First handmade knife done

[rcmodel]

Gotta have New grinder photos when you get it set up!

rc

 

[bodam]

 

[MartinS]

I like that the blades are wide enough to form a guard like the the old, back to bronze, Mediterranean pattern. Good stuff, and your photos are also.

 

[bodam]

Made my first sheaths. I now have a great respect for leather workers

 

[rcmodel]

Look'n good!

rc

 

[Valkman]

Nice work. I decided sheath making took up too much of my knifemaking time so I farmed it out. A lot of guys make their own though!

 

[bodam]

Thanks. I want to be self sufficient so I needed to learn.

It will take some practice, but they will get better. I hope lol

 

[rcmodel]

Pay no attention to Valkman!

The wonderful wet tooling leather smell won't kill ya!
It's all good!

The steel & belt grinder dust WILL kill ya!

But only a slow lingering death when you can't breath eventually if you Sniff it long enough!

Use a high grade dust mask when working steel & any kind of handle materials!

Just enjoy the wet leather smell with no worries.

And double up on dust protection when working some of that tropical hardwood I sent you!!!

Trust me on that!

Rc

 

[bodam]

Got the respirator for dust for sure.

I haven't made a new blade to use the handle stuff you sent yet. But I have a plan for my buddy's dad who spent 4 tours in Vietnam for that rosewood.

Leather does take up a lot of knife making time for sure. Especially when you are first learning and trying to take your time.

 

[bodam]

This is the first blade completed on the new grinder.

Lacewood handle with blue liner.

 

[kieranklein]

Yeah I farm my sheaths out too. Saves me time

 

[bodam]

Just finished this one. Rosewood handle, red liner.

Still need to put an edge on it. Using it to form up a sheath so didn't want to sharpen it yet.

 

[bodam]

Sheath done for her. I'm happy with the way it came out. I took advice and cleaned up the edges before I made my stitch lines.

Wanted to keep it simple.

 

[rcmodel]

Oh ya!

See what I said?
That sheath edge / stitch line looks 110% better!

Rc

 

[bodam]

Thanks! Credit goes to you for your wisdom.

 

[plowboy45]

I kinda like building my own sheath
Good lookin work bodam
Thank for your links rcmodel

 

[Pete D.]

knives

Very pretty knives. Lots of talent on display.
I have a question about tooling.....How to hollow grind?
I have made a few straight razors...on my third right now.....forging them from from a billet of 1080 steel.
The problem that I run into is at the end....I would like to hollow grind the blades.
How?
I know that this is a bit of a hijack but you all seem to know what you are doing and are the right folk to ask.
Pete

 

[bodam]

I flat grind everything. But I stop short of the top of the spine, so I guess it sometimes gives the look of a hollow grind.

I just prefer to use a platen and a grinding jig. It's just how I learned and what I'm comfortable with.

 

[mole]

What grinding jig are you using?

 

[bodam]

I use a piece of 2" angle, cut to about 6" long.

I drilled and tapped two holes in the bottom, and threaded two bolts into those holes. I turn those bolts equally to raise the angle up. Clamp the blade on the vertical side and press against my platen for equal angles on each side of the blade.

Grind one side, take the blade off and turn it around, clamp it down and grind the other side.

 

[TomADC]

I use a piece of 2" angle, cut to about 6" long.

I drilled and tapped two holes in the bottom, and threaded two bolts into those holes. I turn those bolts equally to raise the angle up. Clamp the blade on the vertical side and press against my platen for equal angles on each side of the blade.

Grind one side, take the blade off and turn it around, clamp it down and grind the other side.

Picture would be nice, BTW really liking your work, keep it up!

 

[bodam]

Pic of my jig. Not fancy but it works!

 

[Derry 1946]

Beautiful work. Very clean aesthetic. Well done and thanks for all the photos.

Derry

 

[Valkman]

I just prefer to use a platen and a grinding jig. It's just how I learned and what I'm comfortable with.

Nothing wrong with that and it's how I started also. I've swore that I never flat ground anything only to have someone show me a flat-ground knife I gave them.

So I did flat grind at first but the guy whose style I wanted to emulate (Loveless) only did hollow grinds and I soon switched. They are easy - just don't join the grinds in the middle.

 

[mole]

just don't join the grinds in the middle.

What, you got something against tactical potato peelers?


Simple but effective looking jig. Any off the top of your head ideas on improvements to it?