What part of knife making do you like the least?

L

Lo/Rez

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Feb 10, 2013
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For me right now I think it's probably doing Kydex sheaths. I'm new to this and not very good at making them. I'm sure that once I become more proficient it won't be so bad. I don't like hand sanding too much either as my hands tend to get sore. I feel for people with arthritis.
 
I hear you on the sheaths

My inbox. I hate dealing with, and trying to keep track of, dozens of unrelated (and frequently contradictory) emails and information. My brain can only do one thing at a time. And people want to talk. About options, about pricing, about their kids, about everything. And they change their minds. I worry I'll make something they way they said they wanted it but changed their mind, or I'll read it wrong, or just forget about it. It's my goddamn inbox that keeps me up nights.

I think it's because I'm retarded. Jo says it's really not that bad...
 
At least kydex is cheap. If you screw. Up the grind lines on the knife itself, you are out a chunk of change. That is the worst for me....that's why I use a file jig rather than my grinder so I can stop myself from screwing up before I actually do. Heat treat is stressful too.
 
I don't like doing the final sharpening. I use a KME and it takes a few hours to do and it drains my will to live. I get the edges .10 or lower on all of my edges as well so it's not that they are too thick I think.

http://www.kmesharp.com/kmeknshsy.html

Would something like this DMT bench stone system make it faster? http://www.dmtonlinestore.com/12-Dia-Sharp-MagnaBase-System-P90.aspx

I'm sure the grinder would be even faster, maybe to take the edge down a little more and then use the KME to put an even angle on it.

All of the other stuff I like for the most part. Even the hand sanding.
 
I HATE gluing up handles. I can't help but get it on my hands and clamps.

Thank God for pumice soap
 
xXBackyardCrafterXx said:
At least kydex is cheap. If you screw. Up the grind lines on the knife itself, you are out a chunk of change. That is the worst for me....that's why I use a file jig rather than my grinder so I can stop myself from screwing up before I actually do. Heat treat is stressful too.
Click to expand...

Same here! I have a lot more control with a file than with a grinder.
 
For me it's guards, I really like hidden tang knives and a good lookin guard really makes the knife, IMHO, but I don't like making them.
 
When I had a shop outside squirrels stole my green compound! That ticks me off. :D

I enjoy just about every part of making the knives, now I might need a secretary for the rest. It's mail day today and I really want to go work on this idea I had! I have to say, that's not really too bad. :)
 
Filing the guard slot for hidden tang knives. I don't have access to a mill, and so far I have been using bar stock. Lots of tedious work.
 
What do I like the least? Hmmm?

Its probably all the grit & dust from everything from ending up in my underwear on a heavy grinding day to all the steel BB's that ring off the tile in shower from snorting water and blowing out my nose "Yes I wear a Respor ator " and wear a HEAVY apron to protect the family jewels and the arteries in my legs.

The buffer with all the fine crud that ends up in my eyes even with a shield and glasses to I have blue grit from a Hermes super flex imbedded in my finger from a cut.

I'm not a clean freak or mind getting a little dirty. Its just some days!;)
 
Cracking the door to the shop peeking in to see if it's safe to enter....Dayyymmmn Elves knock off early to drink beer and forget to clean up the shop once I leave....Oh Wait...that would be me that works right to the bitter end of energy and says in a muffled voice as I leave...."I'll clean up first thing before I get started again"....:eek::D
 
constantly getting in the doghouse for all of the odd smelling, fine particled dust and grime that ends up in and all over my wife's car that she won't stop parking in my workshop(aka our garage)
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
I hear you on the sheaths

My inbox. I hate dealing with, and trying to keep track of, dozens of unrelated (and frequently contradictory) emails and information. My brain can only do one thing at a time. And people want to talk. About options, about pricing, about their kids, about everything. And they change their minds. I worry I'll make something they way they said they wanted it but changed their mind, or I'll read it wrong, or just forget about it. It's my goddamn inbox that keeps me up nights.

I think it's because I'm retarded. Jo says it's really not that bad...
Click to expand...

I can identify with that.
 
Maelstrom78 said:
I don't like doing the final sharpening. I use a KME and it takes a few hours to do and it drains my will to live. I get the edges .10 or lower on all of my edges as well so it's not that they are too thick I think.

http://www.kmesharp.com/kmeknshsy.html

Would something like this DMT bench stone system make it faster? http://www.dmtonlinestore.com/12-Dia-Sharp-MagnaBase-System-P90.aspx

I'm sure the grinder would be even faster, maybe to take the edge down a little more and then use the KME to put an even angle on it.

All of the other stuff I like for the most part. Even the hand sanding.
Click to expand...

A couple of years ago I bought a Wicked Edge for sharpening my knives and doing it for the hunters at work. Now that I started to make knives I think it's even better. I use a digital angle cube and set the bevel angle and take it down to where I want it (usually 15DPS). If you decide to go this route keep checking/adjusting the angle as it changes as you remove steel from the blade.
 
Trying to stay motivated while constantly seeing work that far exceeds anything you can do at the moment.

:D
 
Drilling holes with a not so great drill press, should have waited for the right machine to pop up on CL

Sanding wood past 220
 
John Katt said:
Drilling holes with a not so great drill press, should have waited for the right machine to pop up on CL

Sanding wood past 220
Click to expand...

+1 on the drill press statement. Mines a freebee from a guy at work from like the 50s. I'll take what I can get though.
 
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