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WIP - 1st knife looking for feedback
- Thread starter seionage
- Start date
I should mention that I understand the correct way of doing this, is to use a piece of glass or granite, for sanding,
to make sure my bolsters are 100% square. Unfortunately, I have neither.
My plan is to use the BFH to make sure my bolsters are flush with the knife when I pien them.
to make sure my bolsters are 100% square. Unfortunately, I have neither.
My plan is to use the BFH to make sure my bolsters are flush with the knife when I pien them.
once that was done, i repeated the process for the 2nd bolster.
once the holes were drilled in the 2nd bolter (bar stock), I
put the 1st bolster on top of it, and put the pins through. I drew a line for cutting the bar stock.
both bolsters on the knife.
I outlined what I want the bolter to look like.
once the holes were drilled in the 2nd bolter (bar stock), I
put the 1st bolster on top of it, and put the pins through. I drew a line for cutting the bar stock.
both bolsters on the knife.
I outlined what I want the bolter to look like.
i wanted to super glue the bolsters together so I could work on shaping them. My thoughts were to put 3 dabs of glue on one bolster, put the other one on, put the pins though, and squeeze them together..
well, that was the plan.
I squeezed the tube of super glue, and a huge glob came out. I tried wiping it up, but it just smeared it.
I used some acetone to clean it up, and tried again.
A pic of the bolsters glued together, with the pins sticking through. I only hand squeezed them together.
I probably should have used a clamp, but I didn't think of it at the time.
I should mention that my plan is that once I'm done shaping the bolsters, I will use some acetone to disolve the superglue. Theoretically this will split the bolsters apart. I've never done this before, so, stay tuned to see what happens.
However, I feel pretty confident, as:
a)I've read about this before
and
b)acetone cleaned up that glob of superglue without any problems.
Worse case scenario, I figure, I may have to soak the bolsters for a day.
Worse, worse case scenario, I have to hit the bolster with a hand-held propane torch, to break the superglue bond.
well, that was the plan.
I squeezed the tube of super glue, and a huge glob came out. I tried wiping it up, but it just smeared it.
I used some acetone to clean it up, and tried again.
A pic of the bolsters glued together, with the pins sticking through. I only hand squeezed them together.
I probably should have used a clamp, but I didn't think of it at the time.
I should mention that my plan is that once I'm done shaping the bolsters, I will use some acetone to disolve the superglue. Theoretically this will split the bolsters apart. I've never done this before, so, stay tuned to see what happens.
However, I feel pretty confident, as:
a)I've read about this before
and
b)acetone cleaned up that glob of superglue without any problems.
Worse case scenario, I figure, I may have to soak the bolsters for a day.
Worse, worse case scenario, I have to hit the bolster with a hand-held propane torch, to break the superglue bond.
I took a bastard file to the top of the bolsters.
I put it on the knife to get an idea of what it will look like.
I don't know if it is long enough or not. oh well, i might as well keep going since it's already cut. I think I may redo these, so that they are longer. I don't know yet. Let me know what you think.
I put it on the knife to get an idea of what it will look like.
I don't know if it is long enough or not. oh well, i might as well keep going since it's already cut. I think I may redo these, so that they are longer. I don't know yet. Let me know what you think.
i wanted to see what it would look like, if I could polish it up. I've never sanded anything past 1000 before. I had some 4000, 6000, and 8000 handy. Wow, I really liked it. I was surpised how fast it went.
It actually took me longer to be careful with the paper, as I didn't want any grit or chunks to get on it, and scratch the bolster. My fingers were black from handling the black wet dry sand paper. When I switched to the cloth, I tried to be careful.
4000 grit
6000 grit
8000
Another pic of the 8000. I'm actually pretty proud of it.
Why did I go 1000 --> 4000 --> 6000 -->8000? It's what I had on hand. From everything I've ready, you should double grit, and switch directions. Well, I didn't have any 2000 grit on hand, so I had to make the jump from 1000 to 4000. I guess I could have went directly from 4000 to 8000 (and skip the 6000). I'll try that next time.
That's where I stopped for the night. Next time I start working bolster, I'm going to put some tape on this edge end, to protect it. Next, I'm going to start sanding the handle end (where the wood will meet the bolster).
It actually took me longer to be careful with the paper, as I didn't want any grit or chunks to get on it, and scratch the bolster. My fingers were black from handling the black wet dry sand paper. When I switched to the cloth, I tried to be careful.
4000 grit
6000 grit
8000
Another pic of the 8000. I'm actually pretty proud of it.
Why did I go 1000 --> 4000 --> 6000 -->8000? It's what I had on hand. From everything I've ready, you should double grit, and switch directions. Well, I didn't have any 2000 grit on hand, so I had to make the jump from 1000 to 4000. I guess I could have went directly from 4000 to 8000 (and skip the 6000). I'll try that next time.
That's where I stopped for the night. Next time I start working bolster, I'm going to put some tape on this edge end, to protect it. Next, I'm going to start sanding the handle end (where the wood will meet the bolster).
Thanks for the kind words. Posting pics, and keeping this thread alive have helped me pay more attention to detail than I normally would have.
I must say this project is taking longer than I thought. Even though I started this thread later,
I actually started the knife on Nov 26. It's been over a month already.
I must say this project is taking longer than I thought. Even though I started this thread later,
I actually started the knife on Nov 26. It's been over a month already.
Its looking great! I applaud you for taking the time to stop and take pictures every step of the way. That makes it take even longer. I'm trying to assemble a thread of my first one as well but I feel that I didn't take enough pics/enough that weren't blurry and unusable lol.
I'm in your exact same boat too, I spent SOOOO much time hand filing just to finally land a $75 craigslist 1x42 grinder here at the end, haha. Oh well, I learned a lot. I did cheat a little with an angle grinder but it was impossible to keep from getting high/low spots everywhere.
Looking foward to seeing the finished handle and how well it cuts!
This might have inspired me to post up what I have been working on (as far as a WIP). Take a look if I get it up tonight.
I'm in your exact same boat too, I spent SOOOO much time hand filing just to finally land a $75 craigslist 1x42 grinder here at the end, haha. Oh well, I learned a lot. I did cheat a little with an angle grinder but it was impossible to keep from getting high/low spots everywhere.
Looking foward to seeing the finished handle and how well it cuts!
This might have inspired me to post up what I have been working on (as far as a WIP). Take a look if I get it up tonight.
I think it's looking great so far. One suggestion I would give, is to flat sand those bolsters and blade. Sand the bolsters enough to get rid of the radiused edge so you don't end up with a gap between the bolsters and blade. Do the same with your handle material, and where the bolsters meet the handle material.
Seionage,
Thanks for taking the time to illustrate what you're doing. I'm learning a lot from it. I've never put bolsters on a blade so I'm watching this with particular attention. I'm guessing you are not a beginner at working with metal as you are doing a really nice job on everything. You don't leave much room for improvement it seems to me. It's sort of like watching a TV series, what's going to happen next? How am I going to be able to stand the wait until the next installment? FOR GOD'S SAKE PLEASE DON'T KEEP ME IN SUSPENSE!
Sorry, I guess I got carried away. Anyway, thanks.
LonePine
AKA Paul Meske, Wisconsin
Thanks for taking the time to illustrate what you're doing. I'm learning a lot from it. I've never put bolsters on a blade so I'm watching this with particular attention. I'm guessing you are not a beginner at working with metal as you are doing a really nice job on everything. You don't leave much room for improvement it seems to me. It's sort of like watching a TV series, what's going to happen next? How am I going to be able to stand the wait until the next installment? FOR GOD'S SAKE PLEASE DON'T KEEP ME IN SUSPENSE!
Sorry, I guess I got carried away. Anyway, thanks.
LonePine
AKA Paul Meske, Wisconsin
Hi Lone,
It's been a long time since I've worked with metal. But, I've probably read 1000s of posts on knives in the past few months. I finally got up the courge to actually try this. It was scary ordering the metal. I'm still hesitant about what I'm doing, because I'm wondering if I'm doing it the right way.
I will say this much, I have a new found respect for clean blades. When I look at some of the knives for sale, and see the clean plunge lines, and clean grinds, I just think "wow". I can't even imagine working on a folder.
It's been a long time since I've worked with metal. But, I've probably read 1000s of posts on knives in the past few months. I finally got up the courge to actually try this. It was scary ordering the metal. I'm still hesitant about what I'm doing, because I'm wondering if I'm doing it the right way.
I will say this much, I have a new found respect for clean blades. When I look at some of the knives for sale, and see the clean plunge lines, and clean grinds, I just think "wow". I can't even imagine working on a folder.
been a while since I got to work on the knife.
I decided I needed (uggh) to do some wet sanding today.
Some 600 grit with moble 1. I wrapped the the 600grit around the brass barstock that I cut the bolsters from.
Speaking of bolsters, I had them in a small puddle of acetone in a glass.
After a bit, I tapped them with a piece of wood.
They are a little dirty from me handling them.
I decided I needed (uggh) to do some wet sanding today.
Some 600 grit with moble 1. I wrapped the the 600grit around the brass barstock that I cut the bolsters from.
Speaking of bolsters, I had them in a small puddle of acetone in a glass.
After a bit, I tapped them with a piece of wood.
They are a little dirty from me handling them.
well, I wanted to fill in the filework, so I can put the bolsters on, and start working on the handle.
The handle will be some green stabilized scales. I was thinking of filling in the filework with red epoxy. This should offset the green handles, and brass bolsters.
So, I taped up the knife with some painters tape.
Looked at the filework, 1 last time *sniff* *sniff*
The handle will be some green stabilized scales. I was thinking of filling in the filework with red epoxy. This should offset the green handles, and brass bolsters.
So, I taped up the knife with some painters tape.
Looked at the filework, 1 last time *sniff* *sniff*
to do this, I taped 1 side of the filework.
I took a little bit of epoxy
And added a dab of red paint.
I then filled in the filework. I added a 2nd piece of tape to the other side of the tang. This kind made a "hot dog" sandwich. The filled in filework became the hot dog, and the 2 pieces of tape are the bun.
The epoxy is stiff enough that it didn't run. The plan is (fingers crossed)
to tear the tape off, and sand the epoxy down.
I'm sure the the paint won't tear too well, but I'm not that worried.
I figured I'll use 220, until I'm down to metal. Then, I'll move to 400 and then 600. Worse case scenario, if I have to start over, I figure I'll put the knife in
a zip lock bag, add some acetone, seal it up, and let it sit for a few days.
The acetone should soften (dissolve?) the epoxy, and I should be able to
clean everything up with a wire brush.
I took a little bit of epoxy
And added a dab of red paint.
I then filled in the filework. I added a 2nd piece of tape to the other side of the tang. This kind made a "hot dog" sandwich. The filled in filework became the hot dog, and the 2 pieces of tape are the bun.
The epoxy is stiff enough that it didn't run. The plan is (fingers crossed)
to tear the tape off, and sand the epoxy down.
I'm sure the the paint won't tear too well, but I'm not that worried.
I figured I'll use 220, until I'm down to metal. Then, I'll move to 400 and then 600. Worse case scenario, if I have to start over, I figure I'll put the knife in
a zip lock bag, add some acetone, seal it up, and let it sit for a few days.
The acetone should soften (dissolve?) the epoxy, and I should be able to
clean everything up with a wire brush.