Adventures (and mistakes) in knife making

[necrolicious]

So like all of you here I got bit with the Fiddleback Forge bug pretty hard. So far I have 12 gorgeous Fiddlebacks, a Fletcher, and Jarrett Fleming. The world of handmade made knives is a fascinating one and I am lucky enough to be able to indulge in the fruits of these great knifemakers labors. Yet I also became just as fascinated with HOW they are made. I started reading and watching videos as my collection grew. I joined Instagram and follow over 150 knife makers. Daily I get to see work in progress pics & videos and finished knives. They vary wildly in style, skill & talent but they're all awesome people with an awesome hobby or job. The stuff you can learn just by what these folks post is amazing. Heck, an 18 yr old kid from Texas made one of my favorite knives. Mark of Longdog Knives. Check his work out sometime if you get a chance, he's really talented.*


Suffice to say I started researching more seriously and started getting some tools together. Started with a blank slate minus a basic set of ratchets, pliers, screw drivers, sockets, etc. I figured I'd start small with a Aaron Gough file jig and actually cut out my first blade from bar stock with a hacksaw. The results were pretty awesome IMHO and I only got more excited as things progressed. Until I helicoptered the blade on the drill press while drilling out the weight relief holes. Yup! Rookie mistake not clamping it down correctly. Lesson learned. The blade was too damaged to continue with but still usable for a pattern.*


By that time I'd picked up an angle grinder and was seriously considering a belt grinder. The Gough file jig was nice but not really how I wanted to do this. I realized I could go the upgrade route with a 1x30 then 2x48 to a 2x72. Being me, I ended up just going whole hog with a Pheer 454 2x72 grinder. Figured in the long run it'd save me money over the upgrade route. Yes, I've thought myself crazy a few times during the decision process. Especially considering I don't have a completed knife under my belt. Still sorta do but that's me.*


Between screwing up the first knife and ordering the grinder I decided to conserve my materials until it arrived. It was about a 5 week wait for Jose to build the grinder for me. Last week it showed up and I've been getting together a few more tools etc to get started. There are a ton of misc tools I'd like to get but all in good time.*


Got the Pheer 454 put together and working. No electrical mishaps after wiring YAY! This thing is a beast. The fit and finish are excellent. Got the flat platen, 10" contact wheel, small wheel tool arm, and a tool rest. I used my previous attempt as the pattern for this next build. It's a basic spearpoint bushcraft knife somewhat similar to an Arete/Bushcrafter. Last week I cut the blade from 1/8" bar stock and ground the edges to shape on the Pheer. Tonight I drilled out the pin and lanyard holes and some weight relief holes. Then scribed the edge and gave my best shot at a freehand full flat grind on the flat platen.*


It's not straight.*

It's not even.*

Rounded the tip on one of my first passes. Before I figured out how much angle to add as I drew the tip into the belt. Hint - not much.

Hit the edge too much and had to take a bit off to get it thick enough again.*

Got a great even bevel edge on one side and totally screwed up the other by taking it too high haha. Ended up taking the bevel all the way to the spine.

Had to adjust the plunge lines a few times and one is still not straight. I think I'm going to order a grinding guide by Bill Behnke to help this part be a bit easier for awhile.*

Learned a ton about how it "feels" to grind a blade. It was definitely a great learning experience and I still plan to complete the knife with all the planned finishing steps. I'll pick up some vegetable oil for HT soon. Still need to find a cheap toaster oven for tempering. This is NOT easy and I can tell it will take awhile to get good at doing this. I'll take it slow and do little bits at a time to avoid getting frustrated with rookie mistakes.*


I've always had a ton of respect for all the guys at Fiddleback Forge, Osprey K&T, W.A. Surls Knives, Fletcher Knives, Jarrett Fleming and bunch more since I started buying handmade knives. Yet these new experiences dabbling at knife making have really upped the level of respect I have for you all. Thanks for being the inspiration to start this in the first place!


Here are a few pictures because it wouldn't be a good post without them. As I stumble my way through this project I'll add some more.*

 

[Texas_toothpick]

Way to go! I think this is fantastic, to pick up a trade so difficult to do and just want to learn by mistakes. Don't give up bud.

I think we all have gotten bit by the build bug here and there. I too am gathering stuff to start trying my hand. I just want to build something from scratch to take in the woods and beat on and see how well I do. I'm in the process of building my jig. The same one you have.

I'll be curious to see your progress. Good luck!

 

[Fiddleback]

Hey Great. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Texas_toothpick]

Did you jump in and start on your own Andy? Or did you have a mentor to help guide you in the beginning? I love hearing how blade smiths get started.

Any suggestions besides try try again, lol?

 

[bonafide]

You could always move to Cummings, GA.

 

[allen456]

Great thread and work! Careful, it is a slippery slope, it is infectious! We all started somewhere and like most things, it takes time and patience. Mistakes will happen, they do here. The most important part is enjoy what you are doing and grow with ever mistake to further the craft. Let me know if there is anything that I can assist with.

 

[Fiddleback]

Did you jump in and start on your own Andy? Or did you have a mentor to help guide you in the beginning? I love hearing how blade smiths get started.

Any suggestions besides try try again, lol?

I jumped in and didn't have any local teachers. BUT, the knifemaking community did teach me how to do it, right here at Bladeforums from Sylvrfalcn, and also many folks in the shoptalk area. Tom Krein, Dan Koster, Scott Gossman, Carl Rechsteiner and the men at the GA guild had a big hand as well. Really I was just so stubborn that sooner or later I figured it out.

 

[necrolicious]

Way to go! I think this is fantastic, to pick up a trade so difficult to do and just want to learn by mistakes. Don't give up bud.

I think we all have gotten bit by the build bug here and there. I too am gathering stuff to start trying my hand. I just want to build something from scratch to take in the woods and beat on and see how well I do. I'm in the process of building my jig. The same one you have.

I'll be curious to see your progress. Good luck!

Thank you! So far nothing has been too demoralizing haha. It's been fun and I think it will teach me lessons in patience even at my age. That's awesome you're trying your hand as well. There's nothing quite like working with your hands to the completion of a project. The sense of satisfaction is better than anything I get from being a cubicle monkey.

I learned 2 things from using the Gough jig if you don't mind my passing them along. You really have to keep the file clean with a card. Also focus on not using the tip of the file because the taper against the plunge bolt will mess with your plunge line. Other than those it's pretty easy if you discount the sweat equity.

Also, a couple youtube channels that have been really helpful to me are EKIM1428 and Nick Wheeler. Some of the best videos around on the subject. Please post some progress pics of your own build. I'd love to see em!

Hey Great. Let me know if you have any questions.

Great thread and work! Careful, it is a slippery slope, it is infectious! We all started somewhere and like most things, it takes time and patience. Mistakes will happen, they do here. The most important part is enjoy what you are doing and grow with ever mistake to further the craft. Let me know if there is anything that I can assist with.

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement Andy & Allen. It's extremely cool of you guys to offer up tips and advice as well. It's truly appreciated. I honestly have tons but I'm most interested in hearing about your best methods for clamping work items to the drill press table. Granted, I haven't picked up a single purpose drill press clamp, but nothing I've tried yet is all that easy or accurate. I'd love to hear thoughts or recommendations for clamps and process. Especially considering the volume of knives that you do. I've never used a drill press or worked in a shop before this so I'm a bit of a rookie on some things that are probably basic shop knowledge.

I guess the 2nd topic would be belts. I picked up a starter kit (1 each 40 G ,60 G , 120 G 3M cubitron 2 belts (Ceramic ) 2 each AO J flex belts 220 , 320 ,400 , 600, grit) from Mr Navarro with the grinder but I know I'm going to need the lower grits very soon. Favorite place to order from? Do you use anything on the belts like a wax? 1084 has shown to be a bit grabby and likes to chatter. (may be my technique)

Hopefully that's not too much all at once haha.

You could always move to Cummings, GA.

Haha! I would love to come visit but being Ca born and raised I'm not sure I'd ever get used to your humidity. The southern states are the only ones I've never been through yet in my life. If not for knives, the BBQ, Seafood, and Georgia peaches are enough of a draw to get me there someday.

 

[hasco]

Very cool! Keep the pics coming. I was just trying to figure out how to make a Scandi jig work on my 1x42" Kalamazoo. So far it's not so great. I would like to jump into a 2x72" grinder but for some strange reason my wife is not as excited about me spending more knife related money. She said if I sell my knives I could probably afford one.

I would love to see what kind of Scandi jigs you guys use at the shop.

 

[necrolicious]

Very cool! Keep the pics coming. I was just trying to figure out how to make a Scandi jig work on my 1x42" Kalamazoo. So far it's not so great. I would like to jump into a 2x72" grinder but for some strange reason my wife is not as excited about me spending more knife related money. She said if I sell my knives I could probably afford one.

I would love to see what kind of Scandi jigs you guys use at the shop.

Gasp! Sell 2k worth of knives? The horror! Haha! It's not an easy purchase to justify for a hobby. Even when there's no wife to put the kabosh on it. [emoji2]

If ever you'd like to plan a day to drop by with a few project blades you're welcome to. I imagine the biggest difference is the speed at which the 2x72 removes material and that's controllable with the VFD.

 

[Texas_toothpick]

I work with my hands daily. I'm an electrical apprentice. I do a lot of commercial and medical grade buildings. Thanks for the hints with the jig.

On your drill press use a stop bolt through the base. If you don't want to scar it use a small rubber hose on the bolt. Thanks for the other videos too I will definitely check them out.

I will post pictures once I get my steel. May be a little while. I'm just piecing it together one thing at a time.

Edit: Also remember the phrase 'KISS' keep it simple stupid. (Not calling you stupid) Always helped me not over think things and let them come natural. A piece of angle iron, a bolt to adjust the angle, and a clamp can serve as a home made jig. With out dumping loads of cash for a similar product.

Just a suggestion.

 

[Uncle_P]

Good job so far. I'm looking forward to your updates. Thanks for sharing.

Preston

 

[bonafide]

Very cool! Keep the pics coming. I was just trying to figure out how to make a Scandi jig work on my 1x42" Kalamazoo. So far it's not so great. I would like to jump into a 2x72" grinder but for some strange reason my wife is not as excited about me spending more knife related money. She said if I sell my knives I could probably afford one.

I would love to see what kind of Scandi jigs you guys use at the shop.

I dont think Andy uses a jig (I could be and have been wrong) but I think he free hands it.
Watching him grinding blades one day on a Friday and he did everything free handed.

If you want to see a very simple method of making a jig and on a flat grind - goto youtube and look up 'Trollskyy' and his 'making bevel' pronounced "Bee-veal". lol
His videos are not just interesting, but I like his style.

 

[Texas_toothpick]

Lol. That was entertaining. I'll show you how to grid the bee-val. Nice grinds though. That's some what of a jig I was suggesting. But simpler to get materials and cheaper.

Thanks bonafide. I've seen a few of his before but don't recall that one.

 

[adequacy]

Wow man. Great set up. Keep up the good work. Keep on working throughout and it's gonna get better and better!

 

[Tim the Wizard]

Thanks for the post. Good stuff. Are you wearing a facemask?

I bet you will have some serviceable models in no time.

 

[TxSportsman]

I dont think Andy uses a jig (I could be and have been wrong) but I think he free hands it.
Watching him grinding blades one day on a Friday and he did everything free handed.

If you want to see a very simple method of making a jig and on a flat grind - goto youtube and look up 'Trollskyy' and his 'making bevel' pronounced "Bee-veal". lol
His videos are not just interesting, but I like his style.

I've watched a lot of Trollskyy's videos in the past... like you said, the guy has good style.

 

[Fiddleback]

Did you jump in and start on your own Andy? Or did you have a mentor to help guide you in the beginning? I love hearing how blade smiths get started.

Any suggestions besides try try again, lol?

I dont think Andy uses a jig (I could be and have been wrong) but I think he free hands it.
Watching him grinding blades one day on a Friday and he did everything free handed.

If you want to see a very simple method of making a jig and on a flat grind - goto youtube and look up 'Trollskyy' and his 'making bevel' pronounced "Bee-veal". lol
His videos are not just interesting, but I like his style.

The Scandi's are ground using a jig. All our other grinds are freehand. My hands can't guess and maintain 12.5 degrees without wavering. IMO, a freehand ground scandi is going to take a lot of stone flattening before becoming a usable grind. I've never claimed to freehand the scandi's BTW. The whole point of inventing the scandi grind ages ago in human history was to make a knife as easy to manufacture as possible. A 4th grader could grind Scandi's. But if he free handed them, they'd need a lot of hand flattening.

 

[necrolicious]

I work with my hands daily. I'm an electrical apprentice. I do a lot of commercial and medical grade buildings. Thanks for the hints with the jig.

On your drill press use a stop bolt through the base. If you don't want to scar it use a small rubber hose on the bolt. Thanks for the other videos too I will definitely check them out.

I will post pictures once I get my steel. May be a little while. I'm just piecing it together one thing at a time.

Edit: Also remember the phrase 'KISS' keep it simple stupid. (Not calling you stupid) Always helped me not over think things and let them come natural. A piece of angle iron, a bolt to adjust the angle, and a clamp can serve as a home made jig. With out dumping loads of cash for a similar product.

Just a suggestion.

Thanks! I love the KISS theory but I don't want to reinvent the wheel either. It helps to get advice like this and I appreciate it.

Good job so far. I'm looking forward to your updates. Thanks for sharing.

Preston

Thank you! I have some time off this weekend and hope to get the HT done, handles glued and rough shaped.

Wow man. Great set up. Keep up the good work. Keep on working throughout and it's gonna get better and better!

Thanks for the post. Good stuff. Are you wearing a facemask?

I bet you will have some serviceable models in no time.

Thank you! I sure am with everything that needs it.

 

[Texas_toothpick]

I got the last of my stuff for the jig today. Now just to assemble and get steel.

I have flat bar and sheets of basic steel for welding. I been thinking of just giving bit a go with that to see how straight my lines are and try some different things.