First Attempt at Rope File Work

D

dax51

Joined
Dec 9, 2009
Messages
65
Suggestions and Critique welcome.

Wanted to try some file work ... saw this simple pattern and gave it a try. Would like to find some other patterns.

Still need to clean up the blade a little and seal and finish handle.
 

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Tighten up the "rope" and make it look more like twists by angling the cuts more. It is too wide and the cuts are almost straight across as you did it. Look straight down on a piece of rope and you will see what I mean. Another good technique is to taper the twist (make the twists get closer) as you move away from the handle. You can carry that style down to nearly the point, getting smaller as you go.

That aside, the knife is very nice.
 
bladsmth said:
Tighten up the "rope" and make it look more like twists by angling the cuts more. It is too wide and the cuts are almost straight across as you did it. Look straight down on a piece of rope and you will see what I mean. Another good technique is to taper the twist (make the twists get closer) as you move away from the handle. You can carry that style down to nearly the point, getting smaller as you go.

That aside, the knife is very nice.
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Stacy,
Value your opinion and suggestions ... I want to get much better on every knife.
Can you show me an example I can try to follow?
Thanks
 
12345678910 said:
Rope:
http://www.medawebs.com/knives/tutorials/rope.htm

Vine
http://www.medawebs.com/knives/tutorials/vine.htm

S
http://www.medawebs.com/knives/tutorials/sfilework.htm
Click to expand...

While I appreciate that these are the standard traditional file working patterns, I don't have any problem with the O.P.'s filework.

I think you guys are steering him away from something that is even, carefully crafted and beautiful. Just because he said "rope" doesn't mean that he didn't do a good job.

Don't kill creativity by getting too stuck in traditionalism.
 
Los Angeles said:
While I appreciate that these are the standard traditional file working patterns, I don't have any problem with the O.P.'s filework.

I think you guys are steering him away from something that is even, carefully crafted and beautiful. Just because he said "rope" doesn't mean that he didn't do a good job.

Don't kill creativity by getting too stuck in traditionalism.
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He asked for more information including alternate patterns, which I provided.

There are many many others who will read this thread who will find the tutorial links useful.

I didn't say that he didn't do a good job, but if he is really aiming for a rope pattern, then Stacy's advice is spot on.



I assume that if a person asks a question they want an answer to that question.
 
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dax51 said:
Wanted to try some file work ... saw this simple pattern and gave it a try. Would like to find some other patterns.
Click to expand...

Agreed, nothing at all wrong with the OP's filework. Well done, in fact. Just answering his question.
 
1234567890,

Clearly my post is being misinterpreted as some kind of insult. That was not my intention.

I didn't say your post was not wanted or not useful. It is wanted, welcome and extremely useful. So to be perfectly clear: Thank you for posting this information.

My post was an attempt to add information and ideas that I think can also be useful to artists. I was adding to this thread by saying that deviating from traditional methods also has its merits. In other words, he might not have made a "rope" pattern, but in missing the bullseye he hit the buck standing beside it. He certainly made a beautiful pattern. the gracefully arced and polished spaces between the lines is a very charming design element. All other posts have told him to remove or "tighten up" his pattern, and that would kill the best and most appealing part of his filework design, whatever you want to call it.
 
Alright kids, everybody calm down. There were multiple parts to the question, especially the parts stating "suggestions and critiques welcome." Everything from there that is even remotely relevant is on-topic.

I must say that the tutorial on Frycustomknives.com is a great tutorial. Also, you can learn by taking a few hobby files and some scrap metal and just trying things, 4-5 repetitions at a time. I learned a couple nice patterns by screwing up on the tutorial and ending up with something that I really liked.
 
I sometimes have a hard time knowing how my posts come across, especially when I quote the wrong person (meant to quote bladsmith in the first place anyway).

I apologize for any disruption of the good-advice continuum.
 
Thanks to all.

This kind of went off, in a well intended, unexpected direction. I appreciate everyones constructive advise. I may not have achieved the result I wanted, but I believe the end result did not hurt the knife. My goal is to keep trying and improving with every blade I do. I will take everyone's suggestions and get to work.

I will post my next attempt.

If anyone has a good pic of a nice rope file work, please post it. I may do better if I can see it.

Thanks again
 
Here's the best shot I can find of mine. I don't have any looking straight down. Maybe I'll take one later.

Hope they help.

DmscBck2.jpg

DmscBck3.jpg
 
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