Its been a few years since I made my last knife. I used to have a belt grinder and would grind my profiles on that. I bought a new house and don't have access to any of my old tools. So I've got myself set up with the basics. Drill press, a few files, a vice, a bevel jig etc. I am using the drill press and a hack saw to cut the blade close to the desired shape, but my questions is what type of file do you use to profile it exactly to shape, and how do you keep it at a perfect 90 degree edge all around? If I try filing it in the vice I can never seem to get it perfectly flat. I'm thinking I should just get a cheap belt sander, but really want to just save up to get a nice one in a few months.
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Question about cutting out clean profile.
- Thread starter JParisi48
- Start date
When I used files, I would file the profile normally, and then draw file the spine and any other edges I could. Doesn't work for inside curves, but I found it easier to keep square that way. Another option on the cheap side, would be to get some sanding drums for the drill press. You could then use them to true up the perimeter and any inside curves. I realize it's not the best thing to do to a drill press, but in a pinch it can work ok. I don't have a small wheel attachment, so I still use drums on my old drill press for cleaning up inside curves of handles and such.
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
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- 5,052
File your profile as close to shape as possible paying attention to getting 90˚ edges. Then use a sanding drum in your drill press to clean it up. Don't press overly hard against the sanding drum as drill presses are not designed to take lateral loads. Set your work table at 90˚ to the drum of course and use the drill press like a spindle sander.
kuraki
Fimbulvetr Knifeworks
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- Jun 17, 2016
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- 4,679
If you make a scribing template with pin holes in it, and drill the holes in your steel prior to profiling, you could pin the template to both sides of the steel and scribe on both sides, then you would have two lines to file to in order to help keep your edge square.
That seems like more work than it's worth now that I spelled it out.
That seems like more work than it's worth now that I spelled it out.
This is my tool for that job.Motor is 12V DC from auto ABS system .I have some device and I can run motor from 12V to 30V and that in RPM is 3000-7700 .I made some drum from walnut in different dimension .Works perfectly for me ...
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- Mar 2, 2017
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- 316
I mounted a router under a work table and did the same thing. Burns thru discs fast though