Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

[stevenkelby]

Might as well admit it

Hi guys, just found this forum, thanks Gaj for giving us Aussies a place of our own

I have a hundred or so blades, almost all users. Ionly got hooked a bit over a year ago.

Thinking about making myself some blades now, played with my grinder and a piece of steel last weekend and came up with this 3" blade:

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352 ... G_2844.jpg

It's really bad up close but it was fun and made me want to do it properly! Will order some decet steel and start learning.

I went to the knife show at the Arkaba last Novemer and saw some amazing work by Aussie makers, there's some inspirational stuff here!

Steve.

[stevenkelby]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

PS, I just tried to buy a subsciption but I guess I need 5 posts to PM Gaj, will get there!

Steve.

[Stewart Townsend]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

Might as well admit it

Thinking about making myself some blades now, played with my grinder and a piece of steel last weekend and came up with this 3" blade:

.

Seen worse first knives than that Steve.

[stevenkelby]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

Seen worse first knives than that Steve.

Thanks Stewart, that picture is pretty flattering though, it needs a lot more metal removed, with a lot more skill, to be a good blade, and the steel is pretty soft anyway, 1045.

I wanted a lot of distal taper, tapered tang and a ful flat grind but only had a single 60grit belt and it wore out. I don't think it's worth any more effort on this one, I was just giving it a go and discovered I really enjoy it! Hopefully I do much better next time.

Here are some more "honest" photos:

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352 ... G_2838.jpg

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352 ... G_2842.jpg

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352 ... G_2852.jpg

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352 ... G_2851.jpg

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352 ... G_2849.jpg

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352 ... G_2845.jpg

[AusTemplar]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

better first go than mine is turning out, I'm using hand tools to start off though and it's painfully slow for such an implusive person as myself

[bcmolin]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

Welcome aboard, you have found a great place to be with others how share your interests and obsessions.

Continued success in your knife making and collecting.

[stevenkelby]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

Thanks gentlemen, I just ordered a bunch of Zirconia and Trizact belts from the UK, so I guess I'm committed to making a knife properly now! I may try and find a big old file to grind into a blade, I've seen that done it looked great.

[Zac Cheong]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

Thanks gentlemen, I just ordered a bunch of Zirconia and Trizact belts from the UK

:shock:
why? theres no shortage of places in aus you can get them, at least zirc

[stevenkelby]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

Thanks gentlemen, I just ordered a bunch of Zirconia and Trizact belts from the UK

:shock:
why? theres no shortage of places in aus you can get them, at least zirc

I knew there was a guy on British Blades that sells them.

I couldn't find anyone selling trizact in Aus so thought I'd get both types from the same place, less hassle.

Maye there is someone who sells them here but I couldn't find the info!

Where do you guys get belts, so i know in future?

[Zac Cheong]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

i replied to your post over on Bladeforums re: belts. If you havnt seen it you should definately check it out, makes using the multitool much better.
I use a 2x72 so i order my belts from an abrasives company.
as for the 2x36, ive bought those belts from mitre10(240+ grit ALOX), Total tools( zirc and alox), and various other industrial suppliers. I believe 36" is a fairly standard length, abrasives suppliers should keep them in stock

[stevenkelby]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

Ah ha it all makes sense now! I did reply to that popst, thanks, typed out how I would rotate my multitool and get some glass for a platen etc but my post isn't there, strange.

Do you hold the knife edge up and run it into the belt like that? Does the edge ever catch or are you just careful?

Thanks for the tips!

[Matt Brook]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

G'day Steve,

Try http://www.australianabrasives.com/belts.htm

For your belt needs

Matt

[Zac Cheong]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

thats right steve edge up, thats how the pros do it!
maybe if you had a sharp blade and you went in on the totally wrong angle it might catch but you wont have a problem grinding blanks.

Not just any glass for the platen though, high temperature or it will shatter in no time.

[Tinbasher]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

I cheat a little but still grind edge up with the help of a platen, second picture shows a lip at the back of the platen , the blade rests on the lip and I can adjust the platen in and out for the varying angles.

Richard

[Matt Brook]

Re: Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a knife-aholic.

I Like your platen Richard.

Matt