Stupid order in which newbies do things...

C

Chant

Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
279
1. Attach and finish handle before hand-finishing blade.
2. Sharpen blade before hand-finishing.
3. Clamp blade to finishing board without covering sharp edge.
4. Rapidly sand blade in attempt to achieve fine finish.
5. Yell and curse.
6. Run upstairs dripping blood all over hardwood and linoleum.
7. Discover that stock of bandaids has run out.

Ouch. Gauze and electrical tape will have to do. Clean cut, no tendons hit, closes tight, so no stitches needed.

Ah, sweet impatience. If only I had waited till my order of micron paper got here, and did things in the correct order.

Another lesson learned the hard way. :yawn: :(
 
of course you understand NO ONE learns this one the first time...well maybe the handle first thing.. but NO ONE learns everything else the first time...well there is that sharpening thing, that probably won't happen again but EVERYTHING ELSE will get to be repeated...
 
My take on the order that newbies do things is:
1) make a knife blade from a piece of metal found in the trash bin
2) finish the blade,sharpen it,and attach the handle
3) ask on BF if you can heat treat it in the kitchen oven.
4) Try to make a damascus blade from aluminum and titanium
5) ask on BF how to heat treat aluminum
6) post advise on making damascus
7) in their second week of knife making start on a samurai sword
8) read a book on knife making.

I know this sounds a bit harsh,but it is often the truth.There are newbies who learn about knife making before they start.All six of them know who they are and that the above does not apply in their case.

I am being a bit humorous and satirical to make a point,please don't get upset if it hits close to home.The point is to learn about knife making before you make the mistakes.It won't avoid all the mistakes,but it may help identify why you made them.
 
No offense taken -- I'm not that bad (though I likely would be if not for all the info in this forum!).

At least...:confused:...I think I'm not that bad. Could be self-delusion, though :) .
 
Chant - If you see the point,you are well on your way to avoiding the errors I was poking fun at.(or maybe you are already past them by "learning first,doing second")
 
I do make a point (usually) to learn first, do second. Sometimes, though, I ignore advice -- and then find out later it was good :rolleyes: .

My "stupid order of doing things" wasn't quite as dumb as I portrayed it (I think) -- I had actually finished the blade to 600 grit (the highest I had at the time), then attached and finished the handles. The knife looked great, and I should have left it alone.

Later, though, my 5 micron and .5 micron papers arrived, and I just had to try them out. So I did, on the finished knife.

Not only did I cut myself, but I mostly ruined the finish on the knife, as I can't get the finish quite right where the ricaso meets the handle (duh).

I would have been better off (and saved more time) be recreating a new knife from scratch and doing the higher finish before the handle.

While I learned (before doing) that it is very difficult to get the joint of ricasso and handle finished after attaching, and do so to avoid problems, this odd deviation has really driven home the lesson.

Now, if only I can get those plung lines right! No amount of learning seems to help in this area -- I'll just have to keep doing until I get better at it.
 
don't you all know mistakes are,
the mother of invention.
other wise who would have thought to use Super glue on cuts.
you need the cut to start with
:D
 
Dan Gray said:
other wise who would have thought to use Super glue on cuts.
you need the cut to start with
:D
Click to expand...

Wish I'd remembered that yesterday, while I was frantically searching for gauze!
 
Ok I got one...Make the knife and then have to send it to someone to sharpen it!!!<~~~now that's stupid!

OHH yea...stupid newbie here!! HIII!!!!!

Learn WHAT to use...6-8" Bastard File

Learn HOW to use it...Draw the lines and grind slowly and soak often

Learn how to make a knife that you can hammer into a table and not muck it up...Soften the tang and THEN add a bit more material (messed up several on this one!)

After adding material to lengthen the tang...Leave it ALONE for a day

ALLL of this and you STILL couldnt sharpen a knife is someone held a gun to your head?? now THAT is a stupid newbie!!


BUT I can sure make a sweet sheath for it when it get's done!!! lol:thumbup:

ahhh that is, if I dont break the thing first!:confused:
 
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