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This is for all of the participants of the Newbie KITH. just post whatever step you are at. it will be a mishmash, but it will be interesting. Now, GO.
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Newbie KITH WIP page.
- Thread starter thegeek574
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I guess I'll be the first to post and revive this thread.
As I mentioned I will be making 3 of the same blade... and the best of the 3 will be submitted to this KITH
All 3 are profiled out to about 95%. The handles need work before I will drill holes and then bevel.
2 of them will get handled in redwood burl and one in dyed lacewood. I got a great deal on an 8.25" block from Mark so it was perfect for doing two knives!
I also have some wrought iron coming my way... I'm considering doing dovetailed wrought or brass bolsters... attached with hidden (for wrought) and peened (for brass) pins
. I will try this one one knife, if it doesn't work, the other two will just get straight handles.. but I really want to try some bolsters!!!!
I am so darn busy right now I'm scraping together time to work on these... hopefully by the end of next week these are on their way for heat-treat.
I am also going to order leather and leather tools this week... I will be attempting my first leather sheaths with these three knives... stay tuned!
As I mentioned I will be making 3 of the same blade... and the best of the 3 will be submitted to this KITH
All 3 are profiled out to about 95%. The handles need work before I will drill holes and then bevel.
2 of them will get handled in redwood burl and one in dyed lacewood. I got a great deal on an 8.25" block from Mark so it was perfect for doing two knives!
I also have some wrought iron coming my way... I'm considering doing dovetailed wrought or brass bolsters... attached with hidden (for wrought) and peened (for brass) pins
. I will try this one one knife, if it doesn't work, the other two will just get straight handles.. but I really want to try some bolsters!!!!I am so darn busy right now I'm scraping together time to work on these... hopefully by the end of next week these are on their way for heat-treat.
I am also going to order leather and leather tools this week... I will be attempting my first leather sheaths with these three knives... stay tuned!
*Insert belt and disc order from Trugrit here*
That's where I am at.
Went out to finish up the blade I've been working on for sale, it is almost ready for HT, and discovered that while I may be able to finish that I don't have belts to finish it after HT, much less start any new knives. I really need to stay on top of that better.
In this case, that's ok though, I haven't decided what to make. I'm trying to decide between a new design, an "old" design with a new variation, or an old design without any major changes. I've got a few more days to decide before I want to start. Like Wolffbite I'll be making more than one at a time and figure I'll sell the one(s) I don't use for the kith. Maybe I'll do it as a trio with one being a current design as previously made, then one with a new variation, then one based on but significantly diverging from that pattern.
That's where I am at.
Went out to finish up the blade I've been working on for sale, it is almost ready for HT, and discovered that while I may be able to finish that I don't have belts to finish it after HT, much less start any new knives. I really need to stay on top of that better.In this case, that's ok though, I haven't decided what to make. I'm trying to decide between a new design, an "old" design with a new variation, or an old design without any major changes. I've got a few more days to decide before I want to start. Like Wolffbite I'll be making more than one at a time and figure I'll sell the one(s) I don't use for the kith. Maybe I'll do it as a trio with one being a current design as previously made, then one with a new variation, then one based on but significantly diverging from that pattern.
S.Grosvenor
Fulltime KnifeMaker
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We'll get these in the correct thread
Have one hammered out, two to go, but have to cut up some w2 first ...
Sure would like a bandsaw for Christmas
,
Have one hammered out, two to go, but have to cut up some w2 first ...
Sure would like a bandsaw for Christmas
,
- Joined
- May 7, 2010
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Awesome R.Rock!! Glad to see some forging going on in the newbie kith, I'm sure there will be others!
I cleaned up the profiles by file/handsanding this evening (2 weeks without shop time really blew...) and drilled and countersunk all my holes. Main bevels will be rough ground in by monday or tuesday I hope... and I hope to have these off to heat-treating by the end of next weekend.
I cleaned up the profiles by file/handsanding this evening (2 weeks without shop time really blew...) and drilled and countersunk all my holes. Main bevels will be rough ground in by monday or tuesday I hope... and I hope to have these off to heat-treating by the end of next weekend.
S.Grosvenor
Fulltime KnifeMaker
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Thanks! Yours looking great as well! :thumbup:
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- Dec 22, 2009
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Got mine started today. Didnt get a picture of the end of the day though. Its all ground now and just needs some hand sanding before it goes out for heat treat later on this week. D2 steel and I am going to use some nice West Aussie wood for the handle.
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m581/Brook_Knives/IMG_2290.jpg[/IMG]
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Very nice guys, keep it going!
Here is on of the knives I'm working on. Like some others, I'm working on a few and will enter which ever one (if any!) turn out good enough. This will be my first guard and first hidden tang.
I actually have grind lines on this one. I wrapped sandpaper around a brass bar after initial sanding and it helped me not to rub out all the detail.
Just starting the guard.
The handle will be one of these - still deciding which.
If all else fails, I picked up some fresh bubblegum pink laces and will wrap the handle
I actually have grind lines on this one. I wrapped sandpaper around a brass bar after initial sanding and it helped me not to rub out all the detail.
Just starting the guard.
The handle will be one of these - still deciding which.
If all else fails, I picked up some fresh bubblegum pink laces and will wrap the handle
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I think that copper will look fantastic with the blue and some matching copper pins or copper/stainless mosaics!
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Had some free time tonight since I finished all my drafting work at school... got the first of 3 blades rough ground, draw-filed and sanded to 120grit on one side.
Tried a new method to establishing a plunge. My grinder has a very crappy platen.. and I'm just kind of dealing with it until I upgrade to a 2x72. I took a 1/4" round file and cut int he plunges first, and then ground up to them. This kept them even and probably my best looking plunges to date. Here's hoping the other 2 turn out this nice
If only I could take a picture worth a damn...
If I can do this each evening this week (mon and tues are my busiest days anyways) I will be in good shape to get these out to heat-treating by the end of this weekend. I also have the whole weekend free for once... so while I will have almost zero time after then it is great because they will just be out in the mail =)
Tried a new method to establishing a plunge. My grinder has a very crappy platen.. and I'm just kind of dealing with it until I upgrade to a 2x72. I took a 1/4" round file and cut int he plunges first, and then ground up to them. This kept them even and probably my best looking plunges to date. Here's hoping the other 2 turn out this nice
If only I could take a picture worth a damn...
If I can do this each evening this week (mon and tues are my busiest days anyways) I will be in good shape to get these out to heat-treating by the end of this weekend. I also have the whole weekend free for once... so while I will have almost zero time after then it is great because they will just be out in the mail =)
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You're pictures are fine, and that looks great!
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Looking good, Jonathan.
Lot's of people struggle with plunge lines that I have seen. Yours look very nice but also look deeper than the bevel. Two things that helped me are hand sanding on a precision granite slab with the paper rolled over the edge (thanks: wheeler and stacy) and or j-flex belts in 120-220grit 1/16-3/16" over the edge of the platen (thanks: mickley and many others). A little experimentation pays off.
A precision granite slab is a great tool anyway. Stacy posted about one for sale at woodcraft in January for $19, $26 to your door. I don't know how often they are that cheap, but keep your eyes open, I use mine on every knife for checking flatness or hand sanding at a minimum.
Lot's of people struggle with plunge lines that I have seen. Yours look very nice but also look deeper than the bevel. Two things that helped me are hand sanding on a precision granite slab with the paper rolled over the edge (thanks: wheeler and stacy) and or j-flex belts in 120-220grit 1/16-3/16" over the edge of the platen (thanks: mickley and many others). A little experimentation pays off.
A precision granite slab is a great tool anyway. Stacy posted about one for sale at woodcraft in January for $19, $26 to your door. I don't know how often they are that cheap, but keep your eyes open, I use mine on every knife for checking flatness or hand sanding at a minimum.
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Woodcraft.com has those granite slabs. I bought mine, 12x9x2 for the sale price and it's awesome. Keep checking back with them for when they go on sale. Also, you can check with a local monument company or granite countertop company for remnants....sometimes they're free!!
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Holy shit,are you seriously cutting that billet of W2 in half with a hacksaw?!?!?!?!? 
Yikes!!!
I was going to mention it in the email, but I forgot- (not that you asked me this part, lol) but I would make that nub in front of the handle much, much thinner AND radius it the other way, and get rid of the really sharp corner on the butt of the handle---- It will REALLY REALLY smooth out the flow on that knife.
Yikes!!!I was going to mention it in the email, but I forgot- (not that you asked me this part, lol) but I would make that nub in front of the handle much, much thinner AND radius it the other way, and get rid of the really sharp corner on the butt of the handle---- It will REALLY REALLY smooth out the flow on that knife.
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Thanks Erik,
After your comment about the plunge being lower I took a closer look at the blade. I think the photo is just playing tricks.. I even took my calipers to make sure, the plnge is definitely flush/level with the rest of the grind. I did use a similar method to the granite slab, I just used a large piece of square G-10 instead to work the plunge. I'm going to get a slab soon when I can find it for cheap in canada, may even just swing over to HD and find a granite tile or something.
Hopefully conversion to a 2x72 in the future and using that method with the J-flex will improve them even further. Stuck with the archaic methods for now though it seems
This KITH is making me work extra hard to get out all the scratches, and even pay special attention to the edge thickness. I sitting at ~0.030 for the whole edge currently, and will cut it to about 0.020-0.025 after sanding before heat-treat. Hopefully this will make for some better performing blades =)
After your comment about the plunge being lower I took a closer look at the blade. I think the photo is just playing tricks.. I even took my calipers to make sure, the plnge is definitely flush/level with the rest of the grind. I did use a similar method to the granite slab, I just used a large piece of square G-10 instead to work the plunge. I'm going to get a slab soon when I can find it for cheap in canada, may even just swing over to HD and find a granite tile or something.
Hopefully conversion to a 2x72 in the future and using that method with the J-flex will improve them even further. Stuck with the archaic methods for now though it seems
This KITH is making me work extra hard to get out all the scratches, and even pay special attention to the edge thickness. I sitting at ~0.030 for the whole edge currently, and will cut it to about 0.020-0.025 after sanding before heat-treat. Hopefully this will make for some better performing blades =)
Update #2 AKA I have a new shop knife
I'll be keeping this one for the shop, too many problems with it. I left a gap at the guard, and ground into the cavity when sanding the handle.The knife is solid and should be a good user.
This was a good experience. I'm starting on a few more and hopefully learned enough to improve on a few things along the way.
BTW the hemp wrap is to hide the spot where I ground too deep.
I'll be keeping this one for the shop, too many problems with it. I left a gap at the guard, and ground into the cavity when sanding the handle.The knife is solid and should be a good user.
This was a good experience. I'm starting on a few more and hopefully learned enough to improve on a few things along the way.
BTW the hemp wrap is to hide the spot where I ground too deep.
S.Grosvenor
Fulltime KnifeMaker
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- Jan 24, 2010
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Holy shit,are you seriously cutting that billet of W2 in half with a hacksaw?!?!?!?!?
I was going to mention it in the email, but I forgot- (not that you asked me this part, lol) but I would make that nub in front of the handle much, much thinner AND radius it the other way, and get rid of the really sharp corner on the butt of the handle---- It will REALLY REALLY smooth out the flow on that knife.
yep, took me 4 days a 5 blades but I did get it sectioned up. Not sure what you mean by "radius the other way"?? and the sharp corner is outa here! thank you for the suggestion.
Update Post:
something like this?
Last edited:
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Awesome guys... I wish I had more to update you on. School is killing me, and I had to spend a couple hours building my own drafting table today so that I could do 5 hours of drafting homework haha. Got all my real-life work done today though... tomorrow I can devote at least 3-4 hours to getting the bevels ground on the other 2 and hopefulling getting all 3 done to 120grit by tuesday night.