Hand sanding is a great time to listen to a podcast or music or something. It's very meditative for me. I listen to Bible sermons and just embrace the moment of iron sharpening iron.
Yes and there was the monent when i walked away proud of my work and one day later the knife did look to me like total beginner level - scratches and gaps everywhere. The whole knife was ready to be used as a tentstake. What i want to say is that you always have to refresh your mind
I'm just getting started with knife making and have watched countless tutorials and I feel like i've learned the most from your videos. You're great at explaining every step and your tips are fantastic. I will definitely be rewatching when i start the process, and my ceramic belts just came in the mail today so that will be very soon. thank you for your time and diligence with these tutorials, this information is going to be invaluable to me and all of the other beginners out there!
Reinforcing what was said about the high value of your videos for beginners, I’ll just add that the honesty you exhibit by admitting the hardship and often frustration of striving for a level of truly high quality is critical imo for knowing what someone is getting into when they decide they will start making knives. Mass gratitude to you.
I took lots away from this video, but especially two things: Walk away when you think you're done with the sandpaper. Come back with fresh eyes! Ren Wax - its fabulous stuff. A knife-makers dream, really. (it smells great, too - almost as good as Dykem!) Another fantastic video in this series. Loved it!
Great info! Particularly the point about not being able to go back. Get it right and step away and come back is the best advice! Also change your viewing angle when looking for scratches and you'll see ones you didn't see before. The one thing I would change though, don't use a wood sanding block and instead use a steel/metal sanding block. Wood is softer and it can wash out your lines. In one of Kyle Royer's video he suggested using a file and I switched to this and love it. I use pretty heavy adhesive-backed sandpaper that comes on a big roll so it works really well with a file. Enjoying the series! ❤️
Wow, I think that was the best hand sanding tutorial I have watched, and I have watched a lot of them! I really like the way you took your time explaining your method and doing so in a very relatable way to what I am doing in my shop. I tend to rush this, and the way you broke it down got my attention and made me realize that even though I am mostly giving knives away, they still have my name on them. Thanks for another thorough class!
Looked at lots of TH-cam vids on knife making. Best vids with great tips and tricks I have seen. Good instruction plus encouragement. Thanks for helping us beginners. God bless.
Dude your content is really fantastic. I have also just begun the hobby and was playing with my free grinding skills or lack there of and decided to watch this series. Thanks I think you might save me some time and money!!!!!
Excellent tutorial. You explain everything so well. Thank you for sharing your experience. I will watch these several times. I am just getting my tools and shed organised, your guides have helped me out so much, Your knives are awesome.
I hope this information can help you in your journey of knife making! Here is a link to see some of my knife build build videos th-cam.com/video/fWpfeB_Tt3M/w-d-xo.html
Thanks again Aaron. Great tutorial. I am going to try to do a ferric chloride etch and I have a question. After you etch and you're sanding the scales how do you keep from sanding the etch off the spine where the handles are? Thanks for the tip. I recently retired and thought I would try making knives. Now I can't stop. I spend my time and money in my shop and I am loving the creative outlet. Do you know is there a cure?
I generally do sand the profile and it is a different color. Sometimes if I want the profile to remain etched I will fully shape the scales before installing them
thank you for these videos im learning alot im very new to bladesmithing and blade making im still tying to learn my new 2x72 for grinding bevels ive been grinding on scrap pieces of mild steel to work on bevel making seems to be helping thank you again great job on explaining everything Mark alsosubbed that Renaissance wax is great ive been using that for my meteal detecting finds like on old coins and relics great product
Thanks Mark! Send me some pictures of your knife projects! Here is my email airinlee@swbell.net I love to see fresh new stuff! I am preparing a new build tutorial on a simple pukko knife! Will launch on Sunday! See you there!
I'm getting two holes max out of new drill bits. I use loads of wd40. It's -16°c in the garage so heat isn't a factor.... So l thought l was doing everything correctly. l take my time drilling the holes. drilling hardened/heat treated 01 steel. I'm currently doing scale glue up. Like l said. Can l pre drill pin holes before heat treating?
I have seen other makers use wd 40 and also windex. They both work well, however, I don't like the oil on my hands for long periods of time and the windex dries my hands out! I just prefer my free water + I almost always go to an acid etch directly after sanding so I don’t worry about rust either
Alee...what's your recommendation for belt sanders? I'm currently using the harbor freight 1x30 and I'm noticing inconsistencies in my bevels. I've tweaked the platen to try and get better results but I still feel and upgrade is necessary...thoughts?
@@Aleeknives thank you Guy, and what is the purpose of this step? I watch your videos with interest except that I don't understand everything being French.
Airin, when you finish grind after heat treat do you narrow the cutting-edge that was left the thickness of a dime before heat treating? If so, how thin do make the cutting-edge? Thanks for all your help.
Good question! For a skinning knife I will refine the edge as thin as possible, for a camp knife I reduce it down by about half and a chopper I leave it full thickness
I am working on a knife going step by step through this series. Do you submerge the entire knife or just the blade up to the point the handle covers the steel? You do 10 sec intervals. Eric, Rivers Experience, leaves the knife in for 20 min. This has to do with darkness of etch I assume? You are just looking for light etch w/o darkening?
Mixture of 50/50 ferric chloride and distilled water. I find less acid and longer soak times actually gives you better results. I have been using the same acid for 7 years now! Thanks for watching! Cheers
How do you feel about WD40 vs water for hand sanding? I currently use WD40, as I saw a video where someone recommended using WD40 for carbon steel and windex for stainless, mostly due to the rusting issue I believe. WD40 seems to keep the paper from becoming clogged and obviously prevents rusting, but it does make a mess. If water works as well as WD40 I’d have to consider switching. Your thoughts would be appreciated!
Great question Andrew! Water can and will introduce rust.. however, I set up and sand my knife all at once. I like to use water better because I can flood the surface regularly and also it feels better on my hands. It's free and it is a simple process.. I sand it wash it and dry it thoroughly to prevent flash rusting. I don't introduce oil till after the jandle is glued up. I find that penatrating oils can be hard to fully clean off and can negatively affect the epoxy bond. Let me know if this helps. By the way, there are several ways to skin a cat. I have easily done over 100 blades like this.
@@Aleeknives Thanks, I think I will try water for the hunter I'm working on. The fact that water is free and wont drip all over my garage floor and make a mess is big too. Thanks for the response. Love your content!
Hey Aaron, what are your ratios on Ferric Chloride to distilled water on your etching solution?? I'm gonna try that method & I don't want to jack it up. Thanks!! 🗡🔪
For exclusive content and one on one coaching opportunities click here
www.patreon.com/Aleeknives
Hand sanding is a great time to listen to a podcast or music or something. It's very meditative for me. I listen to Bible sermons and just embrace the moment of iron sharpening iron.
Yes and there was the monent when i walked away proud of my work and one day later the knife did look to me like total beginner level - scratches and gaps everywhere. The whole knife was ready to be used as a tentstake.
What i want to say is that you always have to refresh your mind
These videos are fantastic. Such a big help for me! Thank you!
Glad you like them!
I'm just getting started with knife making and have watched countless tutorials and I feel like i've learned the most from your videos. You're great at explaining every step and your tips are fantastic. I will definitely be rewatching when i start the process, and my ceramic belts just came in the mail today so that will be very soon. thank you for your time and diligence with these tutorials, this information is going to be invaluable to me and all of the other beginners out there!
Man so glad! This is exactly why I started TH-cam! I am glad you have enjoyed my videos! Cheers
Reinforcing what was said about the high value of your videos for beginners, I’ll just add that the honesty you exhibit by admitting the hardship and often frustration of striving for a level of truly high quality is critical imo for knowing what someone is getting into when they decide they will start making knives. Mass gratitude to you.
I made 3 knives for a buddy, I polished them out to 2,000. That took for freaking ever!
Don't get cheap with sandpaper was a lesson it took me awhile to learn. Also buy good sandpaper. Great video
Both are valuable lessons
Thank you for sharing you knowledge. It's very helpful and I appreciate you taking your time to demonstrate what you know. It's invaluable.
love the idea of a piece of leather for this
The leather really adds a nice finish! Thanks for watching!
I took lots away from this video, but especially two things:
Walk away when you think you're done with the sandpaper. Come back with fresh eyes!
Ren Wax - its fabulous stuff. A knife-makers dream, really. (it smells great, too - almost as good as Dykem!)
Another fantastic video in this series. Loved it!
Ren wax is king!
Great info! Particularly the point about not being able to go back. Get it right and step away and come back is the best advice! Also change your viewing angle when looking for scratches and you'll see ones you didn't see before. The one thing I would change though, don't use a wood sanding block and instead use a steel/metal sanding block. Wood is softer and it can wash out your lines. In one of Kyle Royer's video he suggested using a file and I switched to this and love it. I use pretty heavy adhesive-backed sandpaper that comes on a big roll so it works really well with a file. Enjoying the series! ❤️
Great points Tyrell! Thanks for adding value to the videos!
Wow, I think that was the best hand sanding tutorial I have watched, and I have watched a lot of them! I really like the way you took your time explaining your method and doing so in a very relatable way to what I am doing in my shop. I tend to rush this, and the way you broke it down got my attention and made me realize that even though I am mostly giving knives away, they still have my name on them. Thanks for another thorough class!
Thank you Lyle! If you ever have any questions please feel free to ask! Cheers!
Looked at lots of TH-cam vids on knife making. Best vids with great tips and tricks I have seen. Good instruction plus encouragement. Thanks for helping us beginners. God bless.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching glad to have you around
This video took my hand sanding to the next level. Still have a long way to go, but this helped me take that next step of improvement. Thank you!
That is fantastic Clay!
When you think you’ve done hand sanding, give it another hour.
Great advice, Airin! Another valuable video!
🇬🇧🤜⚡️🤛🇺🇸
I wish it wasn't true, but it is😂😜
Its wavy-looking structure and color was beautiful. Health to your hands 👍🙌
I like the poison sticker on your bottle
Dude your content is really fantastic. I have also just begun the hobby and was playing with my free grinding skills or lack there of and decided to watch this series. Thanks I think you might save me some time and money!!!!!
That's my goal! I'm glad you enjoyed it
nice work brother , very informative
Much appreciated
Another great video in the series. Hand sanding jig is cool. Even i like non shiny knives over shiny ones .👍👍👍
Glad you like them!
Great advice, great tutorial.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks!
Extremely appreciated! Thank you!
Excellent tutorial. You explain everything so well. Thank you for sharing your experience. I will watch these several times. I am just getting my tools and shed organised, your guides have helped me out so much, Your knives are awesome.
Thank you! I am super excited to hear you enjoyed some of my videos! I have many more planned so please stick around! Cheers
I love your videos man you are very authentic and thorough with your tutorials, thanks for the help!
Thank you! I am 2 videos into the intermediate build tutorial right now! Thanks for watching my channel! Cheers
I hope this information can help you in your journey of knife making! Here is a link to see some of my knife build build videos
th-cam.com/video/fWpfeB_Tt3M/w-d-xo.html
Can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen and Can't stand sanding find a new hobby.
I'm enjoying your videos and learning thanks for your teaching
Great video man. Definitely appreciate your knowledge. Can’t wait to start making my own blades. Keep up the fantastic work.
Thank you Robert!
Great vidéos, thank you 👍. I learned a lot.
Your welcome Patrick! Thanks for watching and commenting! It really helps me and the channel out! Cheers
Thanks again Aaron. Great tutorial. I am going to try to do a ferric chloride etch and I have a question. After you etch and you're sanding the scales how do you keep from sanding the etch off the spine where the handles are? Thanks for the tip.
I recently retired and thought I would try making knives. Now I can't stop. I spend my time and money in my shop and I am loving the creative outlet. Do you know is there a cure?
I generally do sand the profile and it is a different color. Sometimes if I want the profile to remain etched I will fully shape the scales before installing them
thank you for these videos im learning alot im very new to bladesmithing and blade making im still tying to learn my new 2x72 for grinding bevels ive been grinding on scrap pieces of mild steel to work on bevel making seems to be helping thank you again great job on explaining everything Mark alsosubbed that Renaissance wax is great ive been using that for my meteal detecting finds like on old coins and relics great product
Thanks Mark! Send me some pictures of your knife projects! Here is my email airinlee@swbell.net
I love to see fresh new stuff! I am preparing a new build tutorial on a simple pukko knife! Will launch on Sunday! See you there!
Another great job thanks
Thanks again!
Very good vid! Great sanding philosophy to!!!
It is really hard to learn the patience required to hand sand well!
@@Aleeknives You aint lyin"!
I like ths shape. Nice
Thank you!
Can a orbiting sander be used to achieve same quality?
We use them in auto body
Can you please help? One side of my knife has crisp lines and the other I keep washing my lines out. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.
When I have trouble keeping rhings crispy on a grinder I move it to a filing jig to correct my mistakes
hi sorry how do you cut g10 handle spacer.. band saw it dulls .i heard i have mettle saw.thanks walt
Hey Walter I use my bandsaw regularly V cut G10 and my card up but I do use a bi-metal saw blade
Where did you get your maker's mark stamp?
I made it out of o1 tool steel
Very preety your knife
thank you and I appreciate the compliment!
For a larger piece, would you consider using an orbital sander?
I think an orbital sander might was out your lines
Great information, one question, why not use the 2x72 until you get to the 500/600 and then hand sand.
I find the grinder is incredibly unforgiving in the higher grits on a flat platen also the higher grits create a lot more heat and faster!
What formula do you use to acid etch?
What acid are you using new to knife making.
I'm getting two holes max out of new drill bits. I use loads of wd40. It's -16°c in the garage so heat isn't a factor.... So l thought l was doing everything correctly. l take my time drilling the holes. drilling hardened/heat treated 01 steel. I'm currently doing scale glue up. Like l said. Can l pre drill pin holes before heat treating?
I always pre drill my holes even before I cut in the bevels!
I'm starting to drill my holes before heat treating... from now on. 😊
I also spend the extra money and buy carbide drills! They last a LOT longer!
@@Aleeknives How much is 01 steel in your city? I just bought 01 1.5×3/8 ×3ft for $85.00
I use new jersey steel baron. Just checked and they have 1.5x.250x3ft for $62.00
would cutting oil/wd 40 and such work rather than water as the wet medium?
I have seen other makers use wd 40 and also windex. They both work well, however, I don't like the oil on my hands for long periods of time and the windex dries my hands out! I just prefer my free water + I almost always go to an acid etch directly after sanding so I don’t worry about rust either
Alee...what's your recommendation for belt sanders? I'm currently using the harbor freight 1x30 and I'm noticing inconsistencies in my bevels. I've tweaked the platen to try and get better results but I still feel and upgrade is necessary...thoughts?
what is this product in which you dip your blade in the 26th minute of the video?
That is ferric chloride acid and distilled water
@@Aleeknives thank you Guy, and what is the purpose of this step? I watch your videos with interest except that I don't understand everything being French.
I like that darkened steel look so I etch or blue my blades most of the time.
Airin, when you finish grind after heat treat do you narrow the cutting-edge that was left the thickness of a dime before heat treating? If so, how thin do make the cutting-edge? Thanks for all your help.
Good question! For a skinning knife I will refine the edge as thin as possible, for a camp knife I reduce it down by about half and a chopper I leave it full thickness
@@Aleeknives I thought it might be based on knife type. Thanks for the reply with knife type and thickness.
Absolutely my friend! Have fun and make something sharp!
Tq bro.. Good knowledge..
can we use beeswax instead of renaissance wax ?tnx man
Sure thing
I am working on a knife going step by step through this series. Do you submerge the entire knife or just the blade up to the point the handle covers the steel? You do 10 sec intervals. Eric, Rivers Experience, leaves the knife in for 20 min. This has to do with darkness of etch I assume? You are just looking for light etch w/o darkening?
I submerge the entire knife. The line that shows up on the blade is the line from the quenching process
Sorry, to many questions. Is all your sandpaper wet or dry?
I use all wet/dry paper. I buy it from harbor freight. It is cheap but effective
What acid did you use for etching?
Mixture of 50/50 ferric chloride and distilled water. I find less acid and longer soak times actually gives you better results. I have been using the same acid for 7 years now! Thanks for watching! Cheers
Where do your order your steel from?
New Jersey steel baron
How do you feel about WD40 vs water for hand sanding? I currently use WD40, as I saw a video where someone recommended using WD40 for carbon steel and windex for stainless, mostly due to the rusting issue I believe. WD40 seems to keep the paper from becoming clogged and obviously prevents rusting, but it does make a mess. If water works as well as WD40 I’d have to consider switching. Your thoughts would be appreciated!
Great question Andrew! Water can and will introduce rust.. however, I set up and sand my knife all at once. I like to use water better because I can flood the surface regularly and also it feels better on my hands. It's free and it is a simple process.. I sand it wash it and dry it thoroughly to prevent flash rusting. I don't introduce oil till after the jandle is glued up. I find that penatrating oils can be hard to fully clean off and can negatively affect the epoxy bond. Let me know if this helps. By the way, there are several ways to skin a cat. I have easily done over 100 blades like this.
@@Aleeknives Thanks, I think I will try water for the hunter I'm working on. The fact that water is free and wont drip all over my garage floor and make a mess is big too. Thanks for the response. Love your content!
Hey Aaron, what are your ratios on Ferric Chloride to distilled water on your etching solution??
I'm gonna try that method & I don't want to jack it up.
Thanks!!
🗡🔪
About 50/50
@@Aleeknives Thanks a million Aaron!!
am i alone with this one but i actually like hand sanding! i put my ear phones on and just sand away with my tunes lol
I find some therapeutic properties to hand sanding
I only speak spanish but untentood a litle
Who made your stamp for your maker's mark? Big fan by the way!
I made the stamp from O1 tool steel and a dremel tool
@@Aleeknives no way! So clean I figure it had to have been machined. Brilliant work
Actually it's very simple to do
I learned how to make stamps in high school