So after about 4 months of learning and messing up a bunch of blades, I finally put out my first 6 that I'm pretty happy with. I started out about a year ago with files and a single piece of 1084. Quite tedious, which is something I'm not good with, so have to work on that if I want to put out better product. I ended up getting a Craftsman 2x42 a few months back and learned how to use that fast little motor (I still suck, but learning every piece). Anyway, it's been a fun journey and I love, designing, and grinding as time allows at night and on weekends. Great hobby. These will all be staying with me or going to friends as gifts. My goal is to make some that are of high enough quality to sell so I can upgrade equipment. Just keep putting the $$ back into the hobby.
Specs:
These are all made out of 1084 flat bar stock of various thickness from 3/16" to 1/4". Handle material is G10, micarta and iron wood. I wanted to try all the handle materials and see what I liked/didn't about each and how easy they were to work with. I found G10 to be the easiest to work with followed by micarta then the iron wood (couldn't use the belt grinder and had to use rasp and hand sanding to get the shape). I really like convex edges so that's what I went with. All are razor sharp, I have the bloody band-aids to prove it. Some of the designs came from existing knives I like and made some tweeks. I wanted to try different shapes and see what works and what doesn't so well with the equipment setup I have, so I made a diverse bunch. Heat treat done by Peterson Heat Treaters, great people to deal with and fast.
Tools used:
Craftsman 2x42 (added glass platten), Cheap-O Harbor Freight 5 speed drill press, angle grinder, Dremel, hand files/rasps
Belts:
60 grit Blaze to shape, 120 grit Blaze to refine, 220 Gator pre-heat treat, post-heat treat and to put on edge, 400 Gator on some to get nicer finish. Handles done with 120 Blaze and 220 Gators. Handles polished with JB Bore Paste and Dremel buffer.
Anyway, thanks for looking, feedback is always welcome.
Specs:
These are all made out of 1084 flat bar stock of various thickness from 3/16" to 1/4". Handle material is G10, micarta and iron wood. I wanted to try all the handle materials and see what I liked/didn't about each and how easy they were to work with. I found G10 to be the easiest to work with followed by micarta then the iron wood (couldn't use the belt grinder and had to use rasp and hand sanding to get the shape). I really like convex edges so that's what I went with. All are razor sharp, I have the bloody band-aids to prove it. Some of the designs came from existing knives I like and made some tweeks. I wanted to try different shapes and see what works and what doesn't so well with the equipment setup I have, so I made a diverse bunch. Heat treat done by Peterson Heat Treaters, great people to deal with and fast.
Tools used:
Craftsman 2x42 (added glass platten), Cheap-O Harbor Freight 5 speed drill press, angle grinder, Dremel, hand files/rasps
Belts:
60 grit Blaze to shape, 120 grit Blaze to refine, 220 Gator pre-heat treat, post-heat treat and to put on edge, 400 Gator on some to get nicer finish. Handles done with 120 Blaze and 220 Gators. Handles polished with JB Bore Paste and Dremel buffer.
Anyway, thanks for looking, feedback is always welcome.
