What's your favorite part of the process??

rhinoknives

rhinoknives

Well-Known Member
Hello fellow Dogs & Doggettes!

I have several parts of the knife making process that bring a smile to my face.

1) I enjoy the final blade & handle polish on the buffer when it's ready to be put in the showcase or delivered but sometimes I enjoy one part more than another.

2) Think up a new design when relaxing or even at a 3:00 am?

3) Finish grinding a blade before tape up and handle work is a all time favorite.

4) Sculpting the scales for a individual customer after they are attached to the tang.

I have several more and I know you Pyromaniac forgers will say something about working with a open flame:biggrin:

So can we sound off on a few of our most satisfying parts of the process?

I am interested in what does it for you! About knives I mean!!

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
I dont know that I have a favorite part. It depends on my mood that day, that is why I try to keep several diffrent projects in various levels of completion.This way if Im in a particular mood, I do what i want that day! But in line with your question, waxing the handle is usually one of my favorite parts.

God Bless
Mike
 
To me , it all comes together after after the buffer. I love watching a piece of brass , stainless or wood POP ! after the soft buffing wheel wit a little pink ruge brings it to life.
 
There's a point when the tang is tapered and the bevels ground that the heavy blank turns into a light weight blade that sings.

When the knife is finished and I start the leather work for the sheath, the contrast is very relaxing .
 
Seeing the blade go into the quench and feeling the vibrations in the tongs as a soft piece of steel is converted into a hard usable blade. Especially when it comes out of the oil nice and straight.
 
Diamond G Knives said:
I dont know that I have a favorite part. It depends on my mood that day, that is why I try to keep several diffrent projects in various levels of completion.This way if Im in a particular mood, I do what i want that day! But in line with your question, waxing the handle is usually one of my favorite parts.

God Bless
Mike
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Mike,
I am the same way when time allows. When I went full time many years ago I learned that you got to do, what you got to do! I still keep many projects going at once for diversity.

A Favorite of mine today is getting a batch of about 20 blades ready & packed to be shipped out to Idaho for Paul Bos Heat treatment.

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
Getting paid is really satisfying.

Seriously, I'm with Darrin.....Coming out of the juice without a 'tink' or warp confirms to me that I wasn't wasting my time. After that it's just business as usual and translating my mental picture into reality. The look on a customer's face or their reaction brings some satisfaction too.

Rudy
 
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Call me crazy but I kinda like hand sanding the blade. For me it is relaxing and soothing to watch the blade progress from grit to grit until I get the finish I want. And a big plus is there are no power tool involved so the potential for screwing something up is greatly reduced.
 
I like the transformation from a piece of stock to a blade shape. It almost feels like something new even though it has happened countless times.
 
My favorite part(s) are:

1) designing the blade and actually putting it on paper.

2) Seeing how the grinds turn out after pre-HT grind.
 
I guess my favoite part,would be finishing up with hand sanding,of the handle..
I know then,it is just about to come together

God bless
 
We have some nice ones here so far!
I thought we would hear from more forgers about how the Baroom sound of the burners catching really does it for them!

There really are some many things to love about knifemaking. Happy customers is very important and as was mentioned,
Getting paid for something you made with your own two hands is always very rewarding!

Anybody else?

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
Honestly, the "Barroom sound of the burners catching" isn't my favorite part. I'm always afraid the forge will explode... It almost did the very first time I lit it. : ) I would have to say my favorite part is the forging process though. There's something about taking a piece of steel that you can't grind a knife blank out of and just rearranging it. : )
 
My very favorite part is teaching Bladesmithing to others! I get a great feeling when teaching grinding (or any other portion)...and seeing that a person is "tight as a banjo string"......but when the "light comes on".....I see their body relax, and things just start flowing for them. For me that's a great feeling!

A close second is making Damascus.....nothing like "mangling hot steel" :) I'm still like a kid....when I get a billet completed, I've got to run to the finish shop, sand it off and etch to see if I actually get what I was trying for! :)
 
Ed, Teaching knife crafting is very satisfying. I may start giving structured classes for students again.

I have just been sharing what was freely shared with me lately..

After about 16 years there is still always a part in the process where I am about half way through grinding a knife that I think I have wrecked it! Then it starts to all come together and a smile returns to my face!

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
BarryC said:
Call me crazy but I kinda like hand sanding the blade. For me it is relaxing and soothing to watch the blade progress from grit to grit until I get the finish I want. And a big plus is there are no power tool involved so the potential for screwing something up is greatly reduced.
Click to expand...

Barry,
I think they have a new medication for this syndrome?:biggrin:

Hand sanding can be very meditative & relaxing.

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
I like making thumb studs for my locking liner folders. I can get creative,and if I mess it up I haven't ruined some expensive material or wasted a lot of time and the end result is very satisfying.
 
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