Seems Like I Spend Most My Time (BLANK)

SWEARING! well, just yesterday ;)

It should be cleaning, I usually wait until I can't see the top of the workbench through the grinder dust, steel scraps, and tools.

I'd have to say handsanding stuff though. If I didn't clean up the finish beyond the grinder and beltsander I could make a knife a day.
 
WinDancer,

You're a hell'uv a man. I hand file and sand final profile and hand sand final blade finish before buff - but ...... ain't no way, what you're do'in!!!

Roger
 
Just so folks don't misunderstand-
I use my 2x72 grinders same as most makers, but I try to get out any bad scratches by hand before heat treat, and then try to final hand sand after heat treat to get the flats nice and straight- just seems like MOST of my time [besides cleanup and remodel- something most makers will probably understand] is spent with 220 grit wet/dry and a micarta block.

Snivel, snivel...

Dave
 
WinDancer,

I hear ya. Me too except that I don't hand sand any blade grind before HT (normally - there may have been an exception.).

Thanks for the tip on using a piece of micarta as a sanding block. I've been using a small wood block that is not nearly as smooth as some micarta I have here. I'll cut me a small piece and use the wood block to help kindle a fire this coming fall.

Even the tiniest things we can learn from fellow makers can make a big difference when you add a few of them up. (hey - I like that. Might be the most sensable thing I've said here in a year.)

Roger
 
I used to sand with a very hard piece of rubber with a slight radius on the edges.

I got so weary of hand sanding that I asked around and found that many of the makers said rubber wasn't hard enough for the flats, and that I was simply making the 'dent's wider and wider. Most used a dead-flat micarta block [duh!].

The sanding goes much faster now, but I am still plenty weary of it.

Fellow maker Bruce Evans did a post about replacing the rubber on one of the little 1/4 sheet sanders with micarta a while back and using that for all except the very final hand sanding steps. He has cut his sanding time WAY down. Will probably try that the next month or so. If that works I will be in heaven!

Dave
 
Lately I've been working on folders and I'm spending most of my time on my knees looking for those little bitty screws :D
 
It seems like I spend a lot of time looking for things. I'll set something down, and not put it up like I should, and then try to find it. Good ones for that are drill chucks, dremel "wrenches", certain files, etc.
 
daydreaming about moving to North Georgia and opening up my little country store with a knife shop in the back.

Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top