Finishing the Process

FIDDLEBACK - "Ironwood. ...(Horrid to sand and file though. It will clog a file so bad that you've got to soak it in oil for a day to get it clean. It laughs at my wire brush when I try to clean the file with it.)"
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Fiddleback, a suggestion here. Many years ago, I read (somewhere) how to clean out a clogged, but otherwise still good file.

This technique has worked for me cleaning some really gunked up files over the years.

Take an empty brass cartridge case -- .30-06 case works just fine -- and crush the neck flat in your vise. Then lay your file on a table, bench, etc., and just start gouging the flattened brass neck into the file's grooves. After a bit, the file itself will cut tiny "teeth" into the brass case and they will scrap out whatever residue is clogging the file's grooves.

Give it a shot and see if it works for you.

Very handsome knives there, by the way!

L.W.
 
wonderful craftsmanship as always. I really like the contrasts in wood colors!

How much time would you say you spend on each knife from start to finish? Along with that, after the handle is shaped ond the belt sander, how much of the finishing is done with file and hand sanding?
 
I'll give that file cleaning tip a shot Leanwolf. Thanks!

jawilder, Thanks! I wish I knew how many hours were in each knife. I do them in batches, so its hard to tell. I do know that once I've got the handle as far as I can go with the belt sander, it takes another 45 mins to an hour to get it perfect with sandpaper and files. After the belt sander, its all done with files and hand sanding. I think files are one of the most overlooked tools in the shop.
 
+1 on using files. If you're confident and know the shape you're after, they can be a great timesaver. I luckily bought a bunch of Nicholson files on the cheap from an old hardware store that was going out of business. Great tools for metal or wood.
 
Your an inspiration to all of us "tinkerers".

I remember a few years ago when you were first making knives thinking, Man, he has a really unique style, I think he's going to go places.
 
shotgunner11 said:
Your an inspiration to all of us "tinkerers".

I remember a few years ago when you were first making knives thinking, Man, he has a really unique style, I think he's going to go places.
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Hey thats cool. You must hang out around the HI section. Those guys got me started. Sylvrfalcn, Ferguson, Yvsa, etc.
 
Marcelo Cantu said:
Thanks Andy, Now I'm stuck refreshing that screen every four minutes until "later this week arrives"..:mad: :D
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There is bad news in my family right now, and I've got a funeral to go to. I'll probably postpone any sales till Monday.

Love that you want another one Marcelo!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
I am sorry to hear about your wife's uncle Andy,Those knives really turned out great I hope I have a chance at one of your bushcrafters.I have just one of your nessmuk's and love that thing I bougth it off of Mountain folk Mike he a great guy to deal with.
 
Dang andy, that blows man. My thoughts are with you brotha. Hope all is well, my condolences.
 
Those are nice looking knives. I like the rugged look they have with the way you finished the blades. The sheath is nice, but I kinda prefer a more antique hand sewn look. It seems almost a little too machine made perfect for a frontier style knife. I suppose it'll "roughen" up a bit with use anyways though. I wonder what techniques they used to hold scales to tangs before the invention of modern epoxies? Curious if they had some other kind of binding agent other than rivets. Anyways, thanks for posting those photos.
 
tracker 2 said:
I am sorry to hear about your wife's uncle Andy,Those knives really turned out great I hope I have a chance at one of your bushcrafters.I have just one of your nessmuk's and love that thing I bougth it off of Mountain folk Mike he a great guy to deal with.
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Thats cool. That one came fromt he first batch! Mike was the first person to get on the list too! 3/32 01 tool steel.
 
R.C.Reichert said:
Those are nice looking knives. I like the rugged look they have with the way you finished the blades. The sheath is nice, but I kinda prefer a more antique hand sewn look. It seems almost a little too machine made perfect for a frontier style knife. I suppose it'll "roughen" up a bit with use anyways though. I wonder what techniques they used to hold scales to tangs before the invention of modern epoxies? Curious if they had some other kind of binding agent other than rivets. Anyways, thanks for posting those photos.
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They peened pins. Still used today by guys that do metal bolsters. Many of them use no other means to hold those metal bolsters on there than peened pins.
 
I find it remarkable how they were able to get such tight-fitted scales without any gaps. In my own lack of experience, (I use the peened pins also) I find myself using epoxy more just as a filler for those faint hairline gaps between scale and tang. To get this perfect is a skill in itself. Do you find people you sell knives to more or less attracted to the rough finished blade look. I for one, like the rugged look of the knives you posted. I am not a fan of the typical modern day mirror polished stainless steel knives. Any time I pick up a knife that looks too shiny, I look for the Made in China stamp. I like the fact that you utilize convex ground edges on the blades without the choil area. It seems to make for a more fluid looking knife. Doesn't having a choil in a blade just cause a stress riser anyways?
Anyways, sorry to hear about you're recent loss of a good friend. You have my condolences. Randy.
 
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nice looking work there, good job.

i like those sheaths too. do they have beltloops on them?

nice clean etch there too. i need to get something together sooner or later...
 
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