Beginning Knifemaker FAQ #3

[sharpsteel]

I have a slightly different request. I'd like some timesaving tips on doing good work, CUTE methods of work that while simple increase the quality/precision/safety of my efforts. What kinds of homemade tools do you guys use that someone without a tool and die shop can produce. How are your benches set up and why is your vise at one end rather than the other. Ways to maintain tools, sharpen drillbits by hand or get more use out of a file that's going dull. Stuff that the few books on knifemaking don't cover and that someone who isn't a former machinist wouldn't know. DonFogg's wbsite has a bunch of info like this and he is to be applauded/toasted/worshipped for sharing it.

Some of the stuff Sharky Tipps makes (his belt splitter for example) or J.P. Moss's Finishing Plane come to mind as the types of things that would fall in this category. Bob Engnath's Blades N'Stuff' catalog had bunch of these incorporated into it.

Part of the fun is solving the problems in unique ways but info like this would get more people involved and for those of you who teach classes broaden your audience.

 

[Spencer Stewart]

Homemade tools? Here's one that you only need a drill press to build: A scriber that marks a straight line along the edge of the blade to mark where to take the bevels to. it helps keep things symetrical. You can see a picture of it in the TX Knifemakers catalog. Perhaps someone with a scanner can put up a pic.

Another one is a sanding block. I heard of one fella using a hard rubber hockey puck and cutting it in half to give him a flat side for flats and a curved side for curves. A couple slots in the right places to hold the paper on.

Bench set up? I don't have a bench yet, I borrowed someone elses!

More out of a file? As long as you're not banging the file against something harder than itself, you can resharpen the file by dipping it in nitric acid. Heard that first from Roy Wilson on a couple of list servs. I haven't tried it yet, my files aren't dull yet.

I've seen pictures of a couple different set ups for vises. Mount one the normal way with the jaws above the benchtop. Mount another one perpendicular to that with the jaws out from the bench. This will afford a better hold on the blade while doing the flats and plunge cut because the vise will hold the blade parallel to the floor and not merely holding on to the edge and spine of the knife. unfortunately I don't have this set up yet.


Increase efficiency? Hmm, this one involves a bit of electricity. Dale Evans, a knifemaker south of town, uses a bench grinder to take some of the steel off the center of the tang before grinding the taper. This not only lightens the handle a bit more, but also causes less wear on the belts because there is less material to remove. Becareful that you don't go all the way through!

That's all for now!

Spencer

 

[sharpsteel]

Thank you very much - this is really good stuff. I made the center marker and will try to come up with an illustration to post back here.

Right now I'd really like some info on buffing out blades. The sequence of compounds ( emery, tripoli, white, dark grey, green chrome ) to follow and what kind of buffs to use with each and the rationale to adopt as far as speed. I've been experimenting but other than perfecting ways to burn myself really good I don't have it down just yet.

Any other sneaky stuff lurking out there???

 

[goshawk]

Using chalk on your files will make them last
longer because it keeps the teeth from plugging and seems to keep the teeth from
dulling faster. Putting pressure only on the
forward stroke and not dragging your file back will also save it.
benches --- Make them comfortable to stand
and work or sit and work at. The ideal is
to make two shorter benches at different
heights rather than one long one. Make them
to fit you and your equipment.

goshawk

------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk The race is not always to the swift, but he who hangs loose.
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!

 

[Spencer Stewart]

Another one I knew, but just learned officially...if that makes sense.

This from another fella whose name I can't recall: If the file feels like it's skating across the steel, you're pressing too hard and particles are hanging up in te grooves, thus making grooves in your blade.

If you have the k&g Finishing Supplies catalog, there you will find one of many proceedures to buff a blade. I'll see if I can put it up tomorrow.

Spencer

BTW, I'm a newbie too. Please don't mistake me for one who knows it all or pretends to know it all. I think that some rookies that are a bit farther along the the fresh rookies can help out with the few things they've learned so far. I would gladly sit at the feet of others, including other newbies. Hopefully, if the more experienced don't have to spend time on these questions, they can be available for some of the tougher ones.

Okay, jeffj, so this wasn't too bad an idea after all!

 

[sharpsteel]

Great stuff gentlemen. I gotta tell ya I prefer the chalk tip for files more than I like the thought of dunking them in NITRIC (yikes!!!!!) ACID.

Last week a counterman at Krivo industrial supply, here in Chicago, turned me on to an ergonomic, cushy file handle. It improved my filing immmediately. I'll find the box and tell you who the manufacturer is.