Making my first knives in 5 years

[Valkman]

I found some O1 tool steel in the shop, 2 18" bars of 3/16" x 1 1/4". Then I was given a new Craftsman 2" x 42" grinder and I thought "Hmmm."




I drew up 2 4" knives on one bar and separated them with the chop saw. Then I got to profiling them and flat grinding, something I haven't done since I started making knives 11 years ago!



I got both knives ground, then drilled holes for pins and for lightening it up. I heat treated them with MAPP gas and my firebrick forge, then tempered them yesterday:



I got one of them cleaned up and reground to 120 grit last night:



Now I'm waiting on the mail lady to bring me finishing belts so I can shine it up and put handles on. This one is getting African Rosewood handles and hopefully I'll make a nice leather sheath for it - another new endeavor.

More pics later!

 

[hso]

How'd you do the hollow grind without taking the guard off the grinder?

 

[rcmodel]

Still look'n good Valkman!!

But, I cant help but notice the line of buffer grit on the wall in the first photo.

Straight across an open electrical plug in the wall!!

Put a strip of duct tape over the open socket before it shorts out on grinder grit and burns your house down!!

rc

 

[Valkman]

Mike, these are flat grinds. I think that's all I can do on this grinder.

RC, good eye! I normally have 2 things plugged in there but that's a good idea.

 

[hso]

Or a cardboard shield taped over it so you can lift it and plug in (or just move the thing).

 

[Valkman]

Here I finished ground the blades, sandblasted the tang and got handle material ready for tomorrow. I found some red liner material so that will be used, should look great with the African Rosewood.

 

[AStone]

Subscribed.

Prediction: this is a quality blade thread.

 

[Valkman]

Well I USED to make quality knives.

These will be fine but my grinding will also get better as I grind more.

 

[rcmodel]

I stood a partial sheet of wood paneling up against the wall behind my buffer.

It catches all the sticky buffing compound & splatter when I dress a wheel.
And it's easy to pull it out and shop-vac it.

Besides, the basement dwellers with 8 legs just love to live behind it!!

Keeps them where I can keep a eye them!!!

rc

 

[Valkman]

Nice. I just splatter the walls and they look like it!

 

[lemaymiami]

Years ago I knew one fiberglass shop (boat builder/repairs) that had big sheets of heavy paper on both the floor and walls to catch overspray from chopper gun and other similar type glass/resin residue... When the sheet was coated it was simply removed and another one took its place. Pretty handy for keeping wall and floor surfaces clean...

 

[Valkman]

Got everything glued up and clamped yesterday, then went out a couple of hours later and started grinding away wood. Still have a ways to go, some leather pieces should be here anytime to make a sheath.

 

[AStone]

Don'tcha love it when progress happens?

Look forward to seeing pics as it gets closer.

 

[Valkman]

Here's the knife all glued up and clamped:



Here it is ground to shape, have to figure out a way to finish it with only flat grinding high speed grinders!



It'll look great with that wood if I can get it finished. I am also using a palm sander on it, seems the best way to get the 50 grit scratches out.

 

[redneck]

I like klingspore shop rolls of sandpaper/abrasive. Its pretty much like a belt off a 2x72. Tear off a long strip and use it in a shoe shining fashion to get the grinder grooves knocked down and get more to the normal hand sanding stage.

Looks good so far

 

[rcmodel]

Keep an old slick worn- out belt around for clean-up work after you get done shaping.

Cuts the finish sanding time by at least half.

A flap wheel on a bench grinder is also a wonderful thing to have.

http://www.amazon.com/Premium-FLAP-...3?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1446603068&sr=1-13

rc

 

[Valkman]

redneck, I have those rolls and will be doing just that!

I need to convert my bench grinder to something I can use here like a buffer.

 

[AStone]

Post #14 is great. It's special to see the back end of the process.

 

[Valkman]

My hands are cramping from sanding but they are done, the handles I mean.




I sanded them by machine, palm sander and by hand to 400 grit and then put on some Howard's Feed & Wax. Good stuff, really makes the wood pop.

The steel between the handles needs work, but that, and edge and a name on it and a sheath is all it needs.

 

[AStone]

^ {gasp}

V'man, beautiful.

Especially the top one.

Sincerely.

--a'

 

[Valkman]

This one may come out alright after all!

 

[hso]

Nice job!

You still got it in ya!

 

[lemaymiami]

As usual... first rate! For work or show I'd be proud to own one - if I lived away from the coast...

 

[Valkman]

Thanks guys! I think I'll give that one a rest today and put some micarta on the other one. The grind lines aren't as nice on the 2nd one so I think I'll keep it as a carry/shop knife. I can't wait to see how sharp they get on my Wicked Edge!

 

[Yo Mama]

Amazing job! Glad to see you put another one out!