Convexing a Machax by hand- WIP (Pic Heavy)

cbwoods67

cbwoods67

Joined
Oct 12, 2010
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So after using my Machax for a while, I have decided to convex it. It bites real well, up until it reaches the primary bevel. So I decided to knock the shoulders off of it and thin it out a little.

First step, dull the edge. (I had to run the edge down a file after this.)
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Then the handles gotta come off. Sorry about the crappy pic.
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I decided that it would be a good idea to sand the coating off, so it wouldn't clog up my file.
15 minutes and a couple slices of 60 grit later.
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Other side.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0uvHYs1iRVA/T8JoJB52tcI/AAAAAAAAAlo/uewYpRpaACA/s640/004.JPG[img]

Coating, I SMITE you!
[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k0FAxkz6Wg0/T8JoaTgdHpI/AAAAAAAAAl4/5nKvxP9JxTk/s640/006.JPG

Next I chalked up a file.
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And started filing.
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i convexed mine by hand and it doesnt look like that . looks like you are thinning yours out a bit more though .
 
Cool, can't wait to see it!
 
Did some more filing.
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This is just a little bit of the steel that got filed away.
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Don't file into the edge. Trust me.
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It's to the point where I can no longer feel the shoulders of the bevel, so I took it out and it went through 1 inch branches with ease, without an edge.
Pretty anxious to see how it chops once I finish and get an edge back on it.

Also, probably going to make a trip to town at some point and pick up a crap load of sandpaper to even out the scratch pattern..
Hand polished Machax, anyone?
 
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Intriguing. Im curious to see how the finished blade will look.

I may be missing something here, chalk on your file? Never heard of that before, what is it for?
 
thrillbilly said:
Intriguing. Im curious to see how the finished blade will look.

I may be missing something here, chalk on your file? Never heard of that before, what is it for?
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A little bit of chalk in the bottom of the file teeth prevents shavings from clogging up the file. Sort of like a dry lubricant.
 
cbwoods67 said:
A little bit of chalk in the bottom of the file teeth prevents shavings from clogging up the file. Sort of like a dry lubricant.
Click to expand...

interesting. Ive done a lot of filing but never knew that tip...will have to try it out, thanks for the pointer
 
Personally I'd never convex an edge with a file but hey, your knife your rules I guess. Why'd you dull the edge before convexing?
 
CamH_16 said:
Personally I'd never convex an edge with a file but hey, your knife your rules I guess. Why'd you dull the edge before convexing?
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So I wouldn't do this.:p
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I really enjoy working with my hands. There is something therapeutic about it. In the same vein as using stones to sharpen a knife.
Also, I don't have a belt grinder.
 
Very nicely done! You are correct, mine was just for the edge and not the entire primary bevel. I gotta say, you got some brass ones to be doing that. It looks like it is coming along very, very nicely though. Good work!
 
Looks awesome!
I am thinking that you could hit it with 220 and up, and it would clean up very nicely....
 
Did some more filing. Think I may be done.
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I can no longer feel the shoulders, and it is a smooth transition all the way down to the (unsharpened) edge, except at the beginning of the bevel, as evidenced in the pictures.
Think I may head into town and get some sand paper.
 
Mind taking a photo from the tip to the handles, so we can see what your convexing looks like? You, my friend, need a belt grinder :) That's a lot of elbow grease. I'll be interested to see what your end result is after hand polish.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
Mind taking a photo from the tip to the handles, so we can see what your convexing looks like? You, my friend, need a belt grinder :) That's a lot of elbow grease. I'll be interested to see what your end result is after hand polish.
Click to expand...

I tried getting a couple. That is one tough angle to catch, especially in my poorly lit dungeon.
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Made a trip to town only to discover that the autobody store was closed for Memorial Day
 
WOW I couldn`t see the real difference until the longways edge pics ,great job I bet she will be a real slicer when she`s done.
 
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