First Run - My works in progress...

A

alclark2

Joined
Feb 6, 2014
Messages
306
I've got the bug to make a few fixed blades based off a few traditional patterns that I own. I picked up a 1x30 grinder and a drill press. I'm finding out that I want to get a lot more tools. 2x72 Grinder, a small wheel to get into concave areas, a band saw, etc.. A lot of this I'm doing the hard way. Anyway, this is what I'm working with...

https://flic.kr/p/EEbq3b by Aaron Clark, on Flickr

I ordered up some 1095 for the ease of heat treat. I still need to work on these...

https://flic.kr/p/FzNhvQ by Aaron Clark, on Flickr

Nothing for sale here. Just having some fun making a few fixed blades as a hobby. I'll update this work in progress. Any suggestions or help along the way would be appreciated.
 
I moved my shop to my office in my barn...


Some projects... I put this on to show the Zulu I finished
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PjV7y2]

My heat treat has been lacking. I had to do a differential heat treat. That sounds really fancy and may not be the correct terminology. What happened was I couldn't get the entire knife up to temp in my mini forge with a propane torch or mapp gas. So.... I brought the edge up to an orange and quenched in canola oil. I'd say its too hard even after tempering but it is what it is. I've been cutting cardboard and using it for a few general cutting tasks. It took a while to get a good edge on it but, It will cut.

I thought I had more pictures of the blade post heat treat and clean up but I do not.

Here is a pictures mocked up with the micarta handles.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Pjm9L9]

Shaping of the handles... I love me some Traditional patterns
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NPKfeA]

I pulled it apart to prep for epoxy. 80 grit
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Pk5Dm1]

Epoxy... time to wait. I used the 12 hours epoxy so I had plenty of time to put it together properly.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/N9Yzuk]

After going from 80-400-buffing wheel with green compound
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PhovXS]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nfuehs]

Anyway, it was a fun build. I need to improve my heat treating. I'm in the process of building a propane burner. I'd like to get a new grinder also. This harbor freight 1x30 isn't doing it for me. It will be handy to have but I want a bigger belt. On to the next knife....
 
as i was slowly scrolling down looking and reading, i saw those three folding folding knives and almost fainted thinking those were your first 3 knives :D looking good !
 
john april said:
as i was slowly scrolling down looking and reading, i saw those three folding folding knives and almost fainted thinking those were your first 3 knives :D looking good !
Click to expand...
Ha! Tony Bose hunter, GEC Viper, Dr t Lanny's clip... That backpocket is a Hampton. Sorry for the confusion there. The terrible looking stuff is mine. I wanted my first knife to be 100% free hand. Looks terrible but I'm going to work on making a jig to clean up my lines.
 
Really cool. It's great that you have the opportunity to get into making knives by hand and I definitely think for your first knife it turned out pretty dang awesome. Sounds like you will be investing in some new and better tools to facilitate your process. Look forward to seeing what you come up with down the road. Great work though, keep it up.
 
Looks good for your first, learned a lot didn't you? Mistakes happen as a means for getting better.
 
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