Finally my turn for a WIP!

[pedervisti]

Nice!! thanks for taking the time to make a WIP like this, and btw that knife is going to be sweet!!! love the design!! can't wait, very informative!!

Peder Visti

 

[Bruce Bump]

Bruce I may have slightly modeled the clamp after yours. (read: did my best to copy it)

Patrice

I'm honored. Works good doesnt it?

I'm enjoying your WIP. That bloodwood is going to look killer!

 

[silverforgestudio]

Patrick- a question- I am a newbie- so pardon my ignorance- does the bloodwood have to be stabilized? I have read it is a high-silica wood- but would you oil this or laquer? Since you are using it- I figured I would ask- I am loading up on info for my wip and bloodwood has come up in my thoughts several times...

 

[panch0]

Thanks for the great tutorial. I like the way you glued the guard on there.

 

[Josh Dabney]

Is the same Patrice who sat out of the 2009 Christmas KITH because he wasn't ready ??????

I knew you were pulling our chains with the not ready business !

Great WIP buddy, Josh

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks for the good words guys. I don't think I deserve all these praises but don't let that stop you from posting more.

Silver, I am no expert so I can't say for sure. I just know it takes a real nice shine so I guess it doesn't need to.

Thanks again, let's post a few more...

Patrice

 

[Patrice Lemée]

*insert your favorite swear word here*
Remember when I said that I should use a real drill stop instead of my piece of tape. I drilled a little too deep and broke through when shaping the handle. Another learning experience. Why can't we learn the easy way instead of the hard way?

Probably many different ways to fix this but I went with the simplest I could think of. Used a endmill in the hand drill and made a nice round hole. Turned a pin on the lathe to fit in there tight and epoxied in place.

Back to shaping the handle using the Dremel. Still a lot of work to do but I think we are closing in on the right balance between blade and handle.

More to come...

Patrice

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Ok I posted these pics in another thread about “What to improve once you have the basics down” but I thought that it would be a good idea to post them here too since I think it is something important to try and work on. And of course it is part of the WIP so here goes.

Here is the handle before.

And after tweaking the shape. I would try to explain where the difference lies if you can't see it but I have a hard time putting it into words. Go see the thread I've talked about, Stacy Apelt explained it much better.

Some more shaping and finishing of the guard. All done with a combination of files, Dremel and sandpaper. I won't list steps as I am pretty much a brand spanking newbie at this part and experimenting on what works best. Two things I found out. 1. I love the Dremel, once you get used to the different types of abrasives (and I still have a few to explore) it is very useful in the shaping process. 2. I may do some more shaping BEFORE attaching the handle next time. You have to be very careful when working next to the wood not to gouge it since it is much softer than the guard. Not sure if it's how makers do it. Maybe some with more experience will chime in.

Guard before, looks very blocky.

Guard after, could be better of course but hopefully you can see what I mean by the first looking more “newbiish” and the second a little more refined. The whole thing is about 220 grit. Now we just progress to finer and finer grits.

Patrice

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Patrice.
You got the point exactly. The difference optically between a curve and a straight line is huge. I really like what you did with the guard - very creative. You have a good eye for lines. That handle really POPS now.

Stacy

 

[arrowhead]

This has been really interesting, Pat. I enjoy seeing how different people approach doing something. I'm not above stealing a trick now and then.

As easy as it is to find round stock in different materials I think you just like to run that lathe.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

As easy as it is to find round stock in different materials I think you just like to run that lathe.

Actually finding round stock in precise sizes is hard. I mean locally at hardware stores of course.
But in the end yeah! I love to run the lathe. A nice old Southbend 9A. What's not to like.

Thanks for the good words.

Patrice

 

[arrowhead]

Actually finding round stock in precise sizes is hard. I mean locally at hardware stores of course.
But in the end yeah! I love to run the lathe. A nice old Southbend 9A. What's not to like.

Thanks for the good words.

Patrice

Got a welding supply there? They will have brass ( bronze actually) and stainless in different sizes starting at 1/16" and going to 1/4" by 32nds X 36" long. That is also the cheapest place I've found to buy it.

Oops, I forgot you use that funny way to measure things up there. I just can't get the hang of centimeters and millimeters and such. Still the rod should match the drill bit. I think.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

Patrice

 

[69_knives]

The knife is looking really good, Patrice, and that bloodwood is gorgeous.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Finally a little progress. Here the handle is sanded to 800 grit. The little dot in the middle of the pin is from the lathe center when I turned it to size. Should have make it a tad longer. Another learning experience.

To the buffer with green chrome. Bloodwood does take a nice polish.

As suggested by Nick Wheeler (Thanks again by the way for the tips) I taped the handle with good painter's tape.

Hand sanded the guard to 1000 grit. Then hit it with the green chrome on the buffer again. Her is the knife as it stands. I am still unhappy with the guard. Underneath the front if it where if slopes down there is still too much material. The curve looks a little awkward compared to handle and blade. But it will stay like this. I already have learned a lot and I am ready to start the next one. All that is left is to do is etch my mark (should have done it before the etch, I'll loose that nice dark patina when I clean the mark ). Then a sheath, sharpening and some better pictures.

Stay tuned.

Patrice

 

[NickWheeler]

Looks very nice Patrice!!! :thumbup:

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Nice job, Patrice.
Stacy

 

[Robert Mayo]

Patrice you have done a great job :thumbupn this knife get your mark on it and be proud to show it off.

Bob

 

[johnggrg]

I knew that is was going to look sweet. Great looking knife and a great WIP thread. Thank you for sharing. John

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks guys for the words of encouragement. I really love the blade and the handle but I am a little disappointed that the guard is not up to par with them. I'll do better next time hopefully.

Patrice