I finished my second knife, I sure learned a lot.

Widerstand

Widerstand

Joined
Feb 23, 2010
Messages
1,497
I often feel like I don't have enough shop time, but I did finish this one up. It still need a Kydex sheath, its shaving sharp but it still needs a mirror edge. I didn't bother polishing all the grind lines out since its 1084 high carbon and will patina with use no matter what. Pins and lanyard hole are stainless, black G10 liners, with white and black G10 handle, and the edge is convexed.

It's far from perfect in my opinion, I made some mistakes on it like the fact I spent to much time at lower grits I feel like and left some deep gouges in it the blade that would be to hard to work out and I also put a little ding in the corner of the spine near the handle.

I know I need to work on my blade finish but other then that I would love some advice on improvements I could make for the next one.

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That is a very nice knife. Sometimes we are our own worst critics but without it we would not improve. I sure wish my second knife looked that nice.

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cjsdad said:
That is a very nice knife. Sometimes we are our own worst critics but without it we would not improve. I sure wish my second knife looked that nice.
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Thanks.

I am kind of wondering what grit to start at I have been starting with 36 but maybe it to aggressive?
 
I'm still very much a noob so I have a lot to learn about how and where to start. I am still working with a HF 1X30 sander and the most aggressive belts I have right now are 80 grit. For me that seems to work ok. Keeps me from over grinding too fast. I still haven't made a knife worth showing the finished product yet. But I'm getting there.
 
Very nice job! I like the way you did the handle. The whole knife looks good but I really like the handle.
 
Very nice work, and in a shape and style I admire.

I usually don't go as low as 36 -- 80, or even 120 if that's what's already on. I used to do a lot of fiberglass and epoxy work on boats, and found that it didn't take that much more time with a finer grit and I was less likely to make big mistakes. But to each their own, you'll find the way that fits you.

I have been doing kits and am about to start my first "from scratch" fixed blade. Your work is an inspiration to me.
 
pmeisel said:
Very nice work, and in a shape and style I admire.

I usually don't go as low as 36 -- 80, or even 120 if that's what's already on. I used to do a lot of fiberglass and epoxy work on boats, and found that it didn't take that much more time with a finer grit and I was less likely to make big mistakes. But to each their own, you'll find the way that fits you.

I have been doing kits and am about to start my first "from scratch" fixed blade. Your work is an inspiration to me.
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Hogging off steel at 120 is a different monster than wood or fibeglass at 120. 36, 60 or 80 sure speeds things up.

To the OP, I like that blade shape/layout. One of my favorite styles.
Cheers.
 
Looks good!

" I didn't bother polishing all the grind lines out since its 1084 high carbon and will patina with use no matter what"

Keep in mind a high polish on carbon steel is one of the best ways to resist rust.
 
As far as 'other improvements', I dont see any issues... your handle fit and finish is great. I'm not normally a fan of white on a knife handle, but dang, you certainly made it work.

And again, one of my favorite knife 'shapes.' Very handy.
 
LucyCustomKnives said:
Its not about what grit you start with as much as it is knowing where to stop using that grit.
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I guess that's just something that comes with experience?

htony1 said:
That's a beauty, really like the blended handle
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Thank you!

Theiskell said:
Very nice job! I like the way you did the handle. The whole knife looks good but I really like the handle.
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Thanks, that's the 3rd knife handle I've made!

LucyCustomKnives said:
Hogging off steel at 120 is a different monster than wood or fibeglass at 120. 36, 60 or 80 sure speeds things up.

To the OP, I like that blade shape/layout. One of my favorite styles.
Cheers.
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I am glad you like it.

bladsmth said:
Dang!, that's a great job.
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Wow thanks! That means a lot coming from you.

AVigil said:
Looks good!

" I didn't bother polishing all the grind lines out since its 1084 high carbon and will patina with use no matter what"

Keep in mind a high polish on carbon steel is one of the best ways to resist rust.
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Damn, your right... That is a good point.
 
Wow! That looks great. I wouldn't be able to tell it's your 2nd knife. Keep up the good work, man.
 
Widerstand,

Let me begin by saying that is a super looking knife in almost all respects. The only thing that lets it down is the finish. The problem isn't the grit you started with, it's the grit at which you finished. It has been discussed in other threads but this is just another example of the great early work being turned out by new makers. The new guys (like me) have so much information at their disposal and so many talented makers who have come before them laying out the footsteps to success so us new guys can avoid much of the frustration and wasted time of figuring it out for ourselves. You realize already that the finish could have been much nicer. I put aside a knife I'm making for a few months because I really wanted to do my best with it but I wasn't ready to wrap my head around the work it involved. Well you can't finish if you don't start. So I began the work and I'm almost done now. I'm glad I waited until I was ready because the product will be worth it. Yes, even a well sanded blade will patina but that's no reason not to do the work. Maybe you just weren't ready. It is clear that you have a good eye and sense of design. Your product is worth the effort.
 
It's a great knife, and especially since it's only your second one ! You tried the 36 for bevel grinding maybe try a 60 and look at that? We often think that we don't influence the makers around us but there are makers saying they not only liked that white but are going to try some themselves. My material may be different but I do some with white handles too. Frank
 
The handle is great - you nailed it!

The bad news is the blade isn't finished being finished.

The good news is there's still a TON of steel left on that blade. Go back with a new 60 or 80 grit belt and grind it down even thinner. Be careful not to overheat it, make sure you dip in cool water often, and take a bunch of steel off. You could make that blade a whole lot thinner before you weaken it, and it'll slice like a fiend with better geometry. I'd go 80 grit, 120, 220 and 400. Leave it with a machine finish, don't bother trying to make the grinding marks go with the blade. Just make sure that the grit progression eliminates the marks from the previous grit. A nice 400 grit finish that's consistent across the blade will still look nice!

I know this sounds nuts - I had to be dared to grind my blades thin. Now my THICK knives are below .020" where your edge bevel is!

I double dog dare you. Try it! You'll be stunned at how much nicer the blade cuts, AND you'll be fixing your finish faux pas!
 
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