Step 4: Transform that peice of metal
First mark out and cut the file so both ends are the same.
I used a hand grinder but a bench grinder or hacksaw or even a metal file will work.
Second, if you had to straighten out the file you'll probablly want to get rid of the dimples that were made by the hammer. Use the grinder or file to grind down the surface until you can't tell where the dimples are. Don't worry about removing the grooves from the old file, they are deeper than you'd think and give your knife some character.
After that is done, if it was needed, you'll rough out the cutting area. Twenty to twenty-five degrees is a good angle for the knife edge. You can use the grinder to remove material initally but you should use a coarse metal file to make sure the edge is uniform in angle and flat.
Once the knife edge is roughed out, though it may be quite sharp now, sand the whole thing. Start with a coarse grit like 60 or 80 and work up to at least 150 for a smooth looking tool. You could go all the way up to 600grit if you wanted to use it as a mirror, but that's up to you.
I used a hand grinder but a bench grinder or hacksaw or even a metal file will work.
Second, if you had to straighten out the file you'll probablly want to get rid of the dimples that were made by the hammer. Use the grinder or file to grind down the surface until you can't tell where the dimples are. Don't worry about removing the grooves from the old file, they are deeper than you'd think and give your knife some character.
After that is done, if it was needed, you'll rough out the cutting area. Twenty to twenty-five degrees is a good angle for the knife edge. You can use the grinder to remove material initally but you should use a coarse metal file to make sure the edge is uniform in angle and flat.
Once the knife edge is roughed out, though it may be quite sharp now, sand the whole thing. Start with a coarse grit like 60 or 80 and work up to at least 150 for a smooth looking tool. You could go all the way up to 600grit if you wanted to use it as a mirror, but that's up to you.
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Ron-Ray says:
Sep 29, 2009. 10:42 AMReply
I see you used a single bevel ( \ ). Is this common for a draw knife? ( As opposed to the double-bevel of a standard knife ► ) Also, what if the angle of the bevel was decreased? - To about 15-18º or so... ? I just don't know anything about draw knives and needed to ask.
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notjustsomeone (author) says:
Oct 1, 2009. 8:26 PMReplyA single bevel is standard, and essential, for a good draw knife. It would be extremely difficult to achieve the controlled, shallow, planing cut of a typical drawknife with a double-beveled edge. The angle of chisel edged (single-bevel) blades is generally between 20 and 30 degrees. I've never made or used one with a finer angle than that, so can't speak from experience. However, a shallow angled blade should be weaker -has less material- at the cutting edge, making it more prone to chipping and also may develop wear patterns that receded further into the blade's edge, which would require reshaping the entire blade rather than simply resharpening it. -a typical knife edge > cuts through things, a chisel edged blade _\ shaves material off of things.
Ron-Ray says:
Oct 2, 2009. 3:13 PMReply
It's so obvious, I should have thought of it before asking. But I guess you never realize the true perspective of your foot until it's in your mouth..... Thank you for your excellent demonstration (instructable) and your time answering a dumb question. ;-) Ron
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