A Ton of Work No One Will See

[Valkman]

I know one knifemaker who has a plasma cutter that his son built, so I guess it can be done. Many get their knives waterjet cut. It's expensive, like $20 per knife.

I go through Enco and MSC for end mills and such. I've found through trial and error that the ones that say "China" on them are crap and the ones that say "USA" are much better. I tried to use the Chinese ones on D2 and CPMD2 and they just won't work. I started getting Putnam brand and they work much much better. Wish I could afford some really good end mills!

 

[Fred Fuller]

Don,

FWIW I like your blade profile better 'plain' and not fullered (grooved). If it isn't too late, please make mine plain...

Hope your shoulder is getting better- did the Topricin ever get there?

tnx,

lpl/nc

 

[TrapperReady]

Don, FWIW I agree with Lee (and would have a similar request) regarding the fuller.

Thanks!

 

[The Tourist]

I'm simply pacing, waiting for mine. Sure, there's fun in anticipation, but for me there's more fun in destroying the UPS box and getting my prize...

 

[Valkman]

I had only 2 grooved ones and they're going to hso and Tourist. I like 'em both ways but did it to further reduce weight. On the new batch I don't think I did it to any of the ATS-34 blanks as they're already pretty light.

I did get some Topricin and it doesn't seem to help - the wife tried some on her aching hands and it didn't work for her either. I'll keep slathering it on and see but I do go see the shoulder doc today. We have 3 Dr. appts in Vegas today - what fun - but I should also get a used oven. Then I can start powder coating!

I have Alumahyde from Brownell's in Desert Tan, Coyote, Parkerizing Gray and Dark Parkerizing Gray - if anyone wants their knife coated (that I haven't made yet) I'll do it for no charge at this point. Once I get the oven hooked up and can powder coat I'll have a killer black wrinkle finish.

 

[Browning]

Mine has a Fuller on there doesn't it? I remember seeing one on there (if I was looking at the right one/2nd knife from top on the first post). I kind of like the look without the Fuller as well, but it doesn't matter that much if it's already on there and after looking at the picture several times it's kind of grown on me.

What does the Fuller do exactly anyway?

Is there a purpose for it other than looks and personal preference about the way it looks?

 

[wheelgunslinger]

For cutting stuff, if you look through the catalogs of (or talk to the salesmen) companies like Linde and/or Airgas (wherever they are with mergers and acquisitions right now) you'll not only find welding and fabrication tools and supplies, but solutions for precision cutting as well.

They have some pretty amazing tech available, and are always reoutfitting their big customers and reselling older tech that is still perfectly good... like water and plasma cutters, industrial grade bandsaws, etc.

 

[john917v]

Great-looking knives, Valkman! Have you ever thought about doing a clay-fired finish on the knife edge, like the wave pattern on Japanese swords?

And, do you use an xyz mill? That'd be killer for the lightening holes, you could just cut out a rectangular channel.

 

[Eleven Mike]

What does the Fuller do exactly anyway?

Is there a purpose for it other than looks and personal preference about the way it looks?

Duuude! It makes your knife super-tactically!! So when you stab your enemy during a covert op, his blood spurts out the side, allowing the blade to slide in easily, then withdraw easily so you can engage the next threat!! With a normal, non-super-tacticality knife, of course, you must pull harder to overcome the vacuum created by all that blood in the EXTREME wound you just created!! And we've all been there, right? So embarrassing and UN-tactical!!

Or, for an expert opinion:
http://www.agrussell.com/knife_information/knife_encyclopedia/articles/blood_groove.html

 

[Valkman]

Is there a purpose for it other than looks and personal preference about the way it looks?

Not for me - I use it purely for looks and for "weight loss". And yep, your knife has one.

As EM states, there are other makers who claim wonderous things their grooves can do but not mine!

For cutting stuff, if you look through the catalogs of (or talk to the salesmen) companies like Linde and/or Airgas (wherever they are with mergers and acquisitions right now) you'll not only find welding and fabrication tools and supplies, but solutions for precision cutting as well.

Oh no. More place to spend money on neato stuff? Stop already!

Great-looking knives, Valkman! Have you ever thought about doing a clay-fired finish on the knife edge, like the wave pattern on Japanese swords?

And, do you use an xyz mill? That'd be killer for the lightening holes, you could just cut out a rectangular channel.

Not really - I've made hamons on oil quenched stuff but nothing fancy. It is awesome when done right.

I have a Grizzly mill, nothing fancy.

 

[JShirley]

When I win the lottery- or get a "real" job, whichever's first- I'll get a Landshark with a slightly elongated blade.

 

[Valkman]

I keep thinking about slapping a coating on one and sending it to you. Man, some Desert Tan (or Coyote) with Brown Micarta or Dark Parkerizing Gray with Green/Black Micarta - I get all drooly thinking about it. LOL

 

[The Tourist]

You're getting drooly? I surpassed that condition two days ago. I am now stalking the UPS driver...

 

[Browning]

As EM states, there are other makers who claim wonderous things their grooves can do but not mine!

What!!!!

You mean owning this knife isn't going to turn me into a virtual ninja like how 11 Mike was saying that I can use to stab people in the torso with without creating a suction so that I can run through a crowd stabbing people even quicker than normal like a Jim Bowie clone gone berserk?

I'm tempted to say forget it since the knife doesn't come with a personality and skill set change, but I guess that's fine. I can still use it to cut things with (as my shoulders slump in disappointment).

 

[sm]

I keep thinking about slapping a coating on one and sending it to you. Man, some Desert Tan (or Coyote) with Brown Micarta or Dark Parkerizing Gray with Green/Black Micarta - I get all drooly thinking about it. LOL

Got Napkin? You are about to drool. *snicker*

Now my Small Skinner is not as big you other folks are getting.
Mine is 01. Unlike stainless, it will take on character and personality. *smile*.

Now a box of ribs, is about 60 pounds. There was a box of pork, and a box of beef.
Some of these racks had to cut into. No problem with the Small Skinner.
I just stropped on the wax coated heavy cardboard box as I went along. Actually just wiping the blade if you will.

These get smoked real s-l-o-w.
Some have a dry BBQ Sauce, some slathered in wet BBQ sauce.
These ribs get cut again with the Small Skinner.
*grin*

This one of the first "coatings" this knife received.
*yummy!*


Don,
Just a thought, still if you made more 01, and folks wanted it "coated" you could figure in a rack of ribs in the price and coat these before you mailed them out.

*i'm helpin'*

 

[Brian Dale]

{BBQ sauce...}This one of the first "coatings" this knife received.

Might as well start at the top. You treat your knives right.

I'm suddenly hungry. I wonder why.

 

[Valkman]

I am going to have to stipulate that any BBQ's where my knife is used I will have to be present. Just to check the performance of the knife, of course. BBQ sauce should make a great patina!

 

[Valkman]

Chico, I'm all drooly because I got a used oven yesterday in Vegas and can now powder coat anything that will fit in it. I've had this Powder Coat kit from Eastwood just sitting for weeks waiting for something to cure everything in.

I'll say this - some new makers are tempted to go right into coatings and use tumblers because (as sm said) coatings can hide a lot. I had one goal in mind when I started, and that was to do a true mirror finish as my hero Loveless did/does on his knives. I've worked for 3 1/2 years doing nothing but that and although I still can't do a true mirror finish it's pretty good and now I feel I can move on.

As with the grooves these are just options so it's not required that everyone like them. With coatings or without, with a groove or without - it's just more options. Busse, Strider, Emerson and many others sell tons of coated knives and it may let me use more O1 like I used to.

 

[sm]

Finish hides a lot of sin.

A Master Polisher hides no sin, instead brings out the true and righteous of the crafted piece.

A Master Finisher, finishes without hiding sin.

*smile*

Don,
Just keep doing what you are doing, you are doing fine.
Some talents cannot be rushed, as time marinates and seasons the craftsman.

*best*

 

[Valkman]

No way dude! From now on it's grinding at 60 and 120 grits, sandblast and coat! Woohoo! I'm throwing all those 800 grit belts away!

Well not really. I could never be happy as a maker unless I can do anything I want to, and not be limited because of things not learned. Lots to do yet to get there though!

 

[PTK]

I, for one, prefer a polished knife for the use mine is intended for. I certainly don't need a super tactical amazing coating for hiking and camping!

Also, here's where my limited knowledge of knives shows... CPMD2... I know SO little about this still other than it being a different process D2 steel. I know it'll rust/take a patina over time, that's fine by me. I simply don't know the physical properties of the steel. I currently have 1095 and AUS-8 knives as my favorite, but I read that CPMD2 has better edge retention, is still fairly easy to sharpen, and it all around a great steel.

 

[Eleven Mike]

PTK, the zombies will get you.

 

[Valkman]

CPMD2 is a fantastic steel that's supposed to be 10X tougher than D2. Crucible makes it out of powder and the powdered steels come out with a much more uniform structure than "regular" steel. Offering it along with ATS-34 may not have been the best idea I've ever had but I'm glad I did it as this place has really supported me and at $225 these knives are a bargain (in my mind).

CPMD2 heat treated by Paul Bos will by far outperform those steels you mentioned.

 

[PTK]

Good to know, then! I should be able to use this knife for the rest of my life, then.

 

[zxcvbob]

How does ASM-5160 (automotive leaf springs) do for knife blades? It's a medium-carbon steel with IIRC about 1% chromium added. Might be tough to work with, but probably not as tough as the tool steels you're working with...