Knife in Progress.

Good to see you making progress. was beginning to wonder how you were getting along.

So having filed your bevels by hand, would you recommend getting a cheap 1x30/42 belt grinder instead? Ive finished drilling and filing out all my profiles and have had just about enough of the abrasive bastard. How long do you estimate it took you?
 
Thanks, Nick! I tried draw filing, but it seemed just to smear the metal, maybe i will try again with the new file I have. I have a file card clamped to the other end of the angle iron, It is a pretty fast setup.
 
Keith.... now is the difference between people that want to make knives and knifemakers.....

I know you think everyone in the world has 5 2x72 grinders, a surface grinder and at least 2 milling machines in their shop. Well most people don't and won't ever have that kind of stuff. My teacher uses his 2x72 to shape handles. He does everything with hammers and files and he makes a lot of bowies. He's not some guy struggling to get his name out there, he's a full time maker and works 6 days a week getting knives out.

You're going to run into the "I'm not making freaking progress" a lot in knifemaking, you'll work for hours hand polishing a blade and get ready to toss it into a bucket of files and then you'll make 1 more pass and the finish just pops.

Persistence, patience and pigheadedness are the keys to sucess as a knifemaker. Good luck, the knife is looking good though.
 
Munky88, I don't know how long I spent on it, I am just about fed up with this, You may want to try some sort of grinder especially for your nessmuck.
 
Keith, Will's advice is very good!!! :)

Make sure you try a single cut file (single line cuts along its length) and position yourself so you can get a really firm push/pull.

It's tricky near the plunge, but you can do it. I made my first several knives with a hacksaw, a cheap drill press, files, and all that elbow grease you're using :)

While a 2X72 is a wonderful tool that I'd rather not be without at this point, also keep in mind that they can ruin a blade in the blink of an eye (literally!)

Filing is a very good skill to have. It was nice to have experience with filing with our first project in machine shop this quarter... it was all cut with a hacksaw and files, and had to be flat with tolerances of 5 thou.
 
Keith, great work! WHen I found out how to use files, I almost, ALMOST thought "now why did I go spend that money on the grinder?" :) .
 
Keith_H said:
Munky88, I don't know how long I spent on it, I am just about fed up with this, You may want to try some sort of grinder especially for your nessmuck.
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Alright, thanks for the advice. thought the nessmuck should be one of the easier once though.
 
Will Leavitt said:
Keith.... now is the difference between people that want to make knives and knifemakers.....

I know you think everyone in the world has 5 2x72 grinders, a surface grinder and at least 2 milling machines in their shop. Well most people don't and won't ever have that kind of stuff. My teacher uses his 2x72 to shape handles. He does everything with hammers and files and he makes a lot of bowies. He's not some guy struggling to get his name out there, he's a full time maker and works 6 days a week getting knives out.

You're going to run into the "I'm not making freaking progress" a lot in knifemaking, you'll work for hours hand polishing a blade and get ready to toss it into a bucket of files and then you'll make 1 more pass and the finish just pops.

Persistence, patience and pigheadedness are the keys to sucess as a knifemaker. Good luck, the knife is looking good though.
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Thanks, Will. Not everybody has lots of equipment, but everybody wants to. :D

I think that everybody my age is somewhat impatient, but I tend to lose interest if something is not perfect, which really bites me when I am trying to write out something for school work.
 
Looking good Keith it is coming along great. Keep up the good work it will be nice when finished.

Bob
 
Keith, I forgot to mention tool dye. If you add some tool dye (like Dykem) then it makes it much easier to see where you're high/low and where you're approaching your desired shape. :)
 
If you don't have tool dye (dykem) just laying around your shop :) magic marker works too ;)

Keith, remember this... knifemaking is one of those things where just being stubborn is probably more important than being talented. I know a lot of talented guys that get stalled or quit because they couldn't work through a problem, I know pigheaded guys with no talent that do well because they refuse to quit.

What I think is that you're probably real close to getting finished, a lot of knives stall out where you're at... right before you're finished. So finish the knife and become a knifemaker.
 
Kieth, work toward excellence not perfection. Perfection is nearly impossible to achieve, excellence is not. Look up the definitions and understand the distinction between the 2 well. It will make a big difference in many areas of your life.

Knife making is all about the journey not the destination. Each knife is a jouney of different operations that if done properly in the proper order will produce a quality knife. Your dedication to achieve excellence while moving through these operations is only limited by your knowledge, skills and determination. The knife becomes a true reflection of you. If the journey goes well the destination, or the finished knife, will be an extension of you and your ability.

In a very small way tools determine how nice a knife you can make. You must have the basics, but you do not need anything fancy to make a nice knife.

I like making knives because it is simple in concept, but very complicated in process if you want to make a good one. Also there is a lot of science that needs to be learned on the heat treating side. Knife making is humbling and things like filing and sanding are mundane, but when you are done with the journey and you have a knife that is made to the best of your ability, it is really cool. It is also cool to see the reaction of someone when you hand them one of your knives and they use it and it holds an edge better than any knife they have ever used.

Enough of my BS, go draw file the heck out of that knife and then get on with the sanding. I am sure when you are done it will be bad a$$.
 
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It's coming along nicely Keith. Good job! :thumbup:
Keith_H said:
I think that everybody my age is somewhat impatient,
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Unfortunately, age has nothing to do with impatience. After 46 years, this past year of learning to make knives has finally taught me to be patient. Like you have choice with steel. It's a lesson better learned early on, I promise. Hang in there buddy, it will come together in good time. :)
 
Keith, I have found the best motivation is to put notches into your knife. It gives you an extra reason to keep draw filing until its perfect.
 
NickWheeler said:
Keith, I forgot to mention tool dye. If you add some tool dye (like Dykem) then it makes it much easier to see where you're high/low and where you're approaching your desired shape. :)
Click to expand...

Another thing about coloring the blade is you can see your progress as the color comes off... yeah, I know, not really progress progress but it fools your head and that helps.

Mike
 
Keith,

Draw filing:

The single cut mill file (bastard, second, smooth cut and they run from 4" to 16" but "bastard cut" is not the same fineness across that range) only cuts in one direction. If you are pulling it, the tang needs to be in your left hand to cut... tang in your right hand if pushing to cut.

Bear down on the cut stroke, ease up to return. Your files will stay sharp longer if you don't drag across the steel on the return.

And don't buy cheap files... they will try your patience and they will win.

Mike
 
 
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