First Knife Screw Up - Finished Product

J

jwalk84

Joined
Jun 30, 2011
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101
I am in the process of attempting to make my first knife and I screwed some stuff up. I apologize in advance for my improper use of terminology. :)

I am using the stock removal method with files only on a piece of 1/8" 1095 (I know, not the smartest choice for the first knife). I had a little, okay pretty big, slip of the file and gouged the bevel pretty good. By the time I got done with the bevels and sanding out the gouge I am pretty much down to a final edge on the blade.

My question, is it still possible to get the knife heat treated without any real thickness left on the edge or will it warp so much that I should scrap this one and try again? Is there any other way to go about saving this one?

Thank you very much in advance for any help!
 
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You can give it a try, or you can re-profile the edge until it is back to a reasonable thickness. Warpage, or lack thereof, depends on a lot more than just edge thickness, so it's not entirely predictable. Wish I could give you a better answer, but having come as far as you have it seems worthwhile to give it a try, if the only alternative is to scrap it.
 
I agree with Justin at this point your best option it to grind the edge of the blade back to where it is approx. as thick as a dime. That should keep it from warping and maybe won't change the profile all that much. I had to do the same with a few when I first started grinding on a real grinder. My first ones where done by (hand file) so I didn't have that problem but when I switched to grinding the bevels in I occasionally went too far in a quest to get the grind right. I saved a couple by flatting backthe edge to a dimes thickness and making any unnecessary changes at that point before proceeding.
 
Justin and Dixie, thanks very much for the replies. As for grinding the edge back, would I just actually do that, grind directly on the edge?
 
Just sand the edge back to dull. Go to 400 grit. About .020-.030 is the target thickness. Sanding the edge smooth and round the corners will greatly reduce warping and cracking.
 
I would probably actually use a single cut file, but with a draw filing motion rather than cross-filing. Filing across the edge might bend it, if it is thin enough.
 
Just for reference here is the knife I am talking about and it is definitely a work in progress. Any other suggestions or comments would be much appreciated as this is my 1st Knife and it has been quite the learning process!

Thanks again for all the help.

IMG_5353.jpg

IMG_5352.jpg
 
Well here is the finished product, my 1st knife. I know it is definitely not perfect, and there are lots of things I learned are on my first try.

Please let me know what you think, good and bad.

Thanks to all the guys on the forum that answered questions and helped me fix and finish this.

DSCN0055.jpg

DSCN0054.jpg
 
One your wrap you probably could hide the tag end on the other side. Looks good, how does it cut?
 
Great idea and I didn't even think about that. As for the cutting, I have been happy so far. Just used some cardboard and a few other things, but so far so good.

Sharpening in itself is a whole other thing that I am just learning about.
 
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