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8/31/2024 10:22:34 PM EDT
[#1]
Quote History
Originally Posted By DFARM:
It happened fast, and I didn't have a clearly defined plan but I think I like where it ended up.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/78442/KIMG7486_JPG-3310174.JPG

Too big for a kiridashi. It's 7¾" overall and 3½" sharpened.
View Quote

Oh yeah that’s killer. I like it. What kind of handle are you thinking about?
8/31/2024 10:27:10 PM EDT
[#2]
I got an order from the UK last week and he wants some of the rag micarta I used on a previous knife. I was able to rough out his blade and spring today, silver solder the bolster to the liner, and drill the two locating holes that will hold locate the handles on one of my jigs later. One of those holes is sacrificial, the other becomes the pivot hole. Tomrrow I’ll cut the nail nick, epoxy the scales to the liners, and heat treat the steel if time permits.

A fun afternoon in the shop.

Attached File
8/31/2024 10:37:06 PM EDT
[#3]
Originally Posted By Reubjames:

Oh yeah that’s killer. I like it. What kind of handle are you thinking about?
View Quote

Thanks!
I'm not sure about handles yet.

Originally Posted By Reubjames:
I got an order from the UK last week and he wants some of the rag micarta I used on a previous knife. I was able to rough out his blade and spring today, silver solder the bolster to the liner, and drill the two locating holes that will hold locate the handles on one of my jigs later. One of those holes is sacrificial, the other becomes the pivot hole. Tomrrow I’ll cut the nail nick, epoxy the scales to the liners, and heat treat the steel if time permits.

A fun afternoon in the shop.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/59685/IMG_2883_jpeg-3310224.JPG
View Quote

That's awesome.

I might have some questions about the bolsters. I messed with the folder that I have been poking at here and there today and I think it's time to start figuring out what I want to do for covers. Part of me wants to try antler (I have deer and elk) or cow bone but micarta will probably be easier.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
8/31/2024 10:49:32 PM EDT
[#4]
less stinky than the other options for sure.
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
8/31/2024 10:49:42 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Reubjames:
I got an order from the UK last week and he wants some of the rag micarta I used on a previous knife. I was able to rough out his blade and spring today, silver solder the bolster to the liner, and drill the two locating holes that will hold locate the handles on one of my jigs later. One of those holes is sacrificial, the other becomes the pivot hole. Tomrrow I’ll cut the nail nick, epoxy the scales to the liners, and heat treat the steel if time permits.

A fun afternoon in the shop.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/59685/IMG_2883_jpeg-3310224.JPG
View Quote


what steel?
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
8/31/2024 11:02:07 PM EDT
[Last Edit: DFARM][Edited] [#6]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WIC:
less stinky than the other options for sure.
View Quote

Once you get bone or antler dust in your nose, it's there for at least the rest of the day. Lol
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
8/31/2024 11:20:44 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WIC:


what steel?
View Quote


This one is going to be 52100
8/31/2024 11:35:05 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote History
Originally Posted By DFARM:

Thanks!
I'm not sure about handles yet.


That's awesome.

I might have some questions about the bolsters. I messed with the folder that I have been poking at here and there today and I think it's time to start figuring out what I want to do for covers. Part of me wants to try antler (I have deer and elk) or cow bone but micarta will probably be easier.
View Quote


That’ll be fun. Micarta would be easier simply because it’s generally flat from the supplier.

Glad to answer any questions. Lots of ways to skin that cat.
9/4/2024 12:54:25 AM EDT
[Last Edit: DFARM][Edited] [#9]
Silly day fighting issues that ended up being my own fault for using belts too long.

Normally I don't hand sand blades. I get a good belt finish on the flats by running the blades lengthwise on the flat platen. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the middle of the blades to clean up. I was using a straight edge to make sure the platen wasn't dished out and making sure I didn't have anything weird with the belt tension and I decided to try a new 120 grit belt and everything cleaned up fine after that. what an idiot. I don't know how many times I'll have to learn to try a new belt first when I start having any kind of trouble with grinding.

Attached File


The bottom two are hand sanded to 400 grit because I need to get some new trizact "gator" belts because I apparently managed to kill the center of those as well.

Maybe I'll look into one of those diamond dressing things to try and even then back up. Those belts are $$ but I love the finish you can get from them.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/4/2024 10:59:30 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Originally Posted By DFARM:
Silly day fighting issues that ended up being my own fault for using belts too long.

Normally I don't hand sand blades. I get a good belt finish on the flats by running the blades lengthwise on the flat platen. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the middle of the blades to clean up. I was using a straight edge to make sure the platen wasn't dished out and making sure I didn't have anything weird with the belt tension and I decided to try a new 120 grit belt and everything cleaned up fine after that. what an idiot. I don't know how many times I'll have to learn to try a new belt first when I start having any kind of trouble with grinding.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/78442/KIMG7502_JPG-3312798.JPG

The bottom two are hand sanded to 400 grit because I need to get some new trizact "gator" belts because I apparently managed to kill the center of those as well.

Maybe I'll look into one of those diamond dressing things to try and even then back up. Those belts are $$ but I love the finish you can get from them.
View Quote


A fresh belt sure is nice. I am guilty of using them way too long too.
9/4/2024 11:57:40 PM EDT
[#11]
Made a little progress today. I got grinds laid out on the hotdog slayer and the prep knife.
Attached File

I got the rough grinds pretty close to finished on the prep knife. They're at 60 grit. From here I'll even them up with a (fresh! )120 grit belt, then switch to structured abrasive belts and work to an A65 which is ~280 grit-ish and see how it looks.

I'm a little bit torn on how to grind the hotdog slayer. It's thin at ~1/16" and I'm only planning on grinding it up to the line that you can barely see that's the height of the corner at the tip of the spine. Since it's thin, I can't get a hollow grind that high with the wheel I have so I want to either grind it flat or convex up to that line.

Anyone have opinions on either way?


@80085
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/5/2024 12:35:18 AM EDT
[#12]
My vote goes to grind it flat.
9/5/2024 12:43:48 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote History
Originally Posted By DFARM:
Putting a fork in this pair. Aside from the headache of dealing with this blue micarta, things went pretty smoothly. There was definitely some things that I'm a bit rusty on but I think it's just because I haven't made any of these for a while.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/78442/KIMG6811_JPG-3164829.JPG

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/78442/KIMG6808_JPG-3164830.JPG
View Quote

Heeey! That looks familiar!


9/5/2024 1:16:58 AM EDT
[#14]
I mostly ask if I can use other people's pictures.... Mostly
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/5/2024 8:24:22 AM EDT
[#15]
i wanna see ffg
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
9/5/2024 10:43:09 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WIC:
i wanna see ffg
View Quote

I don't think I want to do a full height grind on this one. It's already thin so I want to keep the spine thick for rigidity.

My 1/16" thick chef's knife has a pretty crazy grind and it wants to flex and wander in thicker, firm foods like cabbage.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/5/2024 10:57:35 AM EDT
[#17]
i'm willing to give it a try on 80085' knife
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
9/8/2024 10:24:43 PM EDT
[#18]
This weekends progress:

The hotdog slayer is currently getting tested in the kitchen. It's ok but it's not blowing my skirt up too much.

I think it needs to get thinned down or hollow ground on a big wheel or radius platen. I've been talking myself into buying a 36" radius platen for a while. Maybe this is what pushes me over the edge. Lol

The prep knife in linen micarta is at the point where it can get marked, then the handles glued on.

Attached File
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/8/2024 11:58:32 PM EDT
[#19]
FFG
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
9/14/2024 6:07:10 PM EDT
[#20]
Attached File


Finished this prep knife up today.

I'm going to clean up the shop a little and then get started on one of my 5" belt knives in AEB-L
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/14/2024 6:42:36 PM EDT
[#21]
Is that the wiener cleaver?
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
9/14/2024 8:10:57 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WIC:
Is that the wiener cleaver?
View Quote

No, this is one of my prep knives.

The hodog slayer is still in development. I'm probably going to thin the edge some more. It still needs handles. Lol
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/14/2024 10:25:07 PM EDT
[#23]
Got a little bit of cleaning done, the last knife packaged up and got started on the belt knife.

Here's a sneak peek:

Attached File


(Those aren't the scales that are going on it)
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/14/2024 10:35:24 PM EDT
[#24]
nice taper
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
9/15/2024 10:48:42 PM EDT
[#25]
Attached File


Primary grinds are done, tang is tapered and flats are finished.  

Next it will get marked, handles done and then a sheath.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/19/2024 4:59:57 PM EDT
[#26]
Originally Posted By DFARM:

Maybe I'll look into one of those diamond dressing things to try and even then back up. Those belts are $$ but I love the finish you can get from them.
View Quote

I'll quote myself here for anyone curious, the diamond dressing thing works awesome on the trizact structured abrasive belts. It flattens them right back out, which is nice because they're like $20 per belt.

It didn't work too well on ceramic belts though. I was hoping it'd work to break up and expose more of the grit on worn belts but it doesn't seem to, it just knocks everything flat.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/19/2024 5:39:03 PM EDT
[#27]
information people need

thank you
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
9/19/2024 10:01:49 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WIC:
information people need

thank you
View Quote

You might buy a grinder some day. Lol

A link might be helpful to people who might stumble through here and actually be interested though.
Amazon Product
  • Save Time, Save Money \u2013 The ATLIN grinding wheel dresser removes loaded up material, fixes imperfections, trues, and sharpens the grains of your grinding wheels. The result is less heat buildup, faster grinding, and a superior finish on your work pieces

"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/19/2024 10:54:49 PM EDT
[#29]
I was being serious.

We try to share practical knowledge with our employees everyday. Let them learn from our trial and error instead of their own.
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
9/19/2024 10:57:28 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WIC:
I was being serious.

We try to share practical knowledge with our employees everyday. Let them learn from our trial and error instead of their own.
View Quote

I try that with my kids. They still want to be stubborn and make the mistakes. Lol
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
9/28/2024 9:10:04 PM EDT
[#31]
Making progress on this one.

Attached File

Attached File

Attached File
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/5/2024 7:14:35 PM EDT
[#32]
Attached File


These two got hardened today, now I wait for the oven to cool down so I can get them tempered.

The ringed one is the first one I've made of this design.  I'm going to get this one finished and if I like it, I have a bar of CPM154 to make a couple more out of.

The one in a2 is the first blade I've made from a2.

The one with tape on the bevels is the same pattern as the one in a2 but it's in AEB-L.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/5/2024 8:09:11 PM EDT
[#33]
You tease

Grind that A2

Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
10/5/2024 9:44:38 PM EDT
[Last Edit: DFARM][Edited] [#34]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WIC:
You tease

Grind that A2

View Quote

It's just now in the oven to temper for the first time.

It'll probably see #2 tomorrow, then maybe some grinding.


Attached File

I was almost done grinding this one, until I took the file guide Off and realized that I needed to push the bottom of the plunge grinds back, then I had to move the grind up because I accidentally pushed one plunge up higher.

Sometimes I feel like I'm going to fix things until I ruin them. Lol

ETA: it cleaned up pretty well.

Attached File
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/5/2024 10:55:02 PM EDT
[#35]
do you use flitz on those to get a gleam?
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
10/5/2024 11:46:36 PM EDT
[#36]
Not at all.

The flats are at ~280 and the bevels are ~120.

"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/6/2024 8:48:35 PM EDT
[#37]
Attached File


Got these both tempered.

The ringed one is ready to get marked and handles made.

The one in a2 has the rough grinding done.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/6/2024 9:26:34 PM EDT
[#38]
false edge on top?
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
10/6/2024 9:37:51 PM EDT
[#39]
Yeah. It's the same thickness as the main edge though so it could be sharpened easily enough too.

Was it not supposed to?
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/6/2024 10:46:27 PM EDT
[#40]
not supposed to what? you are the maker, you can do whatever the hell you want.

by the by, pocket sheath



that's a pretty good size knife

Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
10/7/2024 12:38:21 AM EDT
[#41]
For which one?

Both?
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/7/2024 1:23:29 PM EDT
[#42]
What oal’s we looking at?
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
10/7/2024 7:22:18 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WIC:
What oal’s we looking at?
View Quote

Attached File
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/7/2024 9:48:39 PM EDT
[#44]
Very rough handle scales.

A lot of meat has to come off of the handle scales still. They are also going to have to be pretty much finished before I glue them on. There's a lot of surface that I won't be able to get at after they're attached.

Attached File

"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/7/2024 10:36:31 PM EDT
[#45]
thiccc
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
10/7/2024 10:52:15 PM EDT
[#46]
this one has a pocket sheath

8.5"


1 1/8" or 1 3/16"

Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
10/7/2024 10:59:40 PM EDT
[#47]
The one with the ring should be fine to go in a pocket sheath. The other one is probably too wide.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/7/2024 11:01:56 PM EDT
[Last Edit: DFARM][Edited] [#48]
What's the one under the ruler? Looks like dark wood handles?
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
10/7/2024 11:30:15 PM EDT
[Last Edit: WIC][Edited] [#49]
Gulso Forester, Damascus blade, koa(?) handles?
Metus improbos compescit, non clementia
10/8/2024 12:05:37 AM EDT
[#50]
The a2 blade is 1.25"wide not including the guard, so probably 1 3/8" or so.
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical

I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .

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