Marking the edge before filing (newbie question)

J

John-Boy

Joined
May 14, 2004
Messages
180
I've been working on my first - I'm using Absolute Cheapskate Way to Start Making Knives as my guide.

I used the below method to mark how far to file the bevels:

"Mark the edge of the blade using a ¼” inch drill bit. Blacken the edge using a marker so your scribed lines will show up well. To mark the edge, slide the drill bit point along the edge and it will scribe a line. Turn the blade over and then scribe the other side. You will get two lines about .025 to .030 apart. If the lines are too close, re-blacken the edge with the marker and roll the drill bit to move the point up or down accordingly and then rescribe. The lines will be about one half of the thickness of a penny apart."
Click to expand...
And it worked out okay in the end - especially for a first timer. But I was thinking there's got to be a better way. I had a hard time dragging a bit evenly accross the edge. Is there a better way for next time?

thanks,
John-Boy
 
John-boy

If you have a set of calipers that's the absolute easiest way. Measure the thickness, divide by two, subtract .005, set the calipers, drag along the edge.

Steve
 
You can buy an edge marking tool with a carbide tip at any of the knife making supply places. ( koval, K&G, Sheffield)

Don Hanson lll
 
Oh ya definitely there are better ways!

I'm sure there are other ways to scribe those lines but three ways in which I've done it are:

1. Buy a cheap brass scriber from the knife supply houses or a House of Tools type store. It's basically a square piece of brass that runs along the side of the blade with a post sticking out of it, on the post is a carbide scriber. This way you get a straight even line down the blade, go to the other side and do the same. The only draw back to this is that although you can adjust the post with the scriber on it for your width between the lines, you are eyeballing it. I used this method for a long time before buying something more precise and it will be much better than what you are currently using.

2. Buy a carbide tipped micrometer. These are very handy for a number of things but one of them is that you can use it to scribe your lines. You set the width you want and run the carbide tipped end down the edge, it took me a little practise but it works well once you've got it.

3. Get a flat piece of granite and a carbide tipped vertical height gauge. I really like this method for scribing and use it all the time. You have a known flat surface (the granite) and set the height gauge to your depth that you want to scribe and scribe away. It's quick and easy. It is however not the cheapest route.

The cost basically increasing from 1 to 3. Go with the brass scriber from a knife supply house for starters:

www.texasknife.com

www.kovalknives.com

www.knifeandgun.com

Hope this helps.

Sean
 
I do it the same way as Sando, and with a pair of the cheap 12-dollar grizzly calipers. :)
 
I don't mark the edge at all. I use 1/8" thick stock and I just check the edge a lot when it gets close to being done. So far no problems with having an edge not line up, but it's probably tougher to eyeball it on thicker stock. I assume the 1/4" drill bit trick only works for 1/4" thick stock.
 
I usually take a piece of whatever thickness of steel that I'm working with and grind one corner down to an edge. It's kind of like grinding a knife edge into it. I then harden that piece and use it to mark all blades of the same thickness. The easiest way for me to use it is to darken the edge of the knife blade, place the blade flat on the table, place the other piece of steel down flat, and run it along the knife's edge. The point on the marking piece of steel is usually ground a little off center, so I flip it over and run it along the blade again. This will leave a couple of scribed lines just slightly apart. By the way, I made my first knife using the "Absolute Cheapskate Way to Start Making Knives" also. It's a great guide to get you going. Hope this helps. -chris

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Chris Crawford Knives

 
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