WIP: Time for a batch!

You are indeed correct! They are almost identical machines. Nonetheless, it works very well, and with this stand is exactly what I've needed to help save on belts :D

Another little update... So I figured I would spend "about an hour" in the garage after dinner tonight drilling and gluing up handles... that kinda turned into 3 hours.. and I only noticed because it got dark out lol

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Anyways, these guys are glued up, cleaned with acetone in the ricasso areas and curing until tomorrow night! Should have 1-3 done tommorow evening... with the rest done by sunday so I can start bending some kydex and calling them complete!
 
Cool, look forward to seeing those handles shape up. Something irks me about where your index finger will grip. It's like the finger choil area's angle is a bit gradual and doesn't look all that comfortable to grasp. It's probably just fine. I'll draw a picture to illustrate what i mean.
 
Frank and Tim, your advice has been heard/seen and used!

I added more relief cut to each knife suggested... and wouldn't you know it they feel that much better in hand. No more tendency or fear of your hand slipping onto the blade. Thanks for helping make my designs more functional!

Well my dad is back in town for 2 weeks so I've kind of been kicked out of the garage while he paints doors and whatnot... I did want to work on my handle finishing though so I set up around the side of my garage and went to town. 2.5 hours of filing, sanding... more sanding... and oh a little bit more sanding. The chopper is 95% complete! I did lots of the "shoe polish" style sanding at 220-400g which helped me get away from the "blocky handle" syndrome. That was a problem on my first two knives, and I think I remedied it this time around and you can tell it is a MUCH more comfortable handle.

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There are a few areas that need to go back to 220g and 400g again, but overall it is looking pretty good. There are also a couple spots with epoxy seepage... will address those when I get back to the shop, just too tired after today *phew*

I lightly countersunk the lanyard hole, since it had a fairly sharp burr on the inside and if there was paracord or any cord through it that would've snagged and torn it.

My etch turned out nicely. I got a bit of practice on a few scrap pieces of metal and I think I've honed my etching procedure to yield the results that I want.

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A few in hand pics... the front choil is great as a finger rest for choking up on the blade. Big enough that you don't cut yourself on your fore finger

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Once I get my heat gun later on in the week at KMS I will fit a black kydex sheath to this baby.... and then decide what the heck I'm going to do with it!

Well, more updates to come... even though they may be slow. But my dad leaves again on friday so I will own the garage once again muah ha ha!

PS: I went knifemaker... hoo boy ;)
 
That looks excellent Johnathan. Your Mark looks super clean too. Which etcher are you using? And congrats on your new status.
 
Thanks Tim!

I'm using "the personalizer"... got it from Jantz. It's the basic model without the variable voltage

Here is my process:

1: Clean area thoroughly with acetone
2: Tape on stencil with electrical tape, and tightly press down the tape joints to prevent electrolyte leakage (had problems with this on my test pieces)
3: Etch on the "etch" setting 5 times, 4 seconds each, lifting for 1 second between each etch
4: Etch on the "mark" setting 8 times, 3 seconds each, lifting for 1 second between each etch
5: Etch on the "etch" setting 2 times, 3 seconds each " "
6: Etch on the "mark" setting 3 times, 3 seconds each " "
7: Remove stencil and clean with provided cleaner, and then acetone again on the mark
8: VERY lightly sand over the whole blade again at the last grit.

I found that the second etch kind of "locks in" the dark mark (even though it is technically removing metal again) and the final mark sharpens everything up. The final light sand just cleans up any discoloration around the etch. Just what works for me, I know everyone has their own process... and I'm sure I will have to adjust it when I move into different steels. I also found that using thinner makeup removal pads (that I swiped from my sister heehee) work a lot better than the provided pads. The ones it comes with are too thick and soak up too much electrolyte causing lots of bleed.
 
As much as I'd love to say there has been a lot of progress on the batch....

Unfortunately real life has kind of taken way too much time out of my day to get any real shop time. The chopper is 100% finished with a kydex sheath... just contemplating what to do with it haha

4 of these knives still need finishing... hopefully this weekend I will have at least 3/4 of the day on saturday and all day sunday to work out in the shop. Since the weather has turned beautiful and hot, there is tons of painting for me to do at work.. and 12 hour shifts don't leave me with too much energy to tinker in the garage.

Got a couple new toys from my dad last week, since he noticed me circling things in the KMS catalogue I was going to go pick up. Came home to a heat-gun (for kydex) and a digital caliper. The latter will be immensely useful for grinding instead of referring to a "dimes" thickness, which I have found to leave my edges far too thick (0.035 instead of the 0.015 recommended :eek:)

They will be done soon I promise! Since the wharnecliffe was a popular design in the early stages of this WIP I PROMISE it will be the one finished up this weekend. I'm excited for it too, since it will be my new edc :D
 
Hey guys, time for the update I promised!

The wharncliffe is all done! All except for the sheath and final sharpening that is haha.

I am absolutely in love with this knife... I just can't put it down. I had my buddies over today for a few brews and they were confused as to why I couldn't stop fondling it and just holding it in my hand :D This design definitely has a place in future batches, and hopefully in a bigger version at some point too! This is my perfect EDC utility blade, I will carry this all the time once the sheath is made!

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All I am disappointed with on this one is the supposedly "red&black* G-10 that I got from Jantz. I can't see any red in it... and it clearly doesn't show in the pictures. It is only when held up to a bright light that you can sort of tell that it is layered in a very deep and dark crimson red. Not the look I hoped for... but I'm happy with the knife anyways. Methinks AKS is my new go-to place for handle material. Great selection, great prices and you can't beat their service (not to mention fast shipping from just a stone throw across the pond!)

Sorry this WIP has dragged for a couple weeks... only one more week of work, and I'm hoping all the knives will be done before or by this coming weekend. I've only got 3 left, and I'm itching to start a new batch of over 10 knives with at least 6 new designs! I got the fever baby :D

Thanks for reading, stay tuned you guys!
 
Looks good Wolffy. I'm yet to make a warny. It looks like a real handy little blade and I think the plain black looks good.
 
12345678910 said:
Thanks, it looks like the Harbour fright version, but without the US to Canada shipping and customs-



HF
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King
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Click to expand...

You can also look at the Princess Auto version, It is branded Power Fist but aside from the color it looks the same as the King and HF. PA also sells a Morse Bi metal blades for it, they work well for me and only cost $16
 
Johnathan,
I really like how the little Wharncliffe turned out!! Right up my alley. You'll probably find yourself carrying that one a lot!

Keep it coming.....
 
unky_gumbi said:
You can also look at the Princess Auto version,

It is branded Power Fist but aside from the color it looks the same as the King and HF.
PA also sells a Morse Bi metal blades for it, they work well for me and only cost $16
Click to expand...


Really?

I've searched the heck outta that & not found it.

I would love to deal with a local store on that.

search-nothing
Bandsaw-nothing
Powertools corded - nothing


Portable Band Saw
an item labelled as Portable band saw is listed under "Powertools Stationary"
-but not bandsaw, or Power tools Portable "
(-mumbling derogatory things about PA website developers...)


I found it thanks
http://www.princessauto.com/workshop/power-tools/stationary/band-saw/8106783-portable-bandsaw

I called - no stock at my store they call it a one time buy
I can't even get them to ship from store to store


Maybe they will ship, maybe i have to go for a drive.


Thanks for letting me know

Let's see if i can get one.
 
The only issue I see with that model.... Blade size: 44-3/4" x 1/2" x 0.025" x 14 TPI

Isn't the standard size 44-7/8"? I'm not sure if that 1/8th makes a difference but if it does it would restrict you to buying only princess auto blades...

Well count I know that if you wait they go on sale every so often for 79.99... I missed it the first time around and went looking elsewhere, before I saw the blade size conundrum.
 
12345678910 said:
Really?

I've searched the heck outta that & not found it.

I would love to deal with a local store on that.

search-nothing
Bandsaw-nothing
Powertools corded - nothing


Portable Band Saw
an item labelled as Portable band saw is listed under "Powertools Stationary"
-but not bandsaw, or Power tools Portable "
(-mumbling derogatory things about PA website developers...)


I found it thanks
http://www.princessauto.com/workshop/power-tools/stationary/band-saw/8106783-portable-bandsaw

I called - no stock at my store they call it a one time buy
I can't even get them to ship from store to store


Maybe they will ship, maybe i have to go for a drive.


Thanks for letting me know

Let's see if i can get one.
Click to expand...

Keep an eye on Kijiji , I find in Canada people use it way more then craigslist. I got my Makita Portaband for $75 , It's 3 yrs old but a new one is $400 +. KMS Tools sells one for $200ish I think it's on sale this month. http://www.kmstools.com/milwaukee-compact-portable-band-saw-8151 It's $250 but it's a better brand and should perform and last longer. Kijiji in GTA, I'm sure there is one for sale .http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-...ble-Variable-Speed-Bandsaw-W0QQAdIdZ285363800 ,New King Canada for $150 in North York. Check him out , it's dated 21 July so might be gone . $100 more for a better quality one might be worthwhile , I'm no portaband expert but there is 2 options for you.
 
I got real lucky when I got mine, it was on sale and I knew a couple of guys that worked at the PA main store in Winnipeg, so I got their employee discount on top of that:D Mine has the yellow housing though and not the blue.

The replacement bi metal blades are the 44 7/8" and they run fine, better than the stock blade that comes with it. I have had my portable band saw for just over a year now and am only on my second blade and it is still cutting fine for me. I still have the original blade too, but I only use it for wood.
 
unky_gumbi said:
I got real lucky when I got mine, it was on sale and I knew a couple of guys that worked at the PA main store in Winnipeg, so I got their employee discount on top of that:D Mine has the yellow housing though and not the blue.

The replacement bi metal blades are the 44 7/8" and they run fine, better than the stock blade that comes with it. I have had my portable band saw for just over a year now and am only on my second blade and it is still cutting fine for me. I still have the original blade too, but I only use it for wood.
Click to expand...

What kinds of metal do you cut? I've gone through 3 blades in a month , I must be doing something wrong. I will admit to doing a little "shaping" while profiling but S35VN killed a brand new blade in 10 minutes, I always use the slow speed I must be applying too much pressure .
 
Wolffy your knives are looking very sharp, we both started around the same time and your producing much nicer quality knives then I have , good work man.
 
I have been sticking with 5160 and O-1 mostly, but I have done a little bit of 1084. The only stainless I have cut is 3 blades out of 154CM. I run at slow speed with a slow feed. I am never in a rush when cutting out a blade so that makes it easier on the saw blades.
 
Thanks duffy, jonny, railrider, tim and all those reading!

duffy: don't sell yourself short, I'm quite envious of your homemade forge and successful solo heat-treats :D. I'm just running out of room for all this stuff haha

jonny: I agree! Very useful blade and perfect to hang from my neck

As for my band saw blades, I'm using the stock one that came with the machine (14 tpi I believe?) and it is fine for now I suppose. Only had to cut 3 blanks and a buttload of G-10, either way I have 3 backup blades!

Anyways, back to the knives!!!

Rained out of work today (oh yes I was sooo disappointed to get shop time :rolleyes:) so I put some red kydex pants on the wharnie and got the bushcraft model all finished up and with a sheath too!

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I also took a good chunk out of my right thumb... doing something very stupid. The knife wasn't even sharpened yet, but kind of pointy... so while fiddling with the initial tight fit on the kydex sheath I tore into my thumb about 1/4" and had basically a piece of it hanging there. Zero pain to start, then it started gushing.... and gushing.... and my sink looked like a murder scene. Unlike most injuries I get I wasn't thinking to take pictures... I know how much people love to see them :D. But here I am... still alive... thumb throbbing O_O. If I get brave enough later I'll change the bandage and see what kind of picture I can get for you guys lol

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That's all for now. 2 left, then the batch is done! As much as I like the one I finished today... I may sell it... or I have a friend with a birthday coming up so he is going to get one from this batch most definitely

Thanks for reading, stay tuned.
 
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