MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > The Newbies Arena

The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-23-2013, 11:04 AM
Hunter10139's Avatar
Hunter10139 Hunter10139 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northern Alabama
Posts: 396
Newbie question

Hey guys so I have a newb question. First let me say that I'm a college student who also works a job so I haven't had a lot of time to make knives. In fact I've only made one knife and started on another but I've been so busy the last couple semesters I haven't had much free time. This summer, however, I'm not taking any classes and I've got the fever to continue my next knife. So here's my problem. When I've worked on my knife I've had an issue in getting a straight bevel. I have a tendency where my bevels tend to end up slightly concave. Is there a good way to fix this?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Hunter
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-23-2013, 01:08 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
Yes. Practice grinding them flat.

I know that sounds kinda smart*** but since you didn't say how you go about grinding your bevels it's pretty difficult to give you any advice more specific than that ....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-23-2013, 01:43 PM
Hunter10139's Avatar
Hunter10139 Hunter10139 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northern Alabama
Posts: 396
Well I use a flat file on my first knife but I'm using a 1 inch belt sander from harbor freight now. Is it a good idea just to make a jig to keep a consistent angle?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-23-2013, 02:32 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
In my personal view, no, jigs are generally not good ideas. Just knuckle down and practice grinding. This may be particularly true with a small 1" grinder because they are so easy to bog down a jig probably won't be of much use anyway. With a 1" grinder, about the best you can do is stay with very short blades, say 4" at the very most and 3" and under would be much better, and change your belts often. Use 4 or 5 belts of one grit on the same blade if you need to because sharp belts cut better and need less pressure and that makes your grinds easier to control.

Since you have used a file before you might want to read up on draw filing. A good draw filing technique will probably produce a flatter grind more easily than a 1" grinder.

As for the constant angle part of your question - that's not what you really want to do with a belt sander, especially a small one. Holding one angle takes a lot of power that you don't have. Work on the first half inch of blade until you have established a good angle all the way to the edge, then raise up (change angle) and work the next half inch. Continue until you're all the way across your blade. Now you have a mostly flat ground blade with small steps every half inch. From here, grinding all the way across is possible although you'll probably still find it easier to use the files ...


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-23-2013, 02:37 PM
argel55 argel55 is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Chandler, Oklahoma
Posts: 238
Get you a wide magic marker and coat the bevel to help you see where you are taking material off. Adjust your file to cover the whole area.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-23-2013, 09:01 PM
Hunter10139's Avatar
Hunter10139 Hunter10139 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northern Alabama
Posts: 396
Hey thanks for the replies argel and Ray/Mr. Rogers(sorry don't know what you prefer to be called). Just got done working some on the knife and then got on the forum. Before I saw your post I had switched to the file. Your absolutely right it's much easier using the file to get a straighter edge. I'll look up draw filing tonight. Pretty much all the sander did was save me a little time with filing.

And argel that's a pretty good idea.

Thanks again for y'all's responses and ideas.

Hunter
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-23-2013, 09:12 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
For the most part I think the egos in this group are mostly under control. Whenever possible, I prefer to use first names when people provide them. That just seems more personal and friendly to me than trying to call somebody NightNinja476AlphaDog or whatever they might call themselves in their dream lives ...


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-23-2013, 09:20 PM
Hunter10139's Avatar
Hunter10139 Hunter10139 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northern Alabama
Posts: 396
Ok thanks for letting me know. I just didn't want to be rude. Also, after looking up draw filling I think I'm gonna try it out.

Thanks again for the help.

Hunter
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-24-2013, 08:37 AM
WynnKnives's Avatar
WynnKnives WynnKnives is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wooster, Ohio
Posts: 242
Great, I had never made the connection to Ray's last name. Now all I can think about is Mr. Rogers with a respirator, safety glasses, and a cardigan working away behind a belt grinder.

But back on topic, if your using a file it does make it much easier to get nice flats with draw filing. It's going to be very difficult to use a 1x42 to grind your blade, although it can be done, as it seems you've already discovered.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-24-2013, 09:39 AM
Eli Jensen's Avatar
Eli Jensen Eli Jensen is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 872
Mr. Rogers Night Ninja Alpha Dog. A bit long but I like it

Hunter, get yourself some ceramic belts

www.supergrit.com
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-24-2013, 11:43 PM
Hunter10139's Avatar
Hunter10139 Hunter10139 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northern Alabama
Posts: 396
I never watched Mr. Rogers but I've heard of the show; funny reference. Also, Eli, maybe that could be his new online name lol. And I think I will order some. I didn't realize that my aluminum oxide belts were more suited for wood. That should make some of my job a little easier.

By the way, I've seen people attach a rod to a file and use it with a guide to keep a straighter bevel similar to how the lansky sharpening system works for sharpening. Anyone know of any cons to this technique for regular or draw filing or is this a pretty good idea?

Hunter
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-25-2013, 05:25 AM
Crex's Avatar
Crex Crex is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Acworth, GA and/or Hanging Dog, NC
Posts: 3,583
A little practice at drawfiling and you will be able to "feel" if it's right or wrong. I'm with Ray on jigs, and they wind up being clutter on the bench in a short time.
Biggest tricks to draw filing are sharp files, keep them clean (file card), and never use backward strokes (they are meant to cut in one direction, pulling them backwards will dull them prematurely).


__________________
Carl Rechsteiner, Bladesmith
Georgia Custom Knifemakers Guild, Charter Member
Knifemakers Guild, voting member
Registered Master Artist - GA Council for the Arts
C Rex Custom Knives

Blade Show Table 6-H
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-25-2013, 09:17 AM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
I've been subjected to every Mr. Rogers, Buck Rogers, and Roy Rogers and Trigger reference and joke anyone could think of all my life. Nothing new to me so do your worst, it's an honor to be compared to those men in any way .....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-25-2013, 10:00 AM
NorCal Nate's Avatar
NorCal Nate NorCal Nate is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Kneeland, CA
Posts: 374
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Rogers View Post
I've been subjected to every Mr. Rogers, Buck Rogers, and Roy Rogers and Trigger reference and joke anyone could think of all my life. Nothing new to me so do your worst, it's an honor to be compared to those men in any way .....

Sorry, had to do it!
~Nate
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-25-2013, 10:59 AM
WynnKnives's Avatar
WynnKnives WynnKnives is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wooster, Ohio
Posts: 242
Oh no, there was no offense or joking intended Ray. I could just envision Mr. Rogers and his cardigan behind a belt grinder, although on second thought, that would be a very poor choice of clothing. I feel (I've never owned one) but that cardigans are made out of very flammable material, this would be dangerous. And Mr. Rogers is not about danger... although I did hear a rumor that he was an ex-military bad-ass, but I believe those to be false.

But back on topic once again, C Rex is correct, a jig or guide is not needed, once you start doing it you will be able to get the hang of it quickly.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
advice, angle, bee, bevel, blade, blades, buck, coat, easy, edge, file, files, flat, grinding, help., jig, knife, knives, made, make, material, newbie, post, sharp, sharpening


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newbie Question MMOMOH-55 Knife Making Discussions 8 12-07-2008 01:16 PM
newbie question richard johnson The Newbies Arena 2 03-17-2004 07:25 AM
Newbie with a question harley jeff High-Performance Blades 1 03-21-2002 04:43 PM
newbie question MIKE KOLLER The Folding Knife (& Switchblade) Forum 4 10-15-2001 03:58 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:47 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved