Dacks-Contest Build

[GLWJ/CK]

Dacks, this is your thread for your contest knife build.

[Dacks]

Well, well, well!! These are some mighty fine digs you set me up with here! I like the "open concept" floor plan. 2thumbs

The decorators will be by shortly to hang a few pictures and give this place that certain..... "je ne se quoi". :p

[Dacks]

Here's a glimpse into my small 10x12 basement workshop.

I do my shaping and grinding on my little 1x30 Delta Shopmaster, and I can do some additional shaping with sanding wheels on my drill press. The only belts I've used to this point are the aluminum oxide woodworking belts. I sharpen my knives on a Tormek 2000 system, and I buff on my bench grinder. I have a full range of chisels and gouges, rasps, files.

I do not have a lathe or any milling capabilities in my shop. I do, however, have access to two very well equipped machine shops, a very well equipped woodworking shop(its good to have friends!!). I harden my blades in an oven at the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney(about 30 min away). If needed, I have access to the CAD lab at the local university with EDM and CNC machines.

I have A LOT of wood around... domestics, exotics, burls, some stabilized, etc., and I have lots of antler and bone, and a few other oddities for handle material. I also have all the necessary finishing materials.

I'll update a few shots shortly.

My workspace:
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/3527/img1622wk9.jpg

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/409/sgaindhub123.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/655/sgaindhub115.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8493/sgaindhub136.jpg

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/7127/sgaindhub119.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1012/img1623fz7.jpg

My grinder and jig:
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1908/machete002.jpg

Sharpening/Honing:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3904/sgaindhub133.jpg

[swilliamf]

Nice shop I would like some more info on that jig!

[Dacks]

swilliamf - The jig is a rather simple/crude assemblage of two door hinges and and backing plate against which the knife is held for grinding. The blade in that photo is 17" long, so I added a long kitchen magnet to help lend support and stability. By turning the adjustment nuts on the threaded rod, I can alter the angle of attack for both bevel and final sharpening. This set up also allows me to achieve a consistent angle on both side of the blade without guessing.... just flip the blade over(it not quite that simple, but you get the idea).

I had a very hard time grinding free-hand(maybe it the small size of this 1x30 grinder, maybe its me), so I needed something to assist getting straight, even and symmetrical bevels. As I said, its a bit crude, but it does work for me.

[swilliamf]

That is a cool idea! Does it work well? Any pics of the knife?

[Dacks]

Received my package today.