Design Critique / Steel & Grinder questions

[Bordo]

Rather then makes a few threads I thought I'd cram it all into one. I'm also very new at this so bare with me and my possibly silly questions.

First off I been fooling around with a design and some variations it. They're all 6" OAL or less. I guess they'd be considered EDC's? I plan on cutting them out in some plexy or cardboard this weekend. Before i do that I would appreciate a critique of them so if there's anything wrong with the design I could fix em up.

Next has to do with Steel. How do you decided what thickness would be best for a knife? Is it based on size and desired usage? What would someone use for a bowie, hunting knife, edc, etc...

Finally, Belt Grinders for a newbie. I see two suggestions on here. Craftsman 2x42 w/ mod or buy / make better and it would pay for itself later. The craftsman w/ mod would most likely run me about $250 because I don't have any parts to use on the mod. Making a NWG or buying a grizzly or Kalamazoo ~$500. I'm leaning towards the nwg because I think it would better in the long run and not have the design flaws I hear the other grinders would have. I guess I'm wondering if that's a good or bad idea...

Thanks for the help!

John

 

[Hengelo_77]

I like the design of the small knife in your 2nd drawing. It looks handy.
For the top knife I'd go for a bit more belly. It has quite an acute angle IMHO I like them rounder (like the small knife)
And why not just file your first knives?

There are sitckies as the first threats over here with tons and tons of information.
They should keep you busy for a few evenings

The thicker steel you chose the more metal needs to be removed.

 

[Bordo]

I have a wip thread going for my first knife and after that I'll probably make a few more with a file as well...I'm just thinking about a few months down the line when I'm ready for the next step

 

[lonepine]

You didn't give any measurements but you drew on graph paper. What is the length of a single square of the graph paper? I'm guessing 1/2 inch.

It looks to me that you think that because you have 1 1/2 inch wide steel then your blades should be that wide also. As well as your handles. IMHO you should use the width of the steel to put some curve and grace into the design and make them less "chubby" looking.

- Paul Meske

 

[Bordo]

5 11/16 #1
4 7/8 #2&4
6 1/4 #3

Those are the OAL of the knives... I drew them for any size piece of steel... I just like the smaller fixed blades and came up with these guys... I'll definitely work on fixing the belly of the blade though

 

[lonepine]

I stand corrected.
- Paul Meske

 

[Bordo]

Fixed the belly of one of them just to see if thats the direction you guys were talking about...