Squeezing lemons and getting wine

[Camden]

Ok so here's my equipment...

How can I use these machines to better to make a better blade? Kind of a vague question but I'd like to see how y'all would use these if you were put in a room and given these, some files and sandpaper.

 

[kc custom]

I'd use the drill press, the files, and the sandpaper.
Ken.

 

[james terrio]

That's do-able. I would use the drill press to do the connect-the-dots thing for profiling blades, then finish cutting the rough blanks with a hack-saw. And of course, make holes for any pins/rivets/bolts and to remove a bit of weight from full-tang designs.

I would use the bench grinder to clean up the profiles pretty close to final dimension. Maybe even to start grinding bevels. Then use the 1" belt grinder to get bevels closer to finished, and hand-tools from there.

I'll bet a six-pack you've already figured this out. Get some steel and get to work

EDIT: it would be fun to attend a grind-in where experienced makers and new guys alike have only those three power tools with which to work, and see what they come up with. I know for certain that a person with a little skill and some planning CAN grind a decent blade on that set-up :thumbup:

 

[Camden]

That's do-able. I would use the drill press to do the connect-the-dots thing for profiling blades, then finish cutting the rough blanks with a hack-saw. And of course, make holes for any pins/rivets/bolts and to remove a bit of weight from full-tang designs.

I would use the bench grinder to clean up the profiles pretty close to final dimension. Maybe even to start grinding bevels. Then use the 1" belt grinder to get bevels closer to finished, and hand-tools from there.

I'll bet a six-pack you've already figured this out. Get some steel and get to work

EDIT: it would be fun to attend a grind-in where experienced makers and new guys alike have only those three power tools with which to work, and see what they come up with. I know for certain that a person with a little skill and some planning CAN grind a decent blade on that set-up :thumbup:

Awesome. I havnt figured it out completely. Where I seem to screw up is the bevel grinds... 3 knives in... Story of my life hahaha

 

[Don Nguyen]

8 large lemons
10 oz can of white grape juice concentrate
1 lb 14 oz granulated sugar
6-1/2 pts water
1/4 tsp grape tannin
1/4 tsp pectic enzyme
1 tsp yeast nutrient
Champagne wine yeast

Boil water and dissolve sugar in it. Grate the zest from 3 lemons into primary. Juice all lemons and add juice to primary. Add grape juice to primary and add sugar water. Cover primary and set aside to cool to room temperature. Add tannin, yeast nutrient and pectic enzyme. After 12 hours, add yeast. Ferment until specific gravity drops to 1.020 (about 8 days). Rack into secondary, top up if required and fit airlock. In 4-6 weeks, check specific gravity. Rack when S.G. is 1.000. Top up and refit airlock. Age 6 months, checking water in airlock periodically. Rack into bottles and age additional 6 months before tasting.

It'll be really difficult to try to grind bevels with the pedestal grinder or that little sander. Like others have said, I would drill holes around to profile and cut it with a hacksaw. You can then use the pedestal grinder to refine the profile, but that's all it's really useful for as far as I know.

Annealed steel, files, a vise, and patience will help you with the bevels. I made knives without vises before, I just clamped them to the work table. Just be sure not to file the edge too thin before heat treating (which, I'm guessing, you will probably send out).

 

[russianpolander]

And there you go , lemons to wine....

 

[james terrio]

Where I seem to screw up is the bevel grinds... 3 knives in... Story of my life hahaha

Just slow down, take your time and get the bevels the way you want. Do not let any particular process dictate your results! Define the results you want, and then figure out the process that can help you get there.

As for wine... Jiminy Crickets, I've made a fair amount of wine in my time, but never considered starting with lemons. I prefer strawberries.

 

[Remyrw]

I'd give serious thought to collecting some cans and recycling them, along with the 1x30. Maybe track down some stuff you can take to the local recycling center for more cash... Then getting a 2x42 craftsman grinder from sears and a ceramic glass platen from usaknifemaker.com. It's not ideal, but along with a new buffing wheel on that delta it gives you a much more workable set of tools. Total cost probably $200
I noticed it is no longer on the sears web site so here's a link.
Craftsman 2x42
I left off the work rest and side plate, added the glass platen, and then took off the tension handle to get it out of my way. It's no 2x72 but it costs less than your first order of 2x72 belts probably will and it's a workable solution at a good price.

 

[Core Knife Co.]

When I first started I made my first 4 knives with files, a hacksaw and a cordless drill. I have a few pictures of the entire process from my 2nd ever knife. Might help you...

I didn't take pictures of drilling holes around the outline of the knife and using the hacksaw to cut from hole to hole. Takes some time but it works fine.

Keep using your files to clean up the edges and get your shape.

I made a quick homemade jig I could use for my files to get my bevels correct. You could use something like this to set you initial bevels and then clean everything up on your 1X30

Fix any screw ups.

You have the drill press so you wont have to fight with the cordless drill like I did.

Heat treat it and go to work on your scales.

There is all kinds of errors and screwed up things with this knife, but it was only my 2nd. Regardless, I hope there is something in there that helps you.

 

[Camden]

Great stuff y'all!!!! Copy paste print! Love it

 

[Camden]

As for the ht, I am doing it myself. It's 1095 and I've been (IMO) successful. I noticed on the blades I made and ht'd out of weld steel, that the blade would ding with the slightest tap on another piece of metal. As for these I've made and ht'd from 1095, a swift bang against another piece of metal dosnt phase it and that works for me

 

[Shaw Blades]

Chop some 2x4s or hard wood with the knife to test your heat treat.