Finish grinding a forged, flat ground Bowie blade w/ Nick Wheeler

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
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Since I have all three of these videos done (originally thought it would only be two) I figured I'd throw 'em up here in Shoptalk. :)


"Why?" you ask...


It's part of my campaign to become the most famous-est knife maker in the world!!! Mu Hu HaHaHaHa!!! (maniacal laughter). Okay, not really, but it sounded good... ;) :D


BTW- please make sure the video settings are on 720 HD to get the clearest picture. :)


Part 1-
[video=youtube;vZE5P6TYCdU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZE5P6TYCdU[/video]

Part 2-
[video=youtube;ssribfAn8TQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssribfAn8TQ[/video]


Part 3-
[video=youtube;PQ24NS-79vo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ24NS-79vo[/video]
 
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Awesome, brother Nick. Got my popcorn ready!!!!! And in 3......2.......1........ (MGM Lion's roar inserted here)

Video Part 1 @ 2:50.....yes yes yes yes yes.....I love it
 
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Why did you remove part 3? Can you post a video or two of how you put your final sharpened edge on and how you sharpen the clips?
 
I had said something in it that was really stupid--- One of those things you do when it's 2am and you're filming + grinding and you only had 4-5 hours sleep the night before. :foot: :o

So I took it down to edit that part out. No need to help myself look like a bigger dumb-ass than normal. :foot:

The edited copy will be back up in a minute. :)
 
i4Marc said:
Can you post a video or two of how you put your final sharpened edge on and how you sharpen the clips?
Click to expand...

Man, there's just no pleasing you people! :grumpy:



;) :p


I actually already shot the clips for that... I just need a helper monkey or more hours in a day to get them edited together. I have avoided a sharpening video like the plague, because everybody and their dog knows something about sharpening--- so it's almost like opening up a can of religion or politics. ;)


But since I've been documenting the whole process, and I had a few of the customers ask me to show how I sharpen, I figured I better put the target on my chest and do a video on it after all. :eek: ;)

Sharpening a clip on a hand finished blade is one of the things I hate most in this universe. If it was okay to just lay the bevel on the stone and sharpen away, it would be easy... but essentially I just try to KEEP it sharp off the grinder, so I just have to strop it when it's done.
 
You know it's really all your fault. You have spoiled us so naturally we just want more and more. Sharpening the main edge is not so much the issue although I am always interested in how others get their scary edges done. The area of most interest for me would be the clip. After I do all that hand sanding I can't just drag it across a stone as you mentioned. That's why I wanted to see how it's done by someone who has some experience with it.
 
I really enjoy getting to see videos like these. I always pick up helpful ideas and tips. Here's a stupid question for you-what's the little knife you use to cut off the extra paper when you put it on the disc? I've been using some razor blades and find they get all kinds of dull really fast...

And one last one-I KNOW I'd end up overheating the tip if I was grinding that clip... How do you manage not to? Just barely enough pressure and go slower?

Thanks for taking all of the time to post these and answer dumb questions from people like me... ;)

Jeremy
 
Very sweet. Wait for it, wait for it.......someone will come along and say that that's not the way it should be done and you are taking too long. Just wait.....;)
 
Nick, when all the knife making suppliers notice how popular your videos are, it's gonna be like NASCAR- you'll have sponsor decals everywhere but on your face.

Seriously, thanks for putting these up, I know how much time it takes, and for us visual learners there's nothing like seeing you work to inspire us to do just a little bit cleaner work.
 
I'll wear stickers on my face if it will buy me some more bacon! ;) :D

The knife I cut the disc with--- I have about 5 blades laying on that bench to cut paper with. Ironically, the one I grabbed was the closest one and is the only one that I didn't make, LMAO. It's just a Hyde utility knife that I ground thinner and changed the shape a little. It's probably 1095. They all get dull pretty quick doing that job.

Overheating--- sharp abrasives, light touch, and the speed is turned down. It's really not an issue. :)

Doc- It might not be posted, but I'm sure those thoughts are floating around. ;) :)


Maelstrom- I need a better camera... if you were standing next to me and saw the blade go from the 320X finish, to the 320X + backing pad + belt grease... You'd definitely understand. Maybe I can take a photo or something to show it better.

The belt grease is something I ordered when I bought my Burr King in 1996. So a little goes a long way. ;) I very, very, VERY RARELY use it on belts.... but I like what it will do with the disc. I put it on the blade, because putting it against the disc loads too much grease IMHO.
 
Nick, You are one up-standing dude. Of all the people on here, you are the one most willing to to share valuable knowledge. There are a lot of people here that share knowledge, like Stacy, well, there's a lot, but it seems you go above and beyond. A tip of the hat, my friend.
 
Thank you so much for these videos. They are so helpful and probably saved me a year or two of trial and error. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: I will have a busy day in the shop tomorrow.
 
Thanks guys!

Now if only this were a thread in a knife making forum with something really interesting and helpful, like one that caused people to question what country I'm from and where I get my materials, it could have 3 pages of replies too!!! :rolleyes: ;)
 
Just got done checking out how you do your clips. I have done a few so I know with time I should be able to pick it up. But I like it when it flows with the blade like you have done on that blade. I just need more practice to get that look that I am going for . I loose my nerve sometimes to do it for fear of ruining a knife. But thanks for the tip.
 
NickWheeler said:
Thanks guys!

Now if only this were a thread in a knife making forum with something really interesting and helpful, like one that caused people to question what country I'm from and where I get my materials, it could have 3 pages of replies too!!! :rolleyes: ;)
Click to expand...

Throw some dirt on your floors and start using man hole covers for your steel and maybe....just maybe you will get some love :)
 
Nick,
What hp was the disc grinder you were using in the second video? Do you reverse it when you grind the other side of the blade so it is always spinning the same relative direction?
Thanks...
 
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