Meridian Blades
Moderator - Knife Maker
Not shaping and finish sanding the front of the scales BEFORE attaching them to the tang.
Cheer up, next time you'll have the carbide bit on hand
If it's an oil-hardening steel, you can "spot anneal" the tang with a torch, even a small handyman propane torch will do. That will usually make it soft enough to drill. Take care not to let the heat run up into the blade and ruin its temper. This doesn't work well with air-hardening/stainless steels.
Not respecting the drill press. I've lost count how many times I helicoptered a piece of steel before I finally started using a stop pin or vise. The buffer can really mess you up by flinging steel through you but the drill press can take fingers off or at least give you stitches just as fast.
Yes it was me that had this problem. we tried to spot anneal it and it only melted the metal and we still could not drill through it. It than proceeded to break the carbide bit. It sucks! I now drill a size larger than the pin.
Not shaping and finish sanding the front of the scales BEFORE attaching them to the tang.
That one is a real "female dog".
-David
I think for me I wasted too many years trying to re-invent the knife ! Taking tried and trued designs and putting your flair to them will come naturally. Give a hundred knife makers the same pattern to build and you will get one hundred different knives! Another one for me was making thick clunky handles, I cringe when I see some of my early knives. Keep it simple and forget the bling bling until you master the basics! Nothing worse than a poorly crafted knife with a big diamond glued on the handle.
Take care,
Sampson Knifeworks
Nice advise for me....the handle is becoming a hard concept to find balance. I like large handles......it's just knowing when to use them and when not too....Thanks do you have a criteria?
Nothing worse than a poorly crafted knife with a big diamond glued on the handle.
That's the funniest thing I've read in a while :thumbup:
James,
Glad I brought a smile to your face! I'm a pretty funny guy with a twisted sense of humor once you get to know me.
Clint