First knife, first problems.

[Alarion]

I'm filing my first knife's blade by hand.
The blade is designed so to have, along its length, a connvex and a concave portion, much like a kukhri or a falcata (but less pronounced).
Filing the convex part has been no problem. i'm giving the blade a flat grind. The corner bewteen the flats of the blade and the bevels is nice and crisp. The concave area is hell. All right, I knew beforehand that it was quite difficult, but I can't get a decent crisp corner there no matter what I do.
Moreover things are gonna get worse when the blade will be heat treated and I'll have to sand it by hand...
Suggestions?

 

[peter nap]

You may want to raise your grindline and have it go straight across. Good luck, this is one of the tricky areas for beginners. Don't get in a hurry. It's harder to keep the flats flat with a file. They look OK but can be rounded without much trouble.

 

[RobertHankins]

You will quickly realize that a file is used by feel! Patience and practice will get you where you want to be. When you get sick of filing on it,n set it aside and work on something else for a day or so. Then go back you will see something you missed the last time and usually be able to fix it.
Just keep pluggin away you will be glad you stuck with it.

 

[Dementia]

hmm.. what to say that hasnt already been said?
i Totally agree on making sure you set it aside ... dont try to get that few minutes worth of time .. it messes things up everytime ..


boy, i have the voice of experience when its coming from me.

i file ever single one of my blades .. and the one thing i like to keep in mind is that you arent on a belt sander ... things move .... s-l-o-w-l-y ...
im sure you are doing a good job ..

so thats my 2c's worth of useless help.

D.

 

[peter nap]

Both Robert and D. made a point that is perhaps the most important aspect of knife making. It doesn't matter if you are grinding or filing, sometimes it just won't cooperate. Put it away, start another one take time off but get away from it. Some makers here can forge em, grind em and finish em, all in a half a day. I can't. They just don't turn out right if I try. I get tired then mad then screw up.

I'm certain it will turn out fine and am looking for ward to seeing it.