WIP - 1st knife looking for feedback

[seionage]

1 1/2hrs later, here's what it looks like.

Still more to go.

Edge view.

 

[seionage]

This was clean up day. I went to wal-mart and picked up a blue sharpie.

I also picked up some chalk board chalk. I wanted to color the blade,
use a square and find any high spots.

Coloring the blade

Taking down a hight spot

I don't know if this is right or not, but I heard you can use chalk to plug
up the file grooves. This prevents the file from accumultating metal, and
putting deeper scratches in the blade. It seemed to work. I'll use chalk
the rest of the time I'm using a file. I still brush it clean every 5 or so strokes.

 

[seionage]

Showcasing some scratches that need to come out.

I'm using a bastard file. After seeing the scratches, I start cleaning
every 2-3 swipes.

A close up

Sanding with 50grit. I'm doubling my grit, and changing direction.

 

[seionage]

for whatever reason, I fliped the knife over. Maybe just looking at it,
really can't remember.

I did some clean up filing with the bastard file, then switched
to a smooth cut file. using chalk on both files.

I started sanding with 50grit emery. it's what I had.

Switched directions, and went to 150grit (next higher grit I had)

Changed directions, and went to 400 grit. You can still see some of the
150grit scratches that need to come out.

 

[seionage]

I was sanding with a paint stick, but as I was working with it,
I realized I didn't like the flexibility. Eventually, I switched to wrapping the
smooth cut file with sand paper.

Here's a shot with the paint stick.

After some more sanding. I think this may have been with the file
wrapped in sand paper, but can't remember.

 

[seionage]

just for grins, I tried some wet sanding, to see what it would be like.

I had a can of WD-40 handy, so I used that.

600grit and WD40. Sandpaper around the file.

I tried to take a pic of the reflection, but the camera wasn't quite in focus.

 

[seionage]

well, I got ahead of myself sanding. I wanted to sorta see what the knife could look like.

I took a step back, and realized my plunge lines were still pretty crappy.

I decided to clean them up. I extended them all the way to the spine. This
meant going back to a file. Then, back to 50grit sand paper and all the way back to 600.

Extending the plunge line, to make it more even with the other side.

After 600grit.

 

[seionage]

What do you think of the choil? (I think that's what you call that 1/2 round spot right in front of the finger gard, next to the edge).

Do you think I should open it up some more with a file? Maybe a bigger chainsaw round file?

As look at the upcoming pictures, let me know what you think.

I don't know if I'm happy with it or not, but I don't know what to do about it. I'm scared of taking a drill to it (since the bit would only be cutton on 1/2 a side). I don't know if I should try opening it up with a file or not.

 

[seionage]

so, I'm back on the other side.

Here's what it looks like.

Started with 150grit, rotated to 220, rotated to 400.

Here is is after 400

Another shot showing the tip.

 

[seionage]

and more sanding. Here it is after 600. The knife has a "greesy" or cloudy look.

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong. Let me know what you think.

 

[seionage]

So,I got that far (that last pic was actually taken 10 days ago). the day after the last pic, guess what I found on craigslist? woo hoo! $75.

Plus it's the 1hp model. Not the wimpy 1/3hp they currently sell. Don't know if they still make the 1hp model. I couldn't find it on sears.com.

Now I need to figure out what belts I need (hence a different thread I put up).

 

[seionage]

well, it's been over a week since I've worked on the knife (been sick, and schedule sucked).

Well, the one thing you don't do, is drop a knife point down, on a concrete floor.

oops

different angle

5min later after draw filing with a smooth file.

 

[seionage]

time to try some tang filework.

I blue the spine with my super-duper blue sharpie.

I then mark a line every 1.5cm, and then split it in 1/2, to .75cm.
I don't have a caliper, so I'm using a steel rule to try and get close.

 

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I start by cutting every other line with a triangluar needle file

I then use a round needle file to open it up a bit.

 

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I open it up a bit more.

I then use a small chainsaw file to open it up more. My goal is to take it
across to the tang to 1mm from the other side.

I then use a large chainsaw file to really open it up. Unfortunately, I take it too far
across on one of the openings.

 

[seionage]

same thing on the other side.

triangluar needle file.

round needle file.

open it up.

 

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I eyeball, and scribe a diagnal line between the 1/2round openings.

 

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I take a square needle file, and try to cut 1/4 of the way down the line,
from each side.

 

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wow..this looks soo much better without glasses. I was actually proud of how it looked, until I looked at the photos.

I guess I need to do some cleanup work before I HT. Here's what it currently looks like.

backing up a bit, to see more of the tang.

 

[seionage]

so, I decide I want to do some checkering for a thumb grip. To make it a little different, I want 2 sections of checkering.

A longer section, and a shorter section.

I don't know that it's that much more functional, I just thought it would look a little different.

close up

backing up

backing up some more.