How to square spines by hand?

HikingMano

HikingMano

Joined
Sep 2, 2008
Messages
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I want to square the spines on my knives so they strike firesteels better. Some spines, like that on my Fallkniven F1, throw floods of beastly, bouncing, sparks:thumbup:...other knives barely get any sparks off a firesteel:thumbdn:. I want to be able to get a ton of sparks with any fixed blade I choose to take with me into the woods.

Since I don't have any power equipment, what's the best way to square spines by hand? Should I go at it with a bastard file (I have a single cut, but no vise to hold the blade), or should I use a stone or sandpaper?

Just figured I'd ask before possibly messing up my more expensive blades...:o:)

Thanks in advance!
 
A coarse-grit sharpening stone, like a DMT 220. I use a DMT 120 but I actually think the 220 might be faster.
 
Yeah, 1x30 for sure. Your not going to have a lot of fun trying to square a spine by hand with a file and no vise. I saw some sweet little fire steel strikers for sale in the exchange. I believe it was member IH8U selling them. You might look into that.
Good Luck with whatever it is you end up doing.
 
You can square a spine with some sandpaper and a backing block.

Use a file if it will bite... sandpaper if not.
 
knifenut1013 said:
HF 1x30......ya know ya want one :)
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ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
Yeah, 1x30 for sure. Your not going to have a lot of fun trying to square a spine by hand with a file and no vise. I saw some sweet little fire steel strikers for sale in the exchange. I believe it was member IH8U selling them. You might look into that.
Good Luck with whatever it is you end up doing.
Click to expand...

I do! :D I keep drooling over it, and it's so cheap...I just don't have any room in my small apt, and no garage either.:thumbdn: Once I move though...:)

I've been watching IH8U's work on those strikers, they are indeed pretty nifty. I have dedicated strikers that work very well (new LMF ones, GoingGear strikers, custom Gossman one, others) and I carry one on a keychain in my pocket, but I want my fixed blades to be able to spark well since I carry a firesteel with all of them on their sheaths :thumbup:.


cotdt said:
A coarse-grit sharpening stone, like a DMT 220. I use a DMT 120 but I actually think the 220 might be faster.
Click to expand...
Sparljo said:
You can square a spine with some sandpaper and a backing block.

Use a file if it will bite... sandpaper if not.
Click to expand...

I guess I'll have to go this route and just be careful. I'll practice on a Mora first.

Thanks guys.
 
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DMT's will do it, but the HF is indeed faster and more fun! :D I have to agree with you, I have a laminate F1, and it throws sparks better than a hacksaw blade! I love it just for that!
 
sodak said:
I have to agree with you, I have a laminate F1, and it throws sparks better than a hacksaw blade! I love it just for that!
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Yes, it's really pretty amazing! I need to get the spines on my other knives up to the "crispness" of F1 spine.
 
High grit emory paper on a flat surface (glass is best for flatness). I think 320 grit should work fine unless you want to polish the spine.

Tape the knife edge and drag the spine across the emory to flatten the spine.

This is what I do with my Moras to get the spines flat.
 
Yeah, I think I'll be doing that, been looking around for a flat pane of glass in fact. :thumbup: Will post up if I am successful.
 
Go to a glaser and ask if they have a shall sheet of tempered glass. Should be free or cheap. Something the size of a mousepad to full sheet of sandpaper is plenty big.
 
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