from file to knife

[bowtarist]

Excellent! I make most of my knives from files. Good ideas here. One question? Why not do the majority of beveling with the belt sander or such, then file to finish? One more??.maybe I didn't read well enough, but what grit sanding belt you using? I use 120 mostly.

Again, Excellent!, dpgratz

[Stringman]

Might just hafta get in on some of this fun! Looking good so far!

[KHalverson]

bowtarist
the answer to the first question is there is no reason that you can't.
the reason I didn't was for control and sometimes it's hard for a newbie to get nice plunge lines and consisitant grinds the first few times out of the gate.
second question.  I like a 50 grit for rough grinding and a 120 for finish then hand sand to 400-600 grit
the reason I'm doing this build along the way that I am is to show that with some simple tools and techniques a good knife can be produced.
Kevin

[bowtarist]

Thanks KH! Great build-along. I like how you annealed the handle.  I'm working on a dagger style with a single bevel on both sides right now. Ground a bit too much and got the center line off a bit, but it's coming out ok. Thanks again, dp

[danny f]

great build along its something i have wanted to try for a while.

[autologus]

Keep it coming, I am on pins and needles.  I love posts like this, I learn so much from all the master craftsmen on here.

Grady

[KHalverson]

thanks guys!
hopefully this weekend there will be more work done and posted.
Kevin

[nlester]

Just saw your post KH.  You've helped inspire my next project!!  Thank you

[KHalverson]

here we have the pin holes and lightening holes layed out and drilled.
for this I like to use the cordless drill because it has less rpm and there is less of a chance to overheat the steel and work harden it.



next we will start sanding out the blade.
I like to start with 80 grit and work to 120  the hardest part of this is getting sanded into the plunge lines.
I like to use a hickory slat with an angle ground on one end.




now im itching to test the edge.
I add a paracord handle and sharpen the edge to shaving .


now I baton the knife into a scrap 2x4 until I am satisfied I have abused it enough.

I now inspect the cutting edge looking for chips and rolls using my thumb nail.
the edge felt great with no damage.
and still shaving sharp.



now we will proceed to finish the sanding of the blade .
I will probably go to 320 wet.

[Peacebow_Coos]

Thanks so much for doing this build along, this is awesome I'll be trying my hand now 

[KHalverson]

blade is sanded to 320 grit wet paper.
not flawless but still pretty nice.


 next a very small amount of gunstock wax is applied to the blade and then taped up both to protect the blade and yourself.


here I anneal the 1/8 inch brass rod that will be used for pins.
by holding the brass rod vertically and heating to red hot then promptly dunking in cold water.




next we cut the brass into 1 inch length and add a bevel both ends all the way around.
I then select a piece of wood for the scales.
I chose a piece of curly maple recycled from a pallet.


here is the left and right sides of the handle traced on the board.
I labeled them wrong in the pic but that's easy enough to change (no harm no foul).


we then cut out the rough scales using what ever tools you have and clamp them one at a time to the blade.
keeping as close to the original tracing as possible.
I then drill the 1/8 holes one at a time and press a pin into each one after drilling.


next operation is to shape the first scale closer to finished dimension and the apply to the blade engaging the pins only enough to locate.

I then clamp to the second scale and remove 1 pin and drill thru the whole thing.
replacing each pin as soon as the  hole is drilled.

[KHalverson]

after the pin holes are drilled in the second scale .
I then mark the front end of the scales.


I then cut the front close to the line and work down with a file  trying to keep them both 90 degrees from the center line.
I sand them both to a 240 grit using the trusty hickory slat.


after sanding I then pin them to the knife again and make sure they are where I want them .


next step is to add a small chamfer on the inside of the scales on each pin hole.
I also like to score the inside of each scale with a hacksaw blade to give the epoxy something to grab on to.

[killir duck]

curly maple palets   where the heck did you find it? all that i can get here is preasure treated
pine and oak

[JW_Halverson]

SPOILER ALERT!  DO NOT LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING PICTURE!



BWAHAHA! Made you look!

Thanks for a wonderful piece of art/artisanship, cuzzin.  And thanks for this build along.  I got a couple files that aren't busy at the moment....

[bubby]

this is a great build a long,thank's for doing this, bub