Making a KME guide handle from Ace hardware screwdriver -- Plus homemade KME base

[supermansv]

Hi BF folks,

I recently acquired a KME and one of the first things I heard is, 'you'll want a handle on the guide rod' and 'you'll want a base'. So, this morning I was wondering around my local ace hardware and realized one of their small screwdrivers is the perfect size and also has a hole already in it. So, I took a 1/4 x 20 tap and made some threads in the screwdriver handle. It's super easy, maybe took 5 minutes.

I think it turned out great and for $3 bucks, I now have a handle for my KME. Hopefully this can help someone else if they want to make a handle vs. buy.

https://imgur.com/tHVK6a6

https://imgur.com/ONNjQGu

https://imgur.com/Go3cFeQ

 

[Daniel]

It looks great!

But, watch how aggressive the stone is with the extra weight on the end.

 

[supermansv]

Thanks for the tip, will do. Hopefully not to much of a change, the screwdriver end itself is fairly light plastic with the metal insert. But will definitely keep a watch out on my next sharpening.

 

[cudgee]

Hi BF folks,

I recently acquired a KME and one of the first things I heard is, 'you'll want a handle on the guide rod' and 'you'll want a base'. So, this morning I was wondering around my local ace hardware and realized one of their small screwdrivers is the perfect size and also has a hole already in it. So, I took a 1/4 x 20 tap and made some threads in the screwdriver handle. It's super easy, maybe took 5 minutes.

I think it turned out great and for $3 bucks, I now have a handle for my KME. Hopefully this can help someone else if they want to make a handle vs. buy.

https://imgur.com/tHVK6a6

https://imgur.com/ONNjQGu

https://imgur.com/Go3cFeQ

Love your thinking and practicality. Did the screw driver have different size transferable blades and therefore the hole you had to thread was already there? I really like when someone comes up with ways to mod things to their needs or just making them better generally. Well thought out and done.

 

[supermansv]

Love your thinking and practicality. Did the screw driver have different size transferable blades and therefore the hole you had to thread was already there? I really like when someone comes up with ways to mod things to their needs or just making them better generally. Well thought out and done.

Thank you! Yeah, I typically try to make things myself from stuff I have laying around or just thinking a bit outside the box. Here is the bit that was in the handle before I threaded it.

https://imgur.com/X9NVKsA

 

[supermansv]

Here is the base I made today for it as well. I ended up using a piece of Europly I had laying around in conjunction with a 1/4" x 5" piece of pipe with washer/nut. I started by cutting the Europly down to a 6x6ish size, routed the edges, drilled a hole in the center, countersunk the bottom for the bolt, and then epoxied it in place. For the piece of pipe, I cut the threads off one end and sanded down to a tapered 1/2" diameter for the KME handle. I kept it removable so I could break it down as well. It took a bit of time because I used basic hand/power tools. Fun little project and now I have an upgraded KME

https://imgur.com/Y7szzm8

https://imgur.com/rWnraHb

https://imgur.com/Zvs94pe

https://imgur.com/u8Mh04f

 

[cudgee]

Here is the base I made today for it as well. I ended up using a piece of Europly I had laying around in conjunction with a 1/4" x 5" piece of pipe with washer/nut. I started by cutting the Europly down to a 6x6ish size, routed the edges, drilled a hole in the center, countersunk the bottom for the bolt, and then epoxied it in place. For the piece of pipe, I cut the threads off one end and sanded down to a tapered 1/2" diameter for the KME handle. I kept it removable so I could break it down as well. It took a bit of time because I used basic hand/power tools. Fun little project and now I have an upgraded KME

https://imgur.com/Y7szzm8

https://imgur.com/rWnraHb

https://imgur.com/Zvs94pe

https://imgur.com/u8Mh04f

Good to see you are thinking outside the box and doing your own thing, another advantage of doing what you are doing is that you can customize to your needs. I recently completed this sharpener to suit what i was looking for, made from parts i had lying around with some things i had to purchase, but it is made for what i wanted.

 

[supermansv]

Good to see you are thinking outside the box and doing your own thing, another advantage of doing what you are doing is that you can customize to your needs. I recently completed this sharpener to suit what i was looking for, made from parts i had lying around with some things i had to purchase, but it is made for what i wanted.

Wow, that's next level man, nice work!

 

[cudgee]

Wow, that's next level man, nice work!

Thanks, it was just something i always wanted to have a go at doing. Back to your project, from what i have seen about the KME and talked to people about, one fault could be that the handle did not sit on the stand securely and there was a fair bit of wobble when you held the sharpener, looks like you have eliminated that.