Where to from here?...

[MeDoctor]

I decided to have a go at hollow grinding after watching J's video. I had a fair effort going, especially when you consider that I had a dyslexic moment (dyslexic HOUR or 2 is more like it!) and ground most of the blade edge-down instead of edge-up as demonstrated in the video. Anyway, by the time I finished trying to even out the plunges and work out a couple of divots I found that I'd managed to grind almost all the way through the bottom half of the blade. All is not lost though -- it's just that the blade is now only about half of its original width once I ground away all of the paper-thin material.

I'm looking for suggestions. I'm thinking I need to use my small wheel and push the finger notch up toward the spine as well as closer to the ricasso, then grind down the nub that's left from narrowing the blade...

I'm pretty sure I can salvage something from this first try at "hallow" grinding.

 

[Will Leavitt]

I'd make the handle a little narrower widthwise and you've got a bird and trout knife.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

"Hallow" grinding, heh, that's grand...

Good looking grind, weird looking knife. But I like 'em stabby, and this one's stabby....

 

[MeDoctor]

I'd make the handle a little narrower widthwise and you've got a bird and trout knife.

Yeah, the handle sure doesn't fit the blade anymore. Thanks.

 

[MeDoctor]

This is better...

9.5" OAL, 4.5" blade from 5/32 O-1

 

[bikermikearchery]

This is just my opinion of course buy there is just a bit of a shoulder in the belly of the handle, (red arrows) and the end of the handle is a bit bulbous.

 

[silver_pilate]

Take a look in the makers gallery and find that little spike knife. I think the title is "flicker." Grind down the handle and make a tidy little EDC knife.

--nathan

 

[MeDoctor]

This is just my opinion of course buy there is just a bit of a shoulder in the belly of the handle, (red arrows) and the end of the handle is a bit bulbous.

Good point. That shape might work on a more rounded blade, but your suggestion would be much better with the blade shape I've got here. Thanks.

 

[Will Leavitt]

I've got a bucket full of knives waiting to be made into smaller knives

 

[MeDoctor]

Take a look in the makers gallery and find that little spike knife. I think the title is "flicker." Grind down the handle and make a tidy little EDC knife.

--nathan

I'd need to grind down the BLADE a whole bunch too, and it's "good enough" as it is. Remember, it got THIS small because I needed to cover up a big goof. If I keep grindin' on it I'm liable to screw it up again. Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

 

[JTknives]

not bad for your first try. how fun was it to grind edge down . you could remove the last finger notch and round off the back and make it a 3 finger handle. keep it up.

 

[MeDoctor]

not bad for your first try. how fun was it to grind edge down . you could remove the last finger notch and round off the back and make it a 3 finger handle. keep it up.

I had the blade mostly finished edge down -- though it had some divots at the plunge close to the spine -- when I decided I'd better have another look at your video. No WONDER I was having so much trouble. I found that while grinding edge up the blade pretty much wants to seat itself along the grind line, whereas you have to force it to seat when grinding edge down. But I'm sure you already know that.

I can't get it heat treated until Monday when the guys in our tool room come back to work, so I've got until at least Sunday to ponder and pray about what shape the handle will finally take. Thanks for the suggestion, and thanks for the great video -- actually seeing someone do certain things is more helpful to me than reading a thousand descriptions of how to do it.

 

[MeDoctor]

Here it is with the handle slimmed down a bit more.

 

[bikermikearchery]

I like it much better now. Drill your pin holes before you harden, if your going to drill. Lot less work that way.