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proper way to jimp it up

F

FingerBlade

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Aug 14, 2012
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177
What's up fellas,

Sitting here with my cup of coffee and thinking about adding some jimping to my BK 11. I know I can just dive rite in with a variety of different power tools or hand tools, after all they are just lines. But I want it to look pro, so I am looking for advice on how to achieve superb results in the jimping department from start to finish. The more advice the better ,thanks guys.
 
Triangle files take a little longer, but will give you good results......unless your really really good with a cut off wheel
 
Use a ruler to mark your lines so they are symmetrical. Once that's done you can use whatever. If you have a Dremmel, you could get started with a cutting wheel and just hit the lines a little bit to get them started, then maybe finish up with some small rat tail files or something.
 
Yes have a dremel, have to get the wheels for it though. I will check out different types of files..id rather go slow and take my time. Thanks for the input guys.

I'm almost thinking to drill a series of very tiny holes through the blade like 3/16ths down from the spine, and then filing down to the holes....
 
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FingerBlade said:
I'm almost thinking to drill a series of very tiny holes through the blade like 3/16ths down from the spine, and then filing down to the holes....
Click to expand...

yeah, don't do that.
You'll ruin your drill bits (that knife is made of hardened, wear-resistant tool steel) and the jimping will be waaay deeper than necessary. When jimping with a chainsaw file, you typically go no deeper than half the file depth as that gives you the full radius. Might as well just file that deep - the holes won't buy you anything.

triangular files are easier to control than a round chainsaw file.
The advice about marking first is good, but if you miss with one file cut then all the other marks are thrown off.
The BEST way to do pro jimping is with a proper checkering file, but that's a rather specialized tool.

Marking the blade and then hitting the marks with a dremel cut-off wheel is probably a great way to get started. Then use a fine triangular file to even out the depth/width of the grooves by hand.

That's my $0.02.

-Daizee
 
Something like this.. I also like the look of the half moon type..like on strides. What tool do you think would make the half moon style?
IMAG0362_zps4e1fed26.jpg



Thanks for your input daizee definitely noted, I get some nutty ideas sometimes.
 
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I had did my bk11 when I first got it and did a detailed post of how. Here are the pics..ya just need blue painters tape, ruler, dremel tool with cutoff wheel and a file. No drilling as Daizee said.

jimp.jpg


DSC03289-1.jpg


DSC03279.jpg
 
a simple round chainsaw file will make those half-rounds. just file down half the thickness of the file. Lots of sizes available at your average hardware store for just a few bucks. (get or make a handle too)

when you lay out your guide lines, remember to account for the file width.
 
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IMHO I would not use a dremmel unless you have experience with it. With hardened steel it will skip around the tang quite a bit before taking a bite. I did "filework" on my homemade knife using a small file. The dremmel, I thought, would have made the job much easier but plain ol' files did the job.
---------------------
Beckerhead #32
 
FingerBlade said:
What's up fellas,

Sitting here with my cup of coffee and thinking about adding some jimping to my BK 11. I know I can just dive rite in with a variety of different power tools or hand tools, after all they are just lines. But I want it to look pro, so I am looking for advice on how to achieve superb results in the jimping department from start to finish. The more advice the better ,thanks guys.
Click to expand...

Fingerblade, Most of the better designs I have seen, people get thier design figured out, draw it onto some strong tape, then start filing on top of the tape with a small file. ive seen chainsaw file mentioned and you can get small file sets from home d-pot or harbor freight pretty cheap.

jukrui said:
Hand files. Half round and rat tail jewelers files. No drills or dremels needed. Here is how mine looks.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/990686-My-Eskabar-s-New-Look
Click to expand...

Beautiful work jukrui! Makes me want to get mine looking just like that!
 
If "handy" with a dremel..use the thin cutoff wheel to "mark" jimping on top of the blue painters tape..then follow up with a file.
 
You could also do file work in place of the jimping. That can be pretty darn cool looking, and will serve the same function.
 
Nice looking knife emporervince. And thanks for all the advice everyone else, I appreciate your time and efforts in this matter. I will take all this info and go over it some more and brainstorm. I will definitely post pics of the trials and tribulations of this mod as they come. Thanks again guys.
 
emperorvince said:
I had did my bk11 when I first got it and did a detailed post of how. Here are the pics..ya just need blue painters tape, ruler, dremel tool with cutoff wheel and a file. No drilling as Daizee said.

jimp.jpg


DSC03289-1.jpg


DSC03279.jpg
Click to expand...
One of the most even ones I've seen.
 
After some thought, I think I'm just gonna leave well enough alone. I think the knife is fine just the way it is Sorry to waste all your time, I'm just not confident I can do it perfect. Maybe down the road but not now. At least emporervince got to show his off wich are damn good by the way. Thanks again guys.
 
You guys do great work, as much as I would like to do this, I know for a fact that I should avoid any customizations since it rarely gets anywhere near what I envision in the first place.
 
Adri4n said:
You guys do great work, as much as I would like to do this, I know for a fact that I should avoid any customizations since it rarely gets anywhere near what I envision in the first place.
Click to expand...

Lol, that's what I'm screamin! Y mess with a good thing/ if it ain't broke don't fix it Hahaha.
 
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