Well my first knife saga continues, please bear with me for a few questions. Do they say bare with me at the naturalist park? Anyway, I have a dendritic D2 fighter blade from A&N that is really nice. I have leopardwood scales installed and pinned (mosaic) and rough sanded. This blade is hollow ground but NOT sharpened; its 1/16th inch wide at the edge and hard as hell. I searched on here for "first sharpening" and guess you sand the bevel on; I quess that is a question. I'm affraid to use my narrow grindstone (bench grinder) for fear I will mar the blade. I was going to sharpen now and polish the blade and bolster, then cover all that up with masking and final finish the wood. Is that the right sequence? You know I think the world of this board and really appreciate the help all of you offer so freely. I'll post a picture of the final product on here; bush league to you pros but you gotta start somewhere. God bless you all, our Country and especially the brave men and women of our Armed Services. Ed
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Sharprning and final finishing fighter
- Thread starter Ed45
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 2, 1999
- Messages
- 9,910
Ed, Hi, I always sharpen the blade after the knife is totally finished. I even make the sheath before sharpening the blade.
RHINOKNIVES
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2000
- Messages
- 6,150
i agree wilt bruce, the only thing i do after sharpening is logo a deliver.
This big blade is cast very clean but the metal still needs alot of cleanup and polishing. So are you guys saying #1 clean-up and polish blade. #2 Install scales to finished condition #3 sharpen. What I did (am doing) is/was #1 Install scales #2 Polish metal and sharpen #3 finish scales. Guess I did it back asswards? I'm learning. Ed
Hey there Ed. Like others, I do the final sharpening absolutely last. If you have a "live" blade exposed while you are still cleaning it up, you run the risk of seriously cutting yourself (done it), slicing up the awesome leather sheath you were in the midst of making (did that too) and probably chipping the edge up while you continue to work on the blade. Have fun.
Hugh
Hugh
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2000
- Messages
- 266
Howdy There Ed..!
I totally agree with the others, as to the process of assembly.
1. Work the metal first, do all the shaping grinding and finishing.
2. Fit, shape and attach handles.
3. Finish shape,sand and stain or seal scales. Then final polish.
Hope this will help, I also have the scars of getting thing out of order and learning the hard way. Good Luck and keep grinding.
Late "Possum"
I totally agree with the others, as to the process of assembly.
1. Work the metal first, do all the shaping grinding and finishing.
2. Fit, shape and attach handles.
3. Finish shape,sand and stain or seal scales. Then final polish.
Hope this will help, I also have the scars of getting thing out of order and learning the hard way. Good Luck and keep grinding.
Late "Possum"
- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 3,831
I think Possum meant "final sharpening" on step #4.
If you have a narrrow grinding wheel, you may want to shy away from using it to sharpen. If you want to use it, practice A LOT on blades you bought at a thrift store. Get some 50 cent kitchen knives and practice, practice, practice. You can also just use bench stones, though it will take you a bit of time. I have made 5 knives and I use my grinder (2x42 belt sander from SEARS) to sharpen now.
Edited to ficks baid spellink
If you have a narrrow grinding wheel, you may want to shy away from using it to sharpen. If you want to use it, practice A LOT on blades you bought at a thrift store. Get some 50 cent kitchen knives and practice, practice, practice. You can also just use bench stones, though it will take you a bit of time. I have made 5 knives and I use my grinder (2x42 belt sander from SEARS) to sharpen now.
Edited to ficks baid spellink
- Joined
- Nov 24, 1999
- Messages
- 4,981
Here's what I would do if I was in your situation.
Start out and shape your handle, but don't sand it all the way to the final finsh. Just get it shaped.
Next thin the cutting edge down to the point where it can be sharpened easily with whatever you normally use. A coarse diamond hone would work or a coarse bench stone. You might get a cheap medium or coarse grit wheel for a benchgrinder, and lay it on its side and use it as a bench stone. DO NOT COMPLETELY SHARPEN THE BLADE, only thin the edge down to where its ready for the final sharpening.
Next finish the blade , ie hand rubbed finish or buff etc. Its important to do this after you thin the edge down so you don't ruin the finish while your thinning the edge.Do the bolsters as well.
Once the blade has its final polish, finish and seal the handle. I like to do the final sanding on the handle last so I clean out any steel filings or grime the handle material picks up. You can get it perfectly clean and sanded to texture you want, the apply your finish and have it stay that way. Once the handle has been sealed you can go back and touch up any spots you want over the whole knife without much risk of hurting it.
And finally you can put that hair poppin edge on
That just how I normally do things. Hope it helps.
Start out and shape your handle, but don't sand it all the way to the final finsh. Just get it shaped.
Next thin the cutting edge down to the point where it can be sharpened easily with whatever you normally use. A coarse diamond hone would work or a coarse bench stone. You might get a cheap medium or coarse grit wheel for a benchgrinder, and lay it on its side and use it as a bench stone. DO NOT COMPLETELY SHARPEN THE BLADE, only thin the edge down to where its ready for the final sharpening.
Next finish the blade , ie hand rubbed finish or buff etc. Its important to do this after you thin the edge down so you don't ruin the finish while your thinning the edge.Do the bolsters as well.
Once the blade has its final polish, finish and seal the handle. I like to do the final sanding on the handle last so I clean out any steel filings or grime the handle material picks up. You can get it perfectly clean and sanded to texture you want, the apply your finish and have it stay that way. Once the handle has been sealed you can go back and touch up any spots you want over the whole knife without much risk of hurting it.
And finally you can put that hair poppin edge on
That just how I normally do things. Hope it helps.