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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need. |
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#1
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A DUH Moment!
What I mean by DUH is, I heat treated an 01 TS blank without grinding anything on it. Maybe I am too cautious, but I didn't want it to warp. So fast forward to today. I was getting ready to grind an edge into it and thought to myself, "Better scribe a center line in it." So I grabbed a drill bit and tried it. Wasn't thinking about already having hardened it and the bit skated across the edge without so much as nicking it. DUH! It was hardened steel against hardened steel.........not gonna work! Thank goodness for Sharpie markers!
So who else here has a DUH! moment they are willing to share, maybe it will prevent others from doing the same thing! Anyway, that was my DUH moment for today! One of many since I started this! |
#2
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We all have DUH moments but I'd rather address yours. First, I and a lot of other guys routinely grind our blades after HT is complete so that's not a huge DUH. Second, while it is true that your drill bit skated across that very hard steel without scratching it that's just one more example of why we should use the right tool for the job. Drills are for putting holes in steel. A scribe, on the other hand, is designed to scratch a centerline on steel no matter how hard that steel might be by virtue of having a carbide tip. get a real scribe with a real carbide tip and quit faking it with drills and you won't be having that particular DUH moment again ...
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#3
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Oh where to begin. WAY too many to list. A couple of weeks ago I found an old ceramic kiln cheap at a sale. Instantly thought "Great! I can use this for heat treating!" Brought it home then realized I misread the label on the controller. Thought it said 30 amps- it was 50, which would be the total of what goes out to my shop. Oops. If it doesn't sell turning it into a vertical propane HT forge.
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#4
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I've had a couple,,,one that sticks out is making a straight blade hunter with a tapered tang. I had forgotten to drill the holes in the tang before tapering and heat treating. Tough to drill through a tang that is not straight and have to shim, and still the pins were not even from side to side.
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#5
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When I first got started making knives I ground out a beautiful (in my newb eyes) shape and beveled it and took my time sanding by hand. It was like a new baby, my baby, in my eyes. Well, I had to wait for a week to get the time to heat treat and finish it. When I finally got the time to work out it I was so excited that I have found some beautiful wood for scales. I got a bit fast and put the handle on it with nice pins and let me tell you it was the best feeling handle I have ever felt on a knife. It fit my hand like it was made for it. When I went to sharpen it I could not figure out why it would not hold an edge. Well it hit me. I forgot to heat treat the blade! That lesson hurt. I now always keep a bit of paper with each blade I?m working on listing what I have done to it.
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#6
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Like Dave I have way to many to even think about... this journey is full of "duh" moments. But that's how you learn. But I will say 90% of them can be alleviated by taking your time, not rushing, and paying attention to what you're doing. I've had many more of those moments when making folders, specially when drilling all the holes and countersinking them... always pays to pay attention to what drill size your using... and which ones you need to use.
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#7
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Maybe more of a #!$%! moments... Accidentally tipping 3 gallons of vegetable oil on the garage floor! Yes, I had the quench tank on a rickety stand and knocked it over.
Not long ago my sleeve caught the tip of a freshly hardened blade (not tempered yet) and sent it diving to the concrete floor, quickly bringing that project to an end. All that hard work gone in a blink. Sometimes these moments lead to true brilliance. Other times they're things that only other knife makers can relate too. :-) Dan |
#8
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Hot, Sharp or Both!
Dull blades are more dangerous than sharp! Black does not mean cold! Use the proper tongs to hold something hot, especially when hitting it! Why yes, that belt is moving! Superglue releasing agent, is in the drawer you just glued your hands to! Don't hang heavy blades on a magnet strip above your work area - Gravity sucks! Yeah, gotta watch your temper. Dog got smart, stays out of range and there are too many deadly objects in the shop for self chastising. __________________ 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 |
#9
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Lol!
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Tags |
blade, blades, cold, drill, edge, forge, grinding, hand, handle, heat, heat treat, home, hunter, knife, knives, made, making, pins, project, scales, sharp, steel, tang, temper, wood |
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