lessons learned.

[koyote]

4 months in and I ain't good yet, but:

lesson 1: Power tools- if in doubt, use a hand tool
Especially now, in the beginning. You are going to have to use those files and sanding stick anyway, and the hacksaw, so use them. If there's ANY doubt about using a power tool for a given situation, back out and go by hand.

lesson 2: Clean! Clean! Clean! you can't see the work if it's covered by grit and sawdust, and you have to see it. Even sawdust can mess up your blade sanding, and dirt in the tools is just as bad. Clean it.

lesson 3: Get proficient in your movements.
There are lots of new body movements in knifemaking, filing, sanding, making non flat things flat and flat things round. SLOW DOWN. you can't put the metal (or wood) back, so go slow and let your body learn the motions. As my Hapkido instructor repeats so often- "Speed is disharmony. Quickness comes in time, balance your speed with your environment." Since your muscles and hands and materials are your environment, excessive speed early on hoses you.

lesson 4: This one is hard. I want to say "finish at each step" or "polish your intermediate steps"

What it means is sand ALL the way, even if you are going to sand the tang again after putting the scales on. Finish the scales "all the way" (maybe to 400 grit, but not rough cut, yknow) before you get out the epoxy and pins. You can't get anywhere rough fitting the scales and then going full bore sanding them even with the tang after, unless you *intend* to reshape the tang in the process.


go slow. get better.


I'm sure everyone can guess a pile of mistakes or scratches that led me to these.....

 

[gixxer]

I can attest to lesson # 3. You know when you are hand sanding using a piece of leftover blade stock for your flat stick, and the sandpaper slips off of the stick, and the steel proceeds to dig a fat gouge out of the piece you are working on. And of course it only happens from 400 grit up. Lately that has been my problem. That sets me back about 2 hours when it happens.

 

[warrior24]

I can attest to lesson # 3. You know when you are hand sanding using a piece of leftover blade stock for your flat stick, and the sandpaper slips off of the stick, and the steel proceeds to dig a fat gouge out of the piece you are working on. And of course it only happens from 400 grit up. Lately that has been my problem. That sets me back about 2 hours when it happens.

maybe some 3m spray would help.

 

[koyote]

I can attest to lesson # 3. You know when you are hand sanding using a piece of leftover blade stock for your flat stick, and the sandpaper slips off of the stick, and the steel proceeds to dig a fat gouge out of the piece you are working on. And of course it only happens from 400 grit up. Lately that has been my problem. That sets me back about 2 hours when it happens.

I have been using those ipe (brazillian irowood) scraps for making sanding sticks.

 

[jdm61]

I have been using those ipe (brazillian irowood) scraps for making sanding sticks.

I use a brass bar for heavy blade sanding and my fingers for for pretty much everything else.

 

[NDallyn]

I can attest to lesson # 3. You know when you are hand sanding using a piece of leftover blade stock for your flat stick, and the sandpaper slips off of the stick, and the steel proceeds to dig a fat gouge out of the piece you are working on. And of course it only happens from 400 grit up. Lately that has been my problem. That sets me back about 2 hours when it happens.

This is why I use a piece of brass bar (softer than steel). Live and learn.



Whoops, Joe beat me to it!

 

[gixxer]

maybe some 3m spray would help.

I had tried that, but when the stuff get soaked through (I wet sand with simple green) the paper still slips.

I have been using those ipe (brazillian irowood) scraps for making sanding sticks.

Doesnt that stuff still deform when you get to the edges? I mean I know the stuff is hard as hell, but all wood deforms to some degree when you do edges and stuff. Then what for super flat sanding?

I might have to give the brass a try. I just bought a 1/4x1x12 bar so I might make a stick.

 

[koyote]

It's pretty hard stuff. I only very occasionally have problems with tiny sharp corners, which I avoid thus far