Brian.Evans
Registered Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2011
- Messages
- 3,267
Well.......I had time tonight to go outside and screw up.
First, here are the pictures, then I'll talk about them.
Ok, first things first. This was a real quick swipe with 220 after grinding. I need to get a better sanding block made so I can get into those plunges better. They really are square, the reflection makes them look wonky. If I can get them sanded better, they will look nice. Regardless, this was a very quick down and dirty 3 minute sand job.
The third picture is at an angle from the butt to the plunge. The grinds aren't perfect, but they are better.
Maybe on the next blade, I will get the plunge lines where I want them. I stopped grinding a little ahead of where I wanted them, but then I skipped the belt over the edge and had to file them back a bit. Hopefully I don't lose too much space in the ricasso area. I lost a bit, but I didn't measure it.
Of course, I messed up and burnt the edge, so the blade lost about 3/16-1/4" of the width. Which of course means I had to narrow the handle. Which in turn means this knife, which was barely wide enough anyway, is no longer wide enough for comfortable food prep, and will be relegated to EDC status. Dang. There's always next time.
I do have a confession to make.
Part of the reason why I burnt the edge and had to make it narrower is because I ground this knife free hand. That's right; every other knife save the first three I have ground with a jig. I guess i didn't think i could I do it right without the jig. I used a magnet to hold the blade so I didn't burn my fingers. The downside to a jig is that your table angle has to be exact or the grind doesn't come out right. Freehand grinding was liberating, and it didn't feel like I was cheating. It felt right.
So there, forgive me bladesmiths, for I sinned. But no more, nay, I have seen the light. No more jigs for me!
Still thinking about handle material. Since this is now an EDC instead of food prep, I'm going to go with wood of some sort, or linen/paper micarta. Maybe corian. I'm thinking either a nice stabilized burl, or ivory micarta. Still not sure about the pin placement.
Ivory micarta with a mosaic front pin and a lanyard tube might be nice.
As always, comment away.
First, here are the pictures, then I'll talk about them.
Ok, first things first. This was a real quick swipe with 220 after grinding. I need to get a better sanding block made so I can get into those plunges better. They really are square, the reflection makes them look wonky. If I can get them sanded better, they will look nice. Regardless, this was a very quick down and dirty 3 minute sand job.
The third picture is at an angle from the butt to the plunge. The grinds aren't perfect, but they are better.
Maybe on the next blade, I will get the plunge lines where I want them. I stopped grinding a little ahead of where I wanted them, but then I skipped the belt over the edge and had to file them back a bit. Hopefully I don't lose too much space in the ricasso area. I lost a bit, but I didn't measure it.
Of course, I messed up and burnt the edge, so the blade lost about 3/16-1/4" of the width. Which of course means I had to narrow the handle. Which in turn means this knife, which was barely wide enough anyway, is no longer wide enough for comfortable food prep, and will be relegated to EDC status. Dang. There's always next time.
I do have a confession to make.
Part of the reason why I burnt the edge and had to make it narrower is because I ground this knife free hand. That's right; every other knife save the first three I have ground with a jig. I guess i didn't think i could I do it right without the jig. I used a magnet to hold the blade so I didn't burn my fingers. The downside to a jig is that your table angle has to be exact or the grind doesn't come out right. Freehand grinding was liberating, and it didn't feel like I was cheating. It felt right.
So there, forgive me bladesmiths, for I sinned. But no more, nay, I have seen the light. No more jigs for me!
Still thinking about handle material. Since this is now an EDC instead of food prep, I'm going to go with wood of some sort, or linen/paper micarta. Maybe corian. I'm thinking either a nice stabilized burl, or ivory micarta. Still not sure about the pin placement.
Ivory micarta with a mosaic front pin and a lanyard tube might be nice.
As always, comment away.
