Working with sharpened blades

[Hesparus]

Hi Everyone,

I've got a couple of kitchen knives that I finished, sharpened, and now require some work. both need to have their handles replaced (I don't think I'm ever using dymondwood again), and one needs to have the geometry adjusted. For the one that needs a lot of work, I was going to knock the edge off and treat it like an unsharpened knife. For the other, I was thinking of leaving the edge on but taping up the blade while I replace the handle. Are there any other methods that might be better for me?
Thanks,
Chris

 

[E.Carlson]

Electrical tape is your friend.

 

[Hesparus]

Thanks!

 

[Grayshadow95]

I use duct tape, it covers a larger area per wrap, and I double layer it.
If any of the glue stays on the blade it can be removed with mineral spirits.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I use the blue painter's tape. It doesn't leave a residue or etch/stain the blade like some other tapes do. It is the most common tape used as far as I know.

Another trick is to wrap the blade in a paper towel, and then tightly tape it up with duct tape. This makes a duct tape sheath. This is removable when needed and the blade never has tape on it.

 

[Shipshores]

I use blue painters as well the Orange works good to. The cheap stuff seems to leave the least residue for me. I would put 4 or 5 wraps near the ricasso area. Why don't you like the diamondwood other than a it having a cheap reputation I was under the impression it was very durable.

 

[Hesparus]

Stacy: That's a cool trick! I may try that one.

Shipshores: I have been finding that dymondwood is not as stable as it is supposed to be. I've had a few handles shrink and separate from the tang at the ends, and two have broken due to shrinkage (the ones in my original post).

Chris

 

[scout_77]

Blue painters tape all the way, 3 layers on a sharp knife

 

[Jack O'Neill]

I put a strip of black gorilla duct tape over the edge and then wrap with the blue painters tape .

 

[Jwgriesser]

One layer of blue painters tape work great. Use orange peal to clean up.
Jay

 

[timos-]

I use the blue painters tape but make sure to use one strip per side. Ive had patina form between tape pieces on a blade that had been taped and sat that way for a month or so. I then use another strip of tape folded over the edge area and a little extra at the heel and tip. If you need to drill out the tang at all or when drilling handle material...be very very careful of clamping the piece and use a stop bar to prevent the blade from helicoptering. That is one of my worst fears.