical grooves or depression where you do most of your grinding should be resurfaced. A smooth flat platen with good grinding technique equals nice grinds.


Use the knife and enjoy it. It's true. A lot of hand sanding can be wasted on a working knife. You're doing great.

 

[David LaFerney]

Hey, I'll take any good advice I can get. As far as grinding technique goes I know nothin' - so all tips are welcome.

 

[Maelstrom78]

Looks nice! Personally I am not a fan of the front of the scales when shaped like that. I've noticed that on some of the newer posters knives they have had them like that (I'm also relatively new with like <50 completed knives under my belt) and to me it looks unbalanced or something.

But that is totally just my opinion!

Overall blade and handle profile look really good. Pin placement (to me) looks good without gaps in the areas around the pins. I would have "clocked" the mosaic pin to be more straight up and down. Maybe it's just the picture but those things will "walk" on you sometimes so I check mine a couple times when the epoxy is setting up to make sure they stay clocked the way I want them.

Another little thing that can still be done is that I like how a tube looks with some bevel on the interior of the tube. It's just a little touch that I think looks nice.