Today's Dumb Question

ddavelarsen

ddavelarsen

Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Messages
5,179
Rope filework. What ought to be the simplest filework has me stumped. Maybe I ask too much.

Anyone know of any photos of the process (Bruce Evans has me very spoiled) or even good close shots of some finished?

[Here I tried to describe what I'm trying to do, but that didn't work so I typed this instead.]

Thanks for any wild-a** ideas or better yet actual photos. Even a sample knife would do.

Dave
 
I can see two ways of doing this. One, rounding off the spine and filing in the 'creases' between the 'strands.' The second, filing in the strands, a sort of 3-D negative of a rope...

How's this done? :) Thanks for any help!

Dave
 
first, the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask.
(at least thats what my grandfather always said)

second, I don't have a digital camera, but I'll try to talk you through it.

1, make a full scale drawing of what you want to achieve. (i usualy have to try two or three times to get it just the way I want it)

2, get a piece of mild steel, or brass and play around until you get your file strokes figured out.

note, the above are both good Ideas when working an unframiliar patern or material, I do very little of this work in metal. but I have worked with some very fine craftsmen.

3,I would clamp the blade so it couldn't move, then I would round the back, and carefully scribe the patern on the blade as a reference. Then put masking tape on the edge so i knew where to stop and start each cut. (standard lay out procedure)

4, (by this point you already know what you are doing. you've got a framiliar patern carefully layed out on the back of a knife)
I would probobly start out with a triangular needle file to add depth to my scribe lines, Then refine it with a flat one.

Watch your lay out, especialy your start and stop lines.

I've done he patern in wood, but not in steel. Your right though It's not that hard. I'm sure it will look good

I hope that other people will add their wisdom :)

In the multitude of councelers there is success
 
Along this vein, would using one of those adjustable clamps made for sharpening chain saws give a person better control?
Harry Jensen
 
Harry,
I don't know, I,m not framilliar with the tool. but it sounds interesting. I was thinking either a machinest, paterm maker or modeler's vise. but if the device is heavy enough to control the work it should do fine.
 
:D You can never have too many tools! I'm going to find the chainsaw guide and see what happens.

Thanks for all the input,
Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top