First knife problems & questions

E

englishteacher

Joined
Oct 24, 2002
Messages
84
Hi All:

First of all, thank you so much for the great information on this forum. I have spent many hours reading here in preparation to make my first knife. I really appreciate this resource being available.

This knife is 1084 from Aldo's and made with files, sandpaper, and a hacksaw. No power tools yet except my hand drill.

Filing the bevels has taken me more than several hours, and I'm not too happy with it. As you can see, the plunge lines are different on each side. That is after making side to side adjustments already a couple of times. So first question is, can those be fixed and saved? Should I try to match them up better maybe with a chainsaw file?

And why am I not getting a more distinct horizontal bevel line?

So the other problem is that the blade got pretty thin, especially in front of the ricasso, because of how much I had to mess with the plunge lines. Is there anything I can do about that? I have read that can be a problem in heat treat. I have tried to show the thin edge in the third picture.

How can I get the deeper file gouges out of the plunge line? The knife is currently sanded with 80 grit.

How much should I keep messing with this one? Should I just start sanding and move on to heat treat? Should I scrap it and start over? Should I buy a KMG tomorrow?

OK, that's enough questions for now. Thank you!

Scott


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Welcome to Blade Forums. Doing the research you did will help a lot. I started filing my bevles too, it takes forever, but is totally worth it. If you have 3,000 to spend on a KMG, I'd say go for it, haha, BUT, if your like most of us... A 2x42 will be good to get started and files work too:).
Back to your real question, I'd gently try with 60 grit sandpaper wrapped around a chainsaw file to try to even out your lines. That will also help get those file marks out. Definately finish it, put it on your belt, and use it!! It's a first knife, it doesn't have to be perfect and take it as a learning experience...then you'll look back and be proud of how far you've come:).
Definately looks waaaayyy better than my 1st already!!!
 
If you look through the videos in the stickys at the top of the page, there's a good one on using a chainsaw file for plunges.
One thing that will help your blade with symmetry is setting up the jig properly and consistently. Also spend a few extra minutes planning and marking the steel.
It may be the pictures but your center line looks wonky.
If you mark the centerline with a drill bit or height gauge, you can keep track of how much meat you need to remove.
You can paint the blade with some dykem or just a sharpie and scribe lines with a cheap caliper.
Don't give up!
 
Thank you for the feedback. Out of the hundred videos I watched, I somehow missed watching any on filing plunges. Lesson learned.

The center line is actually straight--just hard to get a picture of it. But it is thinner by the plunge than at the tip.

Despite the problems and hours of filing, I'm really enjoying the overall experience.
 
As far as the edge being too thin at the plung, this is easy to do even on a grinder. Stand the knife on its spine with the edge facing up and file the entire edge down a little until it's .025" or so at the thinnest. Then file the thicker parts down to match the thinnest which should be .025" or better. It shouldn't take much to thicken it back up. Keep going and see how it turns out. Everyone's got to start somewhere and they're all bad at first compared to the other guys on here!
 
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