Help A Beginner

[fitzo]

..... What about a good brand of files? These China-made files wear out on one blade.....

Nicholson and Grobet are two good brands of files. When filing, remember always push file in one direction only. "Sawing" back and forth dulls them quickly. Clean files frequently with a 'file card" to keep little bits out that would otherwise gall the workpiece.

 

[deker]

Thanks. I have lots to learn. Do know of a particular drill bit brand that I should look for? Would tunsten carbide help? I think the bits I'm trying to use are cobalt, made in China. What about a good brand of files? These China-made files wear out on one blade.

For drill bits, it depends on what you're looking for. For the carbide tipped masonry bits I mentioned I use whatever the store has. They'll do the job, but be extra sure to back your workpiece or they'll frag themselves the first time you use them. Other bits I generally call a good supplier like Fastenal or MSC or something and get their good quality HSS bits. There is no economy to buying cheap drill bits.

For files, Nicholson are good (available at Home Depot/Lowes). Simmonds also makes good files. However, for most general rough file work, buy Craftsman. Sears will replace them when you wear them out. Just don't wear any type of uniform when you take them back or they'll think you use them "professionally" and won't honor the warrantee (you need to buy the "professional grade" stuff for that and they charge an arm and a leg for it).

-d

 

[David Wesner]

However, for most general rough file work, buy Craftsman. Sears will replace them when you wear them out.

-d

Even files I did not know that . I'm gonna check Sears Files out next time I need to buy

 

[jlr102846]

Sears should have changed their name and entire business to Craftsman-Kenmore! I've always thought Cratsman is the best....if for no other reason than Sears' outstanding guarantee. But, unfortunately, I seldom think of the Sears name when I'm in a tool bind.

Attatching small pic of my 1st knife. But, alas.......my mirror finished blade that should have come out shining like chrome, appears in photo looking black. At least I think it gives a hint of what a guy with 2 paralyzed hands can do sitting down.

thanks
JIM

 

[butcher_block]

Sears should have changed their name and entire business to Craftsman-Kenmore! I've always thought Cratsman is the best....if for no other reason than Sears' outstanding guarantee. But, unfortunately, I seldom think of the Sears name when I'm in a tool bind.

Attatching small pic of my 1st knife. But, alas.......my mirror finished blade that should have come out shining like chrome, appears in photo looking black. At least I think it gives a hint of what a guy with 2 paralyzed hands can do sitting down.

thanks
JIM

thats better then my first knife but then again i had to good hands to try and make things go faster like mess up
im betting if i had to do more thinking before acting my first one would have looked better

nice work looks like you are on your way

 

[deker]

Even files I did not know that . I'm gonna check Sears Files out next time I need to buy

Right on the back of the file packages it has the guarantee....I was amazed.

-d

 

[Don Robinson]

Outstanding, Jim. Congratulations.

 

[balibalistic]

Now that is an excellent first knife,you have skills my friend

 

[miden]

Jim,
black chrome has it's place too. The pic shows a good knife.
You do a good job.Congrats man.

Mike

 

[jlr102846]

Jim,
black chrome has it's place too. The pic shows a good knife.
You do a good job.Congrats man.

Mike

Thanks Mike.......but seriously, the blade is the color of mercury, not at all that gun-blue color that it appears to be. I'm gonna try to get a more representative image. Was just impatient to show a little something.

 

[jlr102846]

thats better then my first knife but then again i had to good hands to try and make things go faster like mess up
im betting if i had to do more thinking before acting my first one would have looked better

nice work looks like you are on your way

Thanx BB,

I call that my first knife because it's the first one made from scratch. Actually, I started with two bare-bones kit knives*(?) from Janz; a filet and a small bowie.

 

[miden]

Jim,
I was just messing with you.
Cameras can do that too, making them is one thing, taking pics is another . I have also turned shiny silver into "black chrome", I am just happy that I am not the only magician around here.
Still, I can still see you made a good knife.

Mike

 

[jlr102846]

Jim,
I was just messing with you.
Cameras can do that too, making them is one thing, taking pics is another . I have also turned shiny silver into "black chrome", I am just happy that I am not the only magician around here.
Still, I can still see you made a good knife.

Mike

Believe it or not, during 15 years in charge of the Copy and Restoration Department for Sears Photo Studios *(CPI Corp) and another 15 as owner of Rayfield Photographics in St. Louis and Las Vegas.......I was often told I performed miracles with photography, but when shooting glamor pics in Vegas, no models ever came out black, or visa versa.

In those days Kodak mistakenly believed digital photography could never compete with the resolution of film. Anyway, I believe this particular problem is a lighting issue. With the tiny flash on the camera lighting only the near subject matter. That's why backgrounds are always dark or even black. So....when the gleaming reflection shuts down the electronic exposure no ambient light reaches the white cieling above. Consequently the silvery blade reflects only the blackness from above. A powerful light shining on the cieling should fix it. Or shooting outside in the shade. I just don't have enough time.


Toungue in cheek or not........I appreciate all feedback. I spend about 14 hours everyday working alone. :thumbup:

Keep em comin'
JIM

A little sumtun in the works.......

 

[fitzo]

Lighting is indeed the issue. It has been a known problem for a long time, but is solvable. Takes diffused external multi-lighting, though. One of the "old tricks" was to spray the blade with matte spray, but that sort of defeats the purpose.

Here is a link to the photgraphy forum on another knife forum. It is a mix of knife shooting pros and skilled amateurs. They are very nice, and very helpful. Some of them you see their fotos all over the major publications.

http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=26

Hope this can help you. Your knifemaking efforts are admirarable, especially considering your circumstances.

 

[deker]

I've got to echo everybody else's sentiments here Jim. Fantastic work for a first piece. Heck, I've got a few under my belt now and have trouble getting a grind that straight

Keep up the good work, and make sure you share it here.

-d

 

[jlr102846]

Well, I spent well over a year working on this one knife. I had no grinder other than a Dremel tool. So I filed on that blade by hand about 2 hours every night.
The handle is Osage Orange from an Missouri Ozarks fence post well over 125 years old. The 01 steel blade I cut out by hand with a hack saw. But, I actually got my first practice on a Janz kit knife that I once posted here a long while back. I got alotta criticizm, so I'm showin' it again as, "a work in progress. as I rework it.

Thanx

and here's another shot of dat un as I WORK IT OVER AGAIN...
camera angle makes blade appear short and handle bigger than it really is.