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 > Ed Caffrey's Workshop

Ed Caffrey's Workshop Talk to Ed Caffrey ... The Montana Bladesmith! Tips, tricks and more from an ABS Mastersmith.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-26-2007, 08:59 AM
Dana Hackney's Avatar
Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bonners Ferry, ID
Posts: 537
Angry keeping handle lined up with blade

Hi Ed!

Quick question: I've run into this problem a few times and was wondering if you have any
tips/tricks/fixtures,.... for keeping the handle lined up with the blade when grinding the
handle material. On a couple of blades (one I'm working on now), even if I do my best to eye
ball it, as well as mark a center line on the top and bottom of the handle material, I find when
I'm close to having it all ground, the butt end is out of line to one side (slightly).

Thanks!
Dana
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-26-2007, 03:30 PM
McAhron's Avatar
McAhron McAhron is offline
Living Legend
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Under the Redwoods in Beautiful La Honda CA
Posts: 1,642
Dana all my hidden tangs are done similiar to the way Karl Anderson and others do their take down hidden tangs.Use hidden pins to keep everything aligned, and you must have a tight fitting guard,spacer,etc.The pins go half way into the back of the guard,through a spacer ,and into the handle.I use 1/16th stainless pins.I also do the buttcaps this way.With a tight fitting guard,and pins,everything stays alighned each time you dissasemble and allows you to get a perfect center line for keeping the handle and blade square.Look at Karls take down hunters he posts and you'll see what I mean.Good luck.


__________________
N'T McAhron Sqwaukin Vulture Verrinder
"to create is to make art"
TREMBLING EARTH KNIFE WORKS
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-26-2007, 03:58 PM
Dana Hackney's Avatar
Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bonners Ferry, ID
Posts: 537
Thanks McAhron...

I'll have a look-see on Karl's website.

By the way, I recall as a youngster, camping near/in La Honda state park.
Our family belonged to the S.F. Gem and Mineral Society and they used
to frequent that area on their rock hunting expeditions - beautiful country!

Best regards,
Dana
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-26-2007, 09:17 PM
Ed Caffrey's Avatar
Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Great Falls, Montana, USA
Posts: 4,393
Send a message via AIM to Ed Caffrey Send a message via Yahoo to Ed Caffrey
Dana,

If your doing things the way we did when you where here, the problem is that your getting over zealous grinding, and not enough looking. Remember, you have to look at things from the top, the bottom, the front, and the back. Slow down a little bit on the grinding.....you should be looking twice as much as you grind, and you'll catch things before they get too far out of whack.


__________________
WWW.CAFFREYKNIVES.NET

Caffreyknives@gmail.com

"Every CHOICE has a CONSEQUENCE, and all your CONSEQUENCES are a result of your CHOICES."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-27-2007, 08:35 AM
Dana Hackney's Avatar
Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bonners Ferry, ID
Posts: 537
Thanks Ed!

You nailed it,Ed. I do need to slow down.

I backed off using the grinder last night and just used my files and sand paper and
got the handle straightened and aligned. I was sweating this one out as I had a really
beautiful piece of English Walnut on this puppy and was afraid I was going to have
to use it in the "barby"!

I now have three knives done for the Blade West and have another 4 or so that I should
have complete by the time the show rolls around.

Kind regards,
Dana
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-01-2007, 07:43 PM
Karl B. Andersen's Avatar
Karl B. Andersen Karl B. Andersen is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Warba, Minnesota
Posts: 613
Mr. Caffery said it well - slow down!
In addition, and I do this on EVERY KNIFE!!!!
I use a SHARP SHARP SHARP belt - 36 grit - to do just a little bit of basic stock removal on the handle material. Sharp so as NOT to introduce any heat into the handle material. I keep a "designated" belt off to the side for just this purpose. I've been using the same belt on the last 20 knives and it is still like brand new.
Then, I'm DONE! with the grinder! I mean NEVER to go back to it again as far as that handle goes.
I mean I just knock the corners off to some lines I've drawn on the handle.
Then, across the shop to the bench vise!
Stick that blade in the vise - covered and protected of course, and finish it out with FILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A sharp course file will remove material amazingly fast and you are in control on EVERY STROKE!
Make a few strokes, look down the knife, remove a little on the other side, etc. Then go to a little finer file.
One of the best investments you will ever make is a Nicholson #49 and #50 cabinet maker's files sold by Brownelle's. Gun makers use them to shape butt stocks on custom rifles. Combo round and flat. One is course and the other fine.
Here are some examples of that process:















__________________
Blade Show Table 8-Q

What do you do when you see your ex in pain, limping and bleeding?

Relax. Take a deep breath. Reload and then shoot again.

http://www.andersenforge.com/

Last edited by Karl B. Andersen; 08-01-2007 at 07:45 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-10-2007, 01:11 AM
jdm61 jdm61 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 599
Send a message via Yahoo to jdm61
On a piece of wood as small as a knife handle, "fine" grit sandpaper (fine by woodworking standards) like 120 and 220 will sand down at a decent pace and leave a much smoother initial finish than 36. I do like Karl and rough it out with 36 and then go to hand work. I like the 50 yard x 2 inch shop rlls that Tru Grit sells for both metal and wood sanding. 36 grit scratches.....gouges is a better term... can hide in a lot of places, so leave some meat on the handle.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
blade, knife, knives


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


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:33 PM.




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