- Joined
- Dec 27, 2010
- Messages
- 6,852
Stay with it! It's pretty darn satisfying when the grinds start clicking for you. I'm looking forward to seeing more pics once you get it saved.
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First Knife WIP
- Thread starter Varga Knives
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2006
- Messages
- 1,302
Okay, so this may seem a bit discombobulated to throw pictures of another knife making attempt into my first WIP but since I can't finish anything up without a drill press that leaves me with grinding away at the bar stock I have and finishing some up to the point where you guys would normally drill.
I tried fixing up the first one but haven't finished it yet. More hand sanding and some work on the plunge.
So, in the meantime, I have been itching to try out the Bubble Jig. I profiled a blank by kind of improvising it on the fly. Won't do that again as it's okay but not a profile I am really happy with. I should have but didn't take any pictures of the whole knife.
After a few passes with the Bubble Jig I was ready to throw it out but I quickly got the hang of it.
I ran into one problem with the Bubble Jig bevel clamp but I am waiting for a reply from Fred before I comment further.
In the end I managed to screw it up like I always seem to do. I couln't get both sides exactly the same (one side had a curve and the other was straight) and kept working them until they both look like crap. This is a picture at the point I wish I could have stopped.
At least the plunge looks good. 
I tried fixing up the first one but haven't finished it yet. More hand sanding and some work on the plunge.
So, in the meantime, I have been itching to try out the Bubble Jig. I profiled a blank by kind of improvising it on the fly. Won't do that again as it's okay but not a profile I am really happy with. I should have but didn't take any pictures of the whole knife.
After a few passes with the Bubble Jig I was ready to throw it out but I quickly got the hang of it.
I ran into one problem with the Bubble Jig bevel clamp but I am waiting for a reply from Fred before I comment further.
In the end I managed to screw it up like I always seem to do. I couln't get both sides exactly the same (one side had a curve and the other was straight) and kept working them until they both look like crap. This is a picture at the point I wish I could have stopped.
At least the plunge looks good. 
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2009
- Messages
- 1,008
Something I notice in your pic RE: the jig, you should have the knife right up against the tightening screw, otherwise you're putting stress on the hardened arms and they can snap.
Fred.Rowe
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- May 2, 2004
- Messages
- 6,848
Mark,
I was just looking at the first photo on your above post and I noticed two things; the blade should be clamped up with the edge forward towards the bolt. The blade should always be clamped tight against the bolt; the hardened arms can break from being overtorqued with the blade in the center of the clamp. If you make both of these changes it will put you on the right path. I'll send you and e-mail with more concise info.
Regards, Fred
I was just looking at the first photo on your above post and I noticed two things; the blade should be clamped up with the edge forward towards the bolt. The blade should always be clamped tight against the bolt; the hardened arms can break from being overtorqued with the blade in the center of the clamp. If you make both of these changes it will put you on the right path. I'll send you and e-mail with more concise info.
Regards, Fred
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2006
- Messages
- 1,302
Sorry, I hadn't been very motivated to reply or do much with knives in quite a while all thanks to Sandy. I can't and won't complain. I had about $11,000 in damage but I know many others faired far far worse and I am thankful. Horrible situation for many and my heart goes out to those who lost so much.
Thanks guys, you are of course right in that I had the blade locked in wrong. Thanks Fred for your PM's. I'll put all your advice into practice the next time I grind but right now I have a couple that I need to finish up for heat treat.
I bought a new drill press (well, it's actually 67 years old) and drilled some holes and hand sanded the bevels with the couple of hours I had this weekend.
The top one has a long way to go to be a salvage job. The middle one seems to be ready to send out. The bottom one has a lot more sanding and then the drilling, it is ugly but feels good in the hand. I might change the profile but probably not.
All in all I don't think I've asked as many questions as I really should have. Just in the sanding alone I have wasted so much time doing things one way and then starting over and doing it again. I think I learn better that way though and I'm getting the hang of it. Speaking of sanding, what takes me hours by hand all of you guys would probably accomplish in minutes with my KMG. Eventually I'll get there but I am less apt to take two step backwards when working by hand. It takes me a while but I like the results.
The drill press is an absolutely new experience for me as well but I like it. I'm going to post a seperate thread with pics of the drill because I think it is really working art. I don't know what kind of bits (totally unmarked) I was using to drill the first few holes. I know all you guys could probably tell what material the bits are for with your eyes closed but I gave up and went and bought a cobalt set. Money well spent as they push right through at 200 RPM. BTW the hole in the skull crusher is for a lanyard.
Thanks and any comments are welcome.
Thanks guys, you are of course right in that I had the blade locked in wrong. Thanks Fred for your PM's. I'll put all your advice into practice the next time I grind but right now I have a couple that I need to finish up for heat treat.
I bought a new drill press (well, it's actually 67 years old) and drilled some holes and hand sanded the bevels with the couple of hours I had this weekend.
The top one has a long way to go to be a salvage job. The middle one seems to be ready to send out. The bottom one has a lot more sanding and then the drilling, it is ugly but feels good in the hand. I might change the profile but probably not.
All in all I don't think I've asked as many questions as I really should have. Just in the sanding alone I have wasted so much time doing things one way and then starting over and doing it again. I think I learn better that way though and I'm getting the hang of it. Speaking of sanding, what takes me hours by hand all of you guys would probably accomplish in minutes with my KMG. Eventually I'll get there but I am less apt to take two step backwards when working by hand. It takes me a while but I like the results.
The drill press is an absolutely new experience for me as well but I like it. I'm going to post a seperate thread with pics of the drill because I think it is really working art. I don't know what kind of bits (totally unmarked) I was using to drill the first few holes. I know all you guys could probably tell what material the bits are for with your eyes closed but I gave up and went and bought a cobalt set. Money well spent as they push right through at 200 RPM. BTW the hole in the skull crusher is for a lanyard.
Thanks and any comments are welcome.