Members battlemunky Posted August 17, 2020 Members Report Posted August 17, 2020 I ordered a Leather Wranglers PERK and it takes a while for them to get to the order so in the meantime I figured I'd take some inspiration from other members here (notable @chuck123wapati) and make my own round/head knife. It's currently curing in the vise and as soon as its done I just need to finish the handle, pretty it up some, and sharpen it. I used an angle grinder and a few sanders to get it where its at. Did my best not to overheat the blade but I did see the tips discolor from heat. I'm hoping to sharpen past that part and hit hardened steel IF I broke temper on it. Anyway, without further ado, here is the state the knife is right now and how it started: Quote
CFM chuck123wapati Posted August 17, 2020 CFM Report Posted August 17, 2020 Great start its gonna be a nice knife and a good learning experience. Yup you can sharpen back down to the temper easily if needed just take your time. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
Members dikman Posted August 18, 2020 Members Report Posted August 18, 2020 Good one, should be a nice blade when finished - and it didn't cost too much! Off-setting the head and handle is an interesting idea. I've made a couple the same way and I've been thinking of making a 1/2 head knife. I don't need it but I like making things. Quote Machines wot I have - Singer 51W59; Singer 331K4; Seiko STH-8BLD; Pfaff 335; CB4500. Chinese shoe patcher; Singer 201K (old hand crank)
Members battlemunky Posted August 18, 2020 Author Members Report Posted August 18, 2020 Thanks @dikman! I did the offset based off a few designs where the offset is supposed to allow the different points to attack at different angles and do different cut jobs. This is my first round/head knifey thing so I don't even know what to do with it other than push cuts and roll cuts and some skiving. I've got to learn control, I noticed that during test cuts while sharpening. I've got it mostly sharpened, which is super tricky compared to a normal knife. I've gotten sharpening dust all over the handle so I hope it'll clean up or else that whole character development part of its life has begun early. Quote
RockyAussie Posted August 18, 2020 Report Posted August 18, 2020 Looks like it should be a good one. I do think the timber and bottom rivet may be a bit too low for belt sharpening though. Quote Wild Harry - Australian made leather goodsYouTube Channel Instagram
Members dikman Posted August 18, 2020 Members Report Posted August 18, 2020 These things are actually quite dangerous to sharpen on a belt grinder! One of mine caught at the point and dug into the aluminium guide wheel on the grinder. It took a small chunk out of the wheel! Quote Machines wot I have - Singer 51W59; Singer 331K4; Seiko STH-8BLD; Pfaff 335; CB4500. Chinese shoe patcher; Singer 201K (old hand crank)
Members zuludog Posted August 18, 2020 Members Report Posted August 18, 2020 3 hours ago, dikman said: Good one, should be a nice blade when finished - and it didn't cost too much! Off-setting the head and handle is an interesting idea. I've made a couple the same way and I've been thinking of making a 1/2 head knife. I don't need it but I like making things. Have a look at YouTube videos by J H Leather. She does most of her work with a 1/2 head knife I made a Japanese style leather knife from an old plane blade, so that's another possibility......as if you don't have enough to do Quote
Members battlemunky Posted August 18, 2020 Author Members Report Posted August 18, 2020 10 hours ago, RockyAussie said: Looks like it should be a good one. I do think the timber and bottom rivet may be a bit too low for belt sharpening though. What do you mean? I do most of my sharpening with a Lansky sharpener or sandpaper and a mouse pad. I'm interested to understand what you are getting at though, in case I get a belt sharpener and I'm not seeing in my mind how the timber and bottom rivet can get in the way. Help me see, please. When I was profiling the edge on the bench sander, the handle wasn't on and it was still a bit tricky. Quote
RockyAussie Posted August 18, 2020 Report Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) For myself not being a hobbyist time is an important part in how I go about doing things. Like most I used to sharpen with stones etc but now days I find I can sharpen very well on the belt sander what is required in a couple of minutes followed up with some Tripoli polish on a rag wheel. As I keep the blade always facing away from the belt rotation I have never had any catching issues as described by dikman thankfully. There are a couple of pictures below to show what I use and what I am saying is that it would be hard to get much of a tapered edge if the handle gets in your way from you doing so. I will also put in a video link that shows why I like to have a broad taper on my knives. Edited August 18, 2020 by RockyAussie Quote Wild Harry - Australian made leather goodsYouTube Channel Instagram
Members dikman Posted August 18, 2020 Members Report Posted August 18, 2020 Sharpening knives edge up on a belt grinder is common practice but a head knife is not a normal knife shape! I should have done it edge down, as Brian did. I should have known better. Using a polishing wheel will tend to round off the edge, unlike using a regular strop, however it is quicker to get a sharp edge and when time is important it only takes seconds to touch up the edge. Zuludog, I had a look at J H Leather's site and she has some good stuff on there. I like that "half-head" knife as you don't have to keep watching where the other point is! I'll make one later, when I finish off all the other jobs I have. Quote Machines wot I have - Singer 51W59; Singer 331K4; Seiko STH-8BLD; Pfaff 335; CB4500. Chinese shoe patcher; Singer 201K (old hand crank)
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