Morally wrong? tedious steps.

Bailey Knives

Bailey Knives

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2004
Messages
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There is a guy near my house who stands on the corner with a sign that says "will work for food". Normally I just buy him a Big Mac, but I have 7 knives that need hand sanding. I thought about putting him to work.

I am just kidding, there really is a guy, but I plan on doing all my hand sanding by myself. (maybe with the company of a Killians). Although, it is my least favorite part of knifemaking.

Out of curiosity, what is yours?
 
Hand sanding is the pits, but if I have front and rear dovetail bolsters at odd angles to eachother then fitting the handle materials to the angles is my least favorite.
 
I'm with Tom, even given my limited experience. Part of the problem might be my limited equipment for profiling, 6" bench grinder, 4x36 belt and 6" disc sanders. Also a dremel tool.

I actually enjoy the hand sanding to finish off the handles. Haven't hand sanded a blade yet but I will be on my next knife (someone is actually paying me for this one).

Charles
 
Hands down, my least favorite part is guard fitting. It'd be a lot easier if I had a mini mill, but right now it's all by hand...and it sucks...

-d
 
I'll go with profiling. Rendering steel bars to shape and making a large pile of dust at my feet is about the least fun I can think of.

Gene
 
Yep! Profiling for me too! So simple a monkey could do it. So boring, makes me wish I had a Monkey.
 
so far i would have to say hand sanding. if i had a wife that wouldnt mind sitting there hand sanding blades for me while i work on profiling, HT/tempering, and beveling id be in hog heaven.
 
Giving a guy a BicMac is cruel and unusual punishment. We have stopped giving the work for food here as the guys return for your TV.
 
Yep! Profiling for me too! So simple a monkey could do it. So boring, makes me wish I had a Monkey.
Click to expand...

Ok, probably the funniest thing I have read on the forums in a long time. I actually laughed out loud, or in computer terminology, I LOLed.
 
It's funny how perceptions differ and change. Not hurrying at anything anymore, I find no tedious steps. As I age, I find that I enjoy the long process of handsanding a blade. With no noise from the grinder, and no distractions, the effort becomes more one of "living in the moment" and takes on a meditative quality. It has become more the process and not the product that matters to me. :)
 
No doubt about it, the only part I truly dislike is searching for deals and paying for materials. Heh.

I agree with fitzo, hand-sanding can be very zen-like. I usually "cheat" and do it while watching a movie or pretending to listen to my woman talk at me.

I can offer one tip, be gentle with your files/belts and keep them clean/fresh. That ONE nasty scratch will laugh in your face when you're ready to step up to 600-grit... :mad:
 
I have trouble fitting guards without an obvious gap. I guess thats my least favorite part.
 
I can go along with Mike here some also. Overall, I LOVE forge work, including HT and tempering. I like sitting at the bench building knives and chatting with people as they stop by the shop (actually known as Lookie-Lou's if they don't buy anything). There isn't any one part of knifemaking that I dislike. Almost every one of the critters offers up some special fitting problem now and then, but it makes my mind wake up and try and sort out the situation. My big thing is that I absolutly do not get in a hurry. I'm not slow as molasses either by a long shot, but I do take the time required for the task at hand.
Leatherwork tends to slow the overall process down a little because of my lack of experience. I've made some fair sheaths though, thanks to "SheathMaker". He's about 3 drinks North of me in Ingram, Texas, and mentored me in my early leather learning days. In fact, I really need to go see him one of these days and try and learn some more.
But, again, I like all parts of it, but I'd agree with Lovett about the profilling if I did it, but being a forger I try and make my blades as close to profile as possible.
Ok, sorry to ramble.
 
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