First time making a knife WIP

Thank you for sharing your story worldwood it was taken to heart and thank you for serving in the military and protecting american freedom! :)

As for the swamp rat beckerhead thing if its not a group for making knives then nevermind that was what the impression i was under was.

Also good job on hand filling the bevel, i havent made a bevel on any of my knives yet and just found a 1" x 30" belt grinder on ebay for about $50 if your interested i can send you a link.

My first knife i did looked like a prison shank it was hacksawed from a 1 x 5 foot piece of non stainless steel and i hacksawed the blade diagonally down and just filed the sides to make it a little sharp it was more pointy then it was better for cutting.

Also, i orderd my first set of stainless steel sheet metal today so i should be getting them within the week. and also some camel or buffalo bone white scales to make the handles out of with some 1/8" pins.

So my knives should look a little more professional so to speak in the days to come following when my new equipment arrives.

If i had not already bought the belt grinder i would probably be hand filing a bevel right now just to spend my time on something but a belt grinder im sure will save alot of time and produce a good look as well.

Again, thank you worldwood,
Jacobs
 
NewCreation said:
Wow that is a lot of work, but looks incredible! I think the knives made by hand look wonderful.
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Thanks man, and i have a new found respect for the guys who do everything by hand. Its a lot of work, but as you watch stuff come together its all worth it.

Honestly though i think i spend more time fixing my mistakes at this point than i do making progress LOL

DunkEm said:
Looking good. I love the hatchet!
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Thanks bro, completely unpractical, but badass at the same time LOL.

I wanna make a few more of these mini hawks, maybe try a mini spike hawk as well and see how it throws.

The great thing about making knives for yourself is your under NO time constraints and can make whatever you feel like, whenever you feel like it. They might not come out like you envisioned, but thats part of the learning process im finding out.

jacobs said:
Thank you for sharing your story worldwood it was taken to heart and thank you for serving in the military and protecting american freedom! :)

As for the swamp rat beckerhead thing if its not a group for making knives then nevermind that was what the impression i was under was.

Also good job on hand filling the bevel, i havent made a bevel on any of my knives yet and just found a 1" x 30" belt grinder on ebay for about $50 if your interested i can send you a link.

My first knife i did looked like a prison shank it was hacksawed from a 1 x 5 foot piece of non stainless steel and i hacksawed the blade diagonally down and just filed the sides to make it a little sharp it was more pointy then it was better for cutting.

Also, i orderd my first set of stainless steel sheet metal today so i should be getting them within the week. and also some camel or buffalo bone white scales to make the handles out of with some 1/8" pins.

So my knives should look a little more professional so to speak in the days to come following when my new equipment arrives.

If i had not already bought the belt grinder i would probably be hand filing a bevel right now just to spend my time on something but a belt grinder im sure will save alot of time and produce a good look as well.

Again, thank you worldwood,
Jacobs
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No problem bud, thank you for the compliments! And it was my pleasure serving our country. One of the best choices i ever made despite the outcome and my injuries. Im still in pretty good shape physically, im lucky. A lot of great and better men were not as lucky as me. I messed my back up and had some brain trauma that resulted in grand mal epileptic seizures, but i havent had seizures in a few years and my back is still strong enough to do the things i really enjoy doing. Im home with my wife and children, i feel blessed honestly. Could always be worse!!

Back to knives :D I think the bevels are by far the hardest part. Takes the most time for me but also plays a HUGE role in how the knife will perform. And with these cheaper belt sanders its a lot harder to grind a good bevel on than to file one on IMO. They go very fast so one little mistake can remove a lot of steel and nearly ruin your piece. Filing is slower but mistakes come slower and are easier to fix.

One mistake im making is once i get something profiled out and like the shape i dont wanna ruin it so im hesitant about putting it up to the grinder, but this is only slowing me down both work wise and learning wise.

I have a 2x42 craftsman. Its FAST and i have yet to develop a feel for it. But ill be practicing a whole lot with it soon. I have 8 feet of 52100 on the way and plan to just cut sections off, put a tip like a dagger on all of them and use both sides front and back of each section to practice grinding bevels on. the only way to get better is to keep on trying. So thats what i plan to do!!

I also really need to get a ceramic platen put on mine. I can tell it will help a lot. The factory one i have already has gouges in it. That will be the next thing i order as money permits.

I got a few pieces of nice wood here, some cocobolo, some madagascar ebony, and some lacewood for handle scales. These were a gift from Dan Keffeler. An awesome buddy of mine that i had the pleasure of meeting when i got certified for BladeSports. But i dont want to ruin them practicing so i went to home depot and grabbed a few oak boards to practice on. I also have some 1/8" brass rods here to use as pins, and some T-88 epoxy. This will be another learn as i go thing because i have never made scales before. Ill have to try and use the hacksaw to cut them into size both length wise and thickness wise and then use the 2x42, sandpaper, and maybe files or a dremel to try and shape them. I have much reading to do on making handles. Only so many hours in the day and still so very much to learn.

Thanks again for the compliments and good luck with your hobby!!

Richard
 
Hey man, I grind all my blades on a piece of shit, 4x36 but I modified it using bolts, epoxy and half a ceramic tiles that I draw filed to fit the profile I wanted and it works great. Let me know if you want pics.
 
Harden Knives said:
Hey man, I grind all my blades on a piece of shit, 4x36 but I modified it using bolts, epoxy and half a ceramic tiles that I draw filed to fit the profile I wanted and it works great. Let me know if you want pics.
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I'd like to see it. Saw one on the web the other day that was a 2x72 DIY using a 3x24 handheld belt sander mounted in a frame to drive the belt. Very creative.

WW: You don't have to order a ceramic platen. 99¢ will buy a ceramic tile at HD and since I know you have JB Weld and clamps, you're good to go. Did mine a couple evenings ago, ready to mount back onto the grinder.

15194520978_0126552639_b.jpg


15194371239_f9dbafb27b_b.jpg


I used a 2x6 edge tile ('cause I couldn't find a field tile in the same size and didn't want to cut tile) and I think it's gonna work just fine. Had to flatten the back of the tile with some sandpaper on the bench. Scuffed up the platen, alcohol wiped it, mixed up some JB Weld and clamped the tile on. Feels sturdy enough....I'll be finding out soon enough.
 
Harden Knives said:
Hey man, I grind all my blades on a piece of shit, 4x36 but I modified it using bolts, epoxy and half a ceramic tiles that I draw filed to fit the profile I wanted and it works great. Let me know if you want pics.
Click to expand...

Yea bud id love to see how you modded it up when you get a chance!! Your grinds do look nice!!

granitestateofmind said:
WW: You don't have to order a ceramic platen. 99¢ will buy a ceramic tile at HD and since I know you have JB Weld and clamps, you're good to go. Did mine a couple evenings ago, ready to mount back onto the grinder.

I used a 2x6 edge tile ('cause I couldn't find a field tile in the same size and didn't want to cut tile) and I think it's gonna work just fine. Had to flatten the back of the tile with some sandpaper on the bench. Scuffed up the platen, alcohol wiped it, mixed up some JB Weld and clamped the tile on. Feels sturdy enough....I'll be finding out soon enough.
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WHAT 99 cents? what you think im a millionaire? Spend spend spend, want want want. :D

Just kidding! The edge tiles come in 2x6 already? Thats perfect, ill have to pick one up stat.

Thanks for the pictures!

BallewBlade said:
Well I would say you are off to a good start!
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Thank you very much!!
 
dumb office firewalls won't let me see the vid, will have to wait til I get home. Keep posting pics, dude, it's always good to see progress. I went on a metal binge on Friday, was cutting, profiling and starting some bevels for 4 hours straight, as I want to send a batch to Peter's and have them back before Christmas.
 
granitestateofmind said:
I'd like to see it. Saw one on the web the other day that was a 2x72 DIY using a 3x24 handheld belt sander mounted in a frame to drive the belt. Very creative.

WW: You don't have to order a ceramic platen. 99¢ will buy a ceramic tile at HD and since I know you have JB Weld and clamps, you're good to go. Did mine a couple evenings ago, ready to mount back onto the grinder.

15194520978_0126552639_b.jpg


15194371239_f9dbafb27b_b.jpg


I used a 2x6 edge tile ('cause I couldn't find a field tile in the same size and didn't want to cut tile) and I think it's gonna work just fine. Had to flatten the back of the tile with some sandpaper on the bench. Scuffed up the platen, alcohol wiped it, mixed up some JB Weld and clamped the tile on. Feels sturdy enough....I'll be finding out soon enough.
Click to expand...

Pics per request.

MEUNr0l.jpg

dZsCg23.jpg

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The thing probably has 300+ hours on it and is falling apart, hence the "ad" in my signature looking to buy used grinders lol

If you would like any help with this mod, just shoot me a PM.
 
Thanks fellas.

Harden, is that tape on the top wheel? What purpose does it serve? Help with tracking?


So i wanted to do a saber grind, but the way the top bevel line curves bothers me quite a bit. And it would probably NOT happen the same way on the other side. So i may just go FFG with it now. What do you guys think?

15388030265_5d130e5746.jpg
 
worldwood said:
Thanks fellas.

Harden, is that tape on the top wheel? What purpose does it serve? Help with tracking?


So i wanted to do a saber grind, but the way the top bevel line curves bothers me quite a bit. And it would probably NOT happen the same way on the other side. So i may just go FFG with it now. What do you guys think?

15388030265_5d130e5746.jpg
Click to expand...

Yup. Black electrical tape to give the wheel a crown for tracking
 
Ray Settanta said:
You're coming along nicely, WW. Has Jerry contacted you yet to make some prototypes for him?:D
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LMAO!! Yea man he has been blowing me up... Im holding out for a better offer :D -j/k

Harden Knives said:
Yup. Black electrical tape to give the wheel a crown for tracking
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Ah, thanks bud, i may need to try that!!


Well the curve on the bevel was bothering me so i flat ground it. I still have to do the other side then ill do some hand sanding... Well as soon as i pick up some sandpaper LMAO
15392215412_476f65ef95.jpg
 
Thanks fellas!!

Now as long as i can do the the other side and get some holes drilled in the handle without screwing it up i will be happy with it :D
 
On your next one WW, drill your handle holes before you grind your edge. That way if you have any kind of mishap with with your drilling procedure you don't have a semi sharp knife making death spins on your drill press. Safety first!
 
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