What do I do now?

S

samwereb

Joined
Aug 3, 1999
Messages
441
I am overwhelmed and feel like quitting:

First of all, I can't find any Chicago screws. This is not altogether that bad, considering that I cannot seem to make an acceptable Kydex sheath, but I am hopeful that I will, some day, and I really want to use these. I have seen them on a number of different members' websites. Where do you get them?

Secondly, I am trying to hand-finish some blades. I am doing it by hand, not because I'm a "purist" but because my belt sander is a piece of garbage. I am working with 1095, hardened to 55. I am not looking for a mirror-finish. All I want is a sort of nice "brushed" finish like you might find on a good double-action stainless steel revolver. Doing them by hand, with 220, and 320 grit paper, my flats stay flat (thankfully.) The finish just looks unprofessional. And, I tell you, I have applied THOUSANDS of strokes!

I am at my wit's end. Neither cursing, nor sulking, nor slamming things around the shop seem to help. I used to have a punching bag hanging in the shop, but I disembowled it with one of my crappy looking blades. What can I do?

I'll be gratedul for any advice.
 
Sam, don't give up on it!! Keep working on one or two knives till you get it right. You'll love the end results if you do. It sounds like you're dedicated to putting in the hours and labor. One thing that might help your finish is to make each stroke the full length of the blade instead of alot of short sanding strokes that don't go full length. Have you tried wet sanding?? Also, if you're looking for a satin finish, take the blade through 600 grit and then go back to 400 or so. Thats when the full length sanding will be most important.
Take care! Michael

------------------
"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"

 
Change sanding direction every time you change grit size. That way you can tell when you get all of the previous scratches out.
 
Definately change angles when you change grits. Are you using a hard flat sanding block? Try cutting your sandpaper into 6 strips lengthwise (1 1/2 in wide) and wrapping around the end of your sanding block (I use a peice of 1/2 in thick corian about 1 in wide and 6 in long) when you use up one side tear it off to get to the next one. I usually sand dry, but occasionally use a squirt of wd-40 on the sandpaper when it doesn't want to polish up quite right.

Strange as it seems, clamp the tang of your blade in a vice and sand with the point toward you. it's easier to see and will actually save you some cuts on your hands. (not that you won't still get a few, just not as many).

If you dont have a swivel vice, clamp a piece of scrap wood in the vice, then clamp the blade to the wood so that the edge and point just barely overhang the wood.

------------------
I love my country! I just don't trust my government!
 
Sam, if you do clamp a blade in a vise, never leave it there when you're not working on it. It is so easy to not see the blade sticking out and walk right into it.

------------------
"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"

 
Hello,


Persistance is good too,but along the way just Experiment until you end up with what you like,,,nothing Beats Solid Technique, and repeatability.

I have seen a lot of big name makers,,who still dont have it together,makes you wonder how they got the name,,doesnt it??

if you get your Techniqes down and make well
thought out designs that perpetuate your style and can offer them at Great prices,,,you will sell everything you make.

But also you dont want People telling you that your designs and excecution is great , when it is lacking,,,try to find honest opinion`s,to achive Growth as a maker with your skills,,and alway strive to make the next knife better than the one before it.

Dont become Stagnant and settle for Flaws,,just because people who dont know better will buy your work, this is why you see Big time makers with Flawed and un even grind lines and shaby workmanship.

Make what you make,dont settle for Flaws, and always strive to improve your technique, and you will do just Fine.

I was told when i first started out almost 13 yrs ago,

" That until you grind 100 Blades, you dont know how to Grind"

I find this a valid statement.

Sure you can make acceptable blades before hand,but for grinding to become second nature and repeatable with out Flaws, that
statement to me is just FACT!!

my .02 for what its worth


Take Care,
Allen Blade
 
it took me three weeks to put the hand finish on a blade, the first time i tried it. (now i can do that in one day) it was a mirror finish when i was done.
the key is changing direction, and looking at a low level light to see scratches that you can't when your looking down at it. kinda like staring at the horizon the blade makes with the light. it hard to explain, but just try a couple different angles til' you see the scratches. people will think your crazy staring at the knife like that, but you'll have a shiney blade. the last grit of paper you use should be going lenght wize, it gives a better finish.

[This message has been edited by magnum .44 (edited 01-14-2000).]
 
Look at your blades under an incandecent light instesad of flourecent, it will show the scratches better.
 
First off...don't quit. You'll hate yourself if you do.
Take that blade and finish it to the end. Even if it's not the perfect knife you envisioned it's a knife YOU finished.
Polishing up a knife and still keeping the flats flat shows you are dedicated enough to not get sloppy with your work.
Follow the tips here. All of them will help, but put together they will make a world of difference.
Don't stop with 320...take it up to 400 at least. The difference between 320 and 400 is amazing and if you take it up to 600 you won't believe you were ready to quit at 320.
I don't have much in the way of power tools and I took my first blade up to 1000 grit by hand, so it can be done.
I have to repeat the safety tip of NEVER leave a blade in a vise.

------------------
~~TOM~~
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top