I know that you made this 9 years ago, but I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire video is for every part of knife making and bevels. Incredible video. Thank you.
No stupid jokes or entree's, no music I'm not in the mood to hear, no verbose sentences and words. STRAIGHT TO THE POINT APPROPRIATE DETAIL. Excellent!
I spent about 30 minutes tonight making this filing jig. All I can say is ... AWESOME! Very easy, and inexpensive to build, and once I got my angle adjusted where I want it I was able to file some beautiful bevels. Thanks so much for sharing this, and for all your other videos.
I built one and used it. It does a Great job. I did however use a 1/4" bronze sleeve and slid it onto the "Stop" screw. This helps the file slide easier without wear on both the guide screw and file. Thank you for such a great video!
Adding the sleeve to the stop bolt was the only improvement I made to my jig. I noticed it was "missing" from the tutorial. Im no engineer but I tend to notice simple improvements like that.
I love how descriptive this is! I love the patience and care taken in the making of this video. Thanks for the information. Honestly, been doing this for months and I'm really glad I came across this.
Dearest Gough, this is a wonderful channel. you are very kind and knowledgeable. Thank you for sharing your invaluable information , you truly are a kind person.
You have no idea how much this video has helped me. I have been into knives and knife making for years but have never made anything significant because i was afraid of messing up the bevels. Thank you soooo much.
This was incredibly helpful! I’ve seen jigs like this in a lot of knifemaking videos and this really clarifies how it works. Plus you went the extra step to explain how to use it and some helpful tips. Thanks so much for this video!
That's great! Congratulations! It's a good feeling isn't it! The anti-scale compound that I use is called ATP-641. It's available from Brownells in the US. In Europe the most commonly available compound is called 'Turco'. Glad the videos have been helpful!
The number of times ive searched for simple knife making videos, only to just have this show up on my feed is disgraceful. This has to be one of the best explanations, if not the best, of this technique on youtube. Absolutely perfect for those beginning or wanting to make a one off knife for themselves. Clear, well filmed instruction, build, use, technique and advice. Mate thankyou, well done and very much appreciated. As for youtubes reccommedation algorithm......best left unsaid.
I want to thank you once again for this video. Yes I have a 2x72 belt grinder, but this jig allowed me to make more accurate bevels than what my skill level could allow on the belt grinder alone. To me, the grinder is great for stock removal, but for accurate, consistent bevels, this jig allows me to slow things down and make the final cuts precise. I did an arrowhead shaped dagger with 4 scaled holes down the center of the blade. Then both sides were cut so the center bevel line was able to go straight down the center of each hole. Very accurate, controlled cutting with this jig. I could never do that on my grinder with my abilities. Furthermore, my co-worker seen it and built the same thing because he cannot afford to buy / make a 2 x 72 grinder. So THANK YOU again!!! I (we) so appreciate you making this.
The best jig for making knives, made mine last week and it takes all the guess work out of the angle. Thanks for the how to vid, this should be watched by anyone who want to get into making there own blades. I even used this jig to make a 15in sword blade!!!
+Gough Custom youre welcome, I just made it out of MDF but its really bendy... do you have an idea tot strengthen it or should i make it again with plywood?
Great jig!! Loved the comment about the "cheap 40 dollar belt grinder" being no good for grinding bevels. That certainly is the truth. I have tried multiple times and got nothing but junk...then I found this video (via Sugarcreek Forge) and built your jig. I "fixed" one of the belt ground blades and look forward to doing a complete blade with it, when I get more steel. Thanks for posting this!
Aaron, as i'm sure you are well aware, this file guide has set the amateur knife making standard for the hobbyist when first considering bevel grinding. I have several friends who have referenced this video in length when we talk about "getting started" making knives. All of whom don't have access to my subscriptions and have done the research on their own. Ive also seen reference to the "Gough jig" on many forums since this videos release. This tutorial is excellent and has helped tons of folks. For that I salute you
You are very welcome Aaron! I just had to make sure that you were aware of the impact you've been making in the amateur knife making realm. Now get back to those resolutes so i can have even a tiny chance at snagging one for myself!
Incase you are like me and like to see it in the video but find written steps helpful as well, here is a transcript of the construction of the jig (Any edits for mistakes are welcome): 1. Take the 11 and inch piece of wood and mark the center long ways (5 inches) 2. Mark the center of the 10-inch piece of wood the short ways (1.75 inches) 3. Once center lines are marked, put glue on the 14-inch piece of plywood 4. Stack the 11-inch piece of wood on the 14-inch-long ways and the 10-inch piece of wood perpendicular lining up the center lines we just made. 5. Once the the boards are lined up, drill 4 1/8 inch holes 6. Screw the #8 1-inch screws into the piloted holes 7. Once everything is screwed together mark center lines in the 11-inch board running lengthwise (2-inches top and bottom) and draw and line connected them down the center of the board. 8. Make 1-inch tick marks down the 11-inch board 9. Repeat steps 7 & 8 for the 10-inch board 10. After you have marked the 1-inch tick marks for the holes, center punch them to ensure each hole goes exactly where it’s supposed to 11. Drill each hole with 7/32-inch drill bit 12. Now create threads by drilling a 1/4-20 Stove bolt, 1-1/2" long in and out of each hole 13. Put the eyebolt in to the farthest thread 14. Cut the steel rod to length by putting the steel rod into the eye bolt and laying the bastard file down so the top of the file is flush with the bottom of the jig and place the steel rod at the top of the handle. ( 15. The rod should be the length of the file + the length of the jig, roughly 26 inches (mine was more like 30 inches) for a 12-inch file. Mark the proper length 16. After the rod is cut you should deburr the end so that it doesn’t cut you with a file 17. Round corners of your file on sander, grinder or dremel 18. Wrap tape around the places where the claps will fit on the steel rod this will help them from slipping 19. Attach the clamps connecting the file and rod at the top of the file handle and the top of the file 20. You’re now ready to start using your jig. Set your screws, one for a plunge line and the other more deeply set to stop the blade from moving back as you file
I have made this today, going by the dimensions above it's only 3.5 inches wide, but it looks like it's wider in the video, unless I have made a mistake?
@Fireworxs2012 That's not very helpful for the people that want to get their feet wet with knifemaking and don't want to spend $2k on a belt grinder. I have a belt grinder, use it every day, it's not something I would recommend for a person that's new to tools or knifemaking. It took me 12+ blades to nail my grinding technique. Most people want to make 1 or 2 knives for personal use, not point buying a grinder for that.
Exactly, I see all these people using a belt grinder for this and until you made this video I thought I was going to have to buy one! This video is definitely a wallet saver and thank you for that.
i have just taken my first steps into knife making and you are going to be my new best friend :). the files is the part that scares me at the moment haha. im checking out your videos :)
Gough Custom thanks mate. it's hard trying to figure out what to start with tool wise. I've bought an angle grinder, a vice and today I'll buy stuff to make the jig after I convert your list to metric haha. if you could maybe suggest what files to buy first coz I just stand in the tool shop staring hahaha.
Gough Custom also do you have videos specifically on polishing the knife. maybe just the whole finishing process? and what about handle materials other than wood. I've seen this using some kind of resin. can you buy blocks of this stuff? I'm just not sure what the materials are called but I knew a guy who used to make custom pens with them. had all kinds of patterns etc thanks for your time. hope you Xmas and new year have been safe and enjoyable
like dfalconerio I'm new to this game, I've made a jig similar to this and works great, I was curious though about file choice as was mentioned before. I use a 12" Nicholson Mill Bastard single cut that states gradual removal...and it seems very gradual, looking for something more aggressive. Hard to find a good selection of files here in NS. Suggestions? Really appreciate the time you took to post up these videos, been a great help in getting started.
This little jig is crazy good , takes a bit longer but the results are great , been grinding some mild steel with it and there's not much it cant do if you play with the config a bit , would you consider commercializing its design and making it available for sale online at a reasonable price for starter knife makers ? im sure tons of people would benefit from such a tool in their workshops.
As Zach said, you just don't complete the bevel, start from a high angle, cut the edge as deep as you want it, then start working the bevel back until it's where you want it! You don't have to go all the way back to the spine
I built the jig and made my first knife with it. The bevels are beautiful and perfectly symmetrical. Worlds better than I was accomplishing freehand. I prepared the file like you said and got awesome (perfectly symmetrical, very clean) plunges. Thanks again!
Good question! Full-flat is a little easier as it will look fine even if it's not perfectly straight. The main reason I used full-flat grinds is because the have the best overall cutting performance. The only grind that is possibly better is the full convex grind, but many people find them difficult to sharpen, and I don't think they look as nice.
I know that you made this 3 years ago, but I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire video is for every part of knife making and bevels. Incredible video. Thank you.
I don't think it's a bad idea, but maybe not 100% necessary. That's really up to you I guess! When hand-sanding materials like G10 it's definitely still necessary, but maybe not as much for filing the steel.
I've been using O1 mainly in the past, but I'm currently evaluating a range of different steels and will soon decide which steel I'll be using from now onward.
No worries mate! I definitely think that starting with the coarse file is the right idea. I always cut my bevels with a 12" double-cut bastard file. Multi-kut files could also be an option, I hear they cut very aggressively but can also leave a very fine finish when using less pressure!
Gough Custom I did find that low spot, you talked about on my first go, but your voice was in my head correcting it. I managed to correct the mistake by Draw filing and my second bevel went to plan straight away. Your a great teacher Aaron. God Bless you mate
This thing certainly separates the men from the boys. I built this jig to make a kitchen knife. I adjusted the hole patterns a bit for the larger blank but it works perfectly. I feel like i'm getting my cardio in as i shape it. Your added advice at the end is spot on. Thanks for the awesome tutorial!
I also wanted to say how special it is to come across skilled artisans like yourself who are so generous with their time and information - I can't thank you enough
I built this jig and made probably 20 or so knives on it before I had saved up enough to buy a belt grinder. It performed extremely well and I was very pleased with the outcome. Thanks for making this video; it really helped me on my jouney as a knifemaker
Thanks! The file won't cut the bolt much at all provided that you dull the teeth on the edge of the file... If you don't have the tools to dull the teeth then you'll just need to replace the stop bolt more often!
Hey Stephen! You could use your lawnmower blade, as you guessed it will need to be annealed first though. Cooling in air will not be slow enough, you will need to heat it to red hot and then cool it in a pile of hot ashes or vermiculite. I would honestly recommend buying some known steel to work with. Spring steels like 1084 or 5160 are cheap and ideal. O1 can also be used and is easy to get.
The front to back adjustments really do just the same thing as the up or down. The further forward you come the steeper the angle. This steeper angles are useful if you're not doing a full-flat grind. If you want to do a partial flat grind or a scandi grind then you would move the eye-bolts forward. Hope that helps!
Than you so much for sharing the design of your bevel jig. I built this jig and started my first knife yesterday. Can't wait to see the finished product. I have viewed all of your videos for learning tips. Please keep posting information that helps amateurs like me. You are one hell of a knife maker!!! Keep up the good work.
Yep your right I figured out I didn't have enough room on my bench so I just finished mine I'm testing it out now in my vise thanks again I was ready to give up because I couldn't achieve accurate grinds with my 1x30 but this little jig has given me the breath of fresh air I needed to continue making knives.Greetings from Pennsylvania.
true, i like a challenge though. the only eye bolts ive found so far are massive and i dont have a bit big enough to drill out that size hole. hopefully i will get lucky enough to get out and look for some more supplies soon. if i can figure out how, ill send you some pics when im finished. i wouldnt be this far without your videos and guidance, always much appreciated for them
Thanks for this video, found it via the Sugarcreek Forge build-along series and saved it to My Favorites. Can't wait to make the jig, buy some materials (steel, handle material, etc.), and start a new hobby that I hope will turn into a business like yours!
Haha true that! Hence why I said "start a new hobby" that I HOPE will turn into a business. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky lol. I've been infatuated with the idea of having my own knife shop for years, pretty much ever since I got into knives. It's because of videos like yours, the Sugarcreek Forge Build-Along series, and the awesome book "The $50 Knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard (Shameless plug, I've never met Mr. G, but his book puts it in perspective pretty well that you don't have to have a huge budget for equipment to start out making knives, which is what I first thought for a while after seeing some of the well known makers' personal workshops.) Cheers!
That makes sense. As you mentioned, I have also found that straight plunge lines are impossible to finish nicely, so this should be much better. Thanks!
Young man I like the simplicity and minimum materials that your build has. You have a round file rod with a round I-bolt which allows for superior control. You have several very good points concerning the file process. Thanks very much young man for a very good tutorial. I've been a subscriber for a while now and your Chanel is simple and clear. Good job.
It will cut the plunge line straight down, if that makes sense. The point of radiusing the files is so you end up with nice radiused plunge lines. If you'd like a sharp, square, plunge line then you need to leave the file square. -Aaron
I made the jig aside from gluing it took about 20 minutes in the shop. Works like a champ. Two things I did different; Instead of using a screw tot tap the holes, I just chucked a 14/20 bolt into the drill and went to town. Second, I made a second row of holes about 1" from the file end of the jig for thinner smaller knives so I would not keep filing the plywood. Oh, and I used a set screw for the backstop. I can see that depending on the back line of the knife a few different screws could be used for the back stop to keep the edge parallel to the jig. Thanks for a great video. Hope that VMC mill motor driver hangs on for you.
Robert Lunsford Sounds good mate! Should serve you well! Yeah I'm hoping the driver hangs on as well... I definitely think it needs to be replaced, it's just a case of now or later. Apparently the unit in my VMC was notoriously unreliable, they only used it for 4 years. Oh well!
I generally lower the bolt in the same hole, but this requires a bit of experimentation to make sure you start with the bolt in the right hole. For my knives using the rear-most hole works well. Also, make sure to leave a little bit of meat at the edge before HT. You don't want to file it until it's a sharp edge, as that sharp edge will warp and decarburize (lose it's important carbon) during the heat-treat process. -Aaron
This is a great video perfectly explained all the little things to use this simple jig to make a top quality knife. One of the best videos I've seen on knife making especially for beginning knifemakers.
Hey mate! A fully heat-treated and tempered knife blade will generally still 'skate' a fiel to some extent. The file definitely won't bite in like it would with soft steel... I use abrasive stones (sharpening stones) for the final sharpening. A file would leave far too coarse a finish even if it were able to cut the steel. Best of luck! -A
I bought a Damascus blade blank to put my own handle on,and will be getting a raindrop billet in a few days. I have no tools and had no idea how I would grind bevels and an edge,so happy I found this vid. Thanks heaps mate 👊🏻
I also wanted to thank you for sharing your wisdom with us all I personally prefer hand filing even though it takes more time. For me it is relaxing I forge my bevels and then do finish filing so again thank you godbless and be safe.
with a few more adjustment to your jig I now have my new knife filing jig and its working fairly well. first knife has some obvious flaws but second is coming along nicely. I'm amazed at how easy files do the job. NO POWER TOOLS required. thanks for your help.
Built one of these today after seeing this video last night. Instead of using plywood I used 2x4's because its what I had on hand. Amazing! Works great! Thanks for posting this video!
Hey mate! The modification to the file is basically to remove the teeth from the side of the file, and also to round off the corner of the file a little. This will help get you a nice rounded plunge line. Ask around your friends/family that have a garages, maybe one of them has a bench grinder. You only need to prepare the file once, and it will probably last you for about 6 knives or more. This would work better than a dremel for sure!
nooice. this helps alot, as i feel like making knives by hand rather than using a grinder is much more enjoyable. Very helpful and very easy to follow along with.
I knocked one of these up in about half an hour today, works like a treat on the bit of mild steel I used to test it with, just need to get some practice in with it now and I think it will produce some great results
This was, by far, the best Information for beginners (myself) that I have found. I've been watching a lot of videos on this topic, and this one is by far the best for what I needed to know to get started. Thank you for the details you provided! Can't wait to get started and make my first knife! This video took away a lot of the intimidation.
I meant to comment on this before, but I've made 4 knives on a jig that I built based on this video, and can't thank you enough for posting it. I just draw filed my earlier knives, but this jig gives you a super crisp ricasso. Also, thanks for the carnival of knife destruction, as depressing as it was to see so much knife death it was very informative. Anyway, thanks for the videos, they re-inspired me to knife making.
What an amazing file guide and video, great job and instructions that you gave board lengths, drill sizes, screw sizes everything. I am going to make one for myself I know it will work well thanks for sharing this build, I'm sure there are many people you helped like myself with your clear instructions.
It's been 10 years and this video is still one of the most useful. Thank you very much for this content.
100%
I know that you made this 9 years ago, but I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire video is for every part of knife making and bevels.
Incredible video. Thank you.
You're very welcome mate, really glad it was helpful!
@@GoughCustom useful thank you. I want to polish a stainless steel watch case with a bevel.
I’ll see if I can adapt this jig for my purposes
No stupid jokes or entree's, no music I'm not in the mood to hear, no verbose sentences and words. STRAIGHT TO THE POINT APPROPRIATE DETAIL. Excellent!
Glad it was helpful mate!
I spent about 30 minutes tonight making this filing jig. All I can say is ... AWESOME! Very easy, and inexpensive to build, and once I got my angle adjusted where I want it I was able to file some beautiful bevels. Thanks so much for sharing this, and for all your other videos.
Now it has been 11 years since this video came out, still awesome! Just Built mine, WORKS AMAZING! Thank You!
I built one and used it. It does a Great job. I did however use a 1/4" bronze sleeve and slid it onto the "Stop" screw. This helps the file slide easier without wear on both the guide screw and file. Thank you for such a great video!
+Bak Draft Good thinking! The same thought of wear on the screw crossed my mind as well. :D
Adding the sleeve to the stop bolt was the only improvement I made to my jig. I noticed it was "missing" from the tutorial. Im no engineer but I tend to notice simple improvements like that.
I love how descriptive this is! I love the patience and care taken in the making of this video. Thanks for the information. Honestly, been doing this for months and I'm really glad I came across this.
No worries at all mate!
Dearest Gough, this is a wonderful channel. you are very kind and knowledgeable. Thank you for sharing your invaluable information , you truly are a kind person.
+Shona O'Neill Thanks very much Shona! Glad it has been helpful!
Gough Custom in in
Umm
This is still the best video I’ve seen for beginners to get started for cheap.
Thanks Josh! Glad it was helpful mate!
You have no idea how much this video has helped me. I have been into knives and knife making for years but have never made anything significant because i was afraid of messing up the bevels. Thank you soooo much.
This was incredibly helpful! I’ve seen jigs like this in a lot of knifemaking videos and this really clarifies how it works. Plus you went the extra step to explain how to use it and some helpful tips. Thanks so much for this video!
+Zackfish12345 no worries at all mate!
This was most useful tutorial I've seen in months, thank you!
Glad to hear mate, no worries at all!
That's great! Congratulations! It's a good feeling isn't it!
The anti-scale compound that I use is called ATP-641. It's available from Brownells in the US. In Europe the most commonly available compound is called 'Turco'.
Glad the videos have been helpful!
The number of times ive searched for simple knife making videos, only to just have this show up on my feed is disgraceful. This has to be one of the best explanations, if not the best, of this technique on youtube. Absolutely perfect for those beginning or wanting to make a one off knife for themselves. Clear, well filmed instruction, build, use, technique and advice. Mate thankyou, well done and very much appreciated.
As for youtubes reccommedation algorithm......best left unsaid.
I want to thank you once again for this video. Yes I have a 2x72 belt grinder, but this jig allowed me to make more accurate bevels than what my skill level could allow on the belt grinder alone. To me, the grinder is great for stock removal, but for accurate, consistent bevels, this jig allows me to slow things down and make the final cuts precise. I did an arrowhead shaped dagger with 4 scaled holes down the center of the blade. Then both sides were cut so the center bevel line was able to go straight down the center of each hole. Very accurate, controlled cutting with this jig. I could never do that on my grinder with my abilities. Furthermore, my co-worker seen it and built the same thing because he cannot afford to buy / make a 2 x 72 grinder. So THANK YOU again!!! I (we) so appreciate you making this.
Really glad it's been so helpful Steve!
The best jig for making knives, made mine last week and it takes all the guess work out of the angle. Thanks for the how to vid, this should be watched by anyone who want to get into making there own blades. I even used this jig to make a 15in sword blade!!!
Your not kidding!!ll Top Shelf here....
Wow, a not to complicated but very detailed tutorial! I love it!
Greetings from the Netherlands btw
Thanks mate! Glad you liked it!
+Gough Custom youre welcome, I just made it out of MDF but its really bendy... do you have an idea tot strengthen it or should i make it again with plywood?
+Bart Hooghwerff How thick was the MDF? I can't imagine it being bendy if made from 3/4" MDF....
I'm not exactly sure but I think it was more like 1/2" or 5/8"
+Bart Hooghwerff Very strange that MDF that thick would be bendy... Perhaps it would be best to re-make it using Plywood.
Great jig!! Loved the comment about the "cheap 40 dollar belt grinder" being no good for grinding bevels. That certainly is the truth. I have tried multiple times and got nothing but junk...then I found this video (via Sugarcreek Forge) and built your jig. I "fixed" one of the belt ground blades and look forward to doing a complete blade with it, when I get more steel. Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for watching mate! Glad the jig worked out for you!
Absolutely! This jig works very well for partial flat grinds like you're describing.
Aaron, as i'm sure you are well aware, this file guide has set the amateur knife making standard for the hobbyist when first considering bevel grinding. I have several friends who have referenced this video in length when we talk about "getting started" making knives. All of whom don't have access to my subscriptions and have done the research on their own. Ive also seen reference to the "Gough jig" on many forums since this videos release. This tutorial is excellent and has helped tons of folks. For that I salute you
+Jacob Davis Thanks Jacob! Yes, it's been very gratifying how well the jig has been received! Really nice to see it helping people get started!
You are very welcome Aaron! I just had to make sure that you were aware of the impact you've been making in the amateur knife making realm. Now get back to those resolutes so i can have even a tiny chance at snagging one for myself!
Incase you are like me and like to see it in the video but find written steps helpful as well, here is a transcript of the construction of the jig (Any edits for mistakes are welcome):
1. Take the 11 and inch piece of wood and mark the center long ways (5 inches)
2. Mark the center of the 10-inch piece of wood the short ways (1.75 inches)
3. Once center lines are marked, put glue on the 14-inch piece of plywood
4. Stack the 11-inch piece of wood on the 14-inch-long ways and the 10-inch piece of wood perpendicular lining up the center lines we just made.
5. Once the the boards are lined up, drill 4 1/8 inch holes
6. Screw the #8 1-inch screws into the piloted holes
7. Once everything is screwed together mark center lines in the 11-inch board running lengthwise (2-inches top and bottom) and draw and line connected them down the center of the board.
8. Make 1-inch tick marks down the 11-inch board
9. Repeat steps 7 & 8 for the 10-inch board
10. After you have marked the 1-inch tick marks for the holes, center punch them to ensure each hole goes exactly where it’s supposed to
11. Drill each hole with 7/32-inch drill bit
12. Now create threads by drilling a 1/4-20 Stove bolt, 1-1/2" long in and out of each hole
13. Put the eyebolt in to the farthest thread
14. Cut the steel rod to length by putting the steel rod into the eye bolt and laying the bastard file down so the top of the file is flush with the bottom of the jig and place the steel rod at the top of the handle.
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15. The rod should be the length of the file + the length of the jig, roughly 26 inches (mine was more like 30 inches) for a 12-inch file. Mark the proper length
16. After the rod is cut you should deburr the end so that it doesn’t cut you with a file
17. Round corners of your file on sander, grinder or dremel
18. Wrap tape around the places where the claps will fit on the steel rod this will help them from slipping
19. Attach the clamps connecting the file and rod at the top of the file handle and the top of the file
20. You’re now ready to start using your jig. Set your screws, one for a plunge line and the other more deeply set to stop the blade from moving back as you file
Now that's a huge help. Thanks.
the world needs you... and I believe that I will do your good deeds on other videos to help more people like us! well done man!
Thank u soooo much!!
I have made this today, going by the dimensions above it's only 3.5 inches wide, but it looks like it's wider in the video, unless I have made a mistake?
Thanks for the transcript!
@Fireworxs2012 That's not very helpful for the people that want to get their feet wet with knifemaking and don't want to spend $2k on a belt grinder. I have a belt grinder, use it every day, it's not something I would recommend for a person that's new to tools or knifemaking. It took me 12+ blades to nail my grinding technique. Most people want to make 1 or 2 knives for personal use, not point buying a grinder for that.
Exactly, I see all these people using a belt grinder for this and until you made this video I thought I was going to have to buy one! This video is definitely a wallet saver and thank you for that.
BEAN B No worries man!
thanks for the idea for the jig it realy helps for fileing beavls
Jake Lee No worries Jake! Glad it's helpful!
yup
Nice jig! I woukf add, after you flip the blank over it may be helpful to support the underside to reduce flex.
Good catch, makes good logical sense!
I made this jig last night and used it to make the bevel on my first file knife. It turned out great! Thank you for the great how to!!!
Making the plunge line using that screw as a stop and reducing the corners on the file, just brilliant. Thanks, so innovative.
Thanks David! Hope the video was helpful!
i have just taken my first steps into knife making and you are going to be my new best friend :). the files is the part that scares me at the moment haha. im checking out your videos :)
Well feel free to ask if you ever have any questions!
Gough Custom thanks mate. it's hard trying to figure out what to start with tool wise. I've bought an angle grinder, a vice and today I'll buy stuff to make the jig after I convert your list to metric haha. if you could maybe suggest what files to buy first coz I just stand in the tool shop staring hahaha.
Gough Custom also do you have videos specifically on polishing the knife. maybe just the whole finishing process? and what about handle materials other than wood. I've seen this using some kind of resin. can you buy blocks of this stuff? I'm just not sure what the materials are called but I knew a guy who used to make custom pens with them. had all kinds of patterns etc thanks for your time. hope you Xmas and new year have been safe and enjoyable
Yes I do! If you have a look at my channel I have a number of other tutorials...
like dfalconerio I'm new to this game, I've made a jig similar to this and works great, I was curious though about file choice as was mentioned before. I use a 12" Nicholson Mill Bastard single cut that states gradual removal...and it seems very gradual, looking for something more aggressive. Hard to find a good selection of files here in NS. Suggestions?
Really appreciate the time you took to post up these videos, been a great help in getting started.
This little jig is crazy good , takes a bit longer but the results are great , been grinding some mild steel with it and there's not much it cant do if you play with the config a bit , would you consider commercializing its design and making it available for sale online at a reasonable price for starter knife makers ? im sure tons of people would benefit from such a tool in their workshops.
Hey mate! I haven't really though much about that, I will give it some thought!
Interesting setup, question though; how would you file using that if you didn't want a bevel going from cutting edge to the spine?
Just don't tighten dow the eye bolt to much that's how you set the angle
As Zach said, you just don't complete the bevel, start from a high angle, cut the edge as deep as you want it, then start working the bevel back until it's where you want it! You don't have to go all the way back to the spine
I built the jig and made my first knife with it. The bevels are beautiful and perfectly symmetrical. Worlds better than I was accomplishing freehand. I prepared the file like you said and got awesome (perfectly symmetrical, very clean) plunges. Thanks again!
Good question! Full-flat is a little easier as it will look fine even if it's not perfectly straight. The main reason I used full-flat grinds is because the have the best overall cutting performance. The only grind that is possibly better is the full convex grind, but many people find them difficult to sharpen, and I don't think they look as nice.
That's filing jig looks like Lansky system :D
Thanx for the video .... just had to subscribe .... my name is Gough also .... if I get good at knife making, I won't use that name ... LOL!
By the way, is your first name "Van" ?
Gary Rose if you're referring to the famous van gogh, the first name would be vincent. i like the way you're thinking though 👍🏼
haHAA
One of the most influential videos in knife making!
Thanks mate! I am really glad that it seems to have helped so many people!
Gough Custom
It helped me to make my first knife, Aaron.
And try, if you can, to make more videos, but we know you’re super busy!
👍👍👍👍
@@sudo_nym I have some more videos partially completed! JUst trying to find time to finish them up!
Made this jig Today, And was able to perfectly file the bevels of the knife I had just forged. Thank you so much. This is a gamechanger
Really glad it was helpful mate!
I know that you made this 3 years ago, but I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire video is for every part of knife making and bevels.
Incredible video. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words man! Very glad the video has been helpful!
Thank you for showing us how to not only build the jig, but all the pointers on how to use it. Extremely helpful!
Glad it was helpful Steve!
I don't think it's a bad idea, but maybe not 100% necessary. That's really up to you I guess! When hand-sanding materials like G10 it's definitely still necessary, but maybe not as much for filing the steel.
I've been using O1 mainly in the past, but I'm currently evaluating a range of different steels and will soon decide which steel I'll be using from now onward.
No worries mate!
I definitely think that starting with the coarse file is the right idea. I always cut my bevels with a 12" double-cut bastard file. Multi-kut files could also be an option, I hear they cut very aggressively but can also leave a very fine finish when using less pressure!
Thank you Aaron, I made the Jig and have been blown away at the results. Thank you so much for all the tutorials
+Dougie Weir awesome mate! Really glad to hear!
Gough Custom I did find that low spot, you talked about on my first go, but your voice was in my head correcting it. I managed to correct the mistake by Draw filing and my second bevel went to plan straight away. Your a great teacher Aaron. God Bless you mate
I use a double cut bastard file for cutting the initial bevels, then I use a double cut smooth file for draw-filing. Both are 12" long.
This thing certainly separates the men from the boys. I built this jig to make a kitchen knife. I adjusted the hole patterns a bit for the larger blank but it works perfectly. I feel like i'm getting my cardio in as i shape it. Your added advice at the end is spot on. Thanks for the awesome tutorial!
Haha, yes it is definitely good exercise making a knife this way! Glad the jig is working well for you!
I also wanted to say how special it is to come across skilled artisans like yourself who are so generous with their time and information - I can't thank you enough
No worries at all Tom! Very glad I can be of help!
I built this jig and made probably 20 or so knives on it before I had saved up enough to buy a belt grinder. It performed extremely well and I was very pleased with the outcome. Thanks for making this video; it really helped me on my jouney as a knifemaker
Really glad to hear that Andrew :)
Thanks! The file won't cut the bolt much at all provided that you dull the teeth on the edge of the file... If you don't have the tools to dull the teeth then you'll just need to replace the stop bolt more often!
Hey Stephen!
You could use your lawnmower blade, as you guessed it will need to be annealed first though. Cooling in air will not be slow enough, you will need to heat it to red hot and then cool it in a pile of hot ashes or vermiculite.
I would honestly recommend buying some known steel to work with. Spring steels like 1084 or 5160 are cheap and ideal. O1 can also be used and is easy to get.
Glad it was helpful mate! Don't be afraid of messing up, making mistakes is the only way to improve!
This video is pure gold. I watch it again and again. Thanks for shearing Aaron...!!!
Glad you like it mate!
The front to back adjustments really do just the same thing as the up or down. The further forward you come the steeper the angle. This steeper angles are useful if you're not doing a full-flat grind. If you want to do a partial flat grind or a scandi grind then you would move the eye-bolts forward. Hope that helps!
Than you so much for sharing the design of your bevel jig. I built this jig and started my first knife yesterday. Can't wait to see the finished product. I have viewed all of your videos for learning tips. Please keep posting information that helps amateurs like me. You are one hell of a knife maker!!! Keep up the good work.
No worries at all mate! Will do!
Thank you for making this video.
It's a HUGE help to total novice knife makers like myself.
+John Klein no worries mate, glad it's helpful!
Yep your right I figured out I didn't have enough room on my bench so I just finished mine I'm testing it out now in my vise thanks again I was ready to give up because I couldn't achieve accurate grinds with my 1x30 but this little jig has given me the breath of fresh air I needed to continue making knives.Greetings from Pennsylvania.
+Alan Turner Awesome mate! Glad the video was helpful! The jig works very well, just takes a fair bit of elbow grease!
Just finished making mine...added a 2and row of threaded holes to accept 1 1/2" wide blades....works magnificently....thankyou
I made your file jigs yesterday, it's an excellent design. very functional. your videos have been a lot of help to me. thanks man
No worries at all mate! Glad it worked well for you!
true, i like a challenge though. the only eye bolts ive found so far are massive and i dont have a bit big enough to drill out that size hole. hopefully i will get lucky enough to get out and look for some more supplies soon. if i can figure out how, ill send you some pics when im finished. i wouldnt be this far without your videos and guidance, always much appreciated for them
WOW this is the best invention i have ever seen!!!
doesn't it work much better than a grinder to? it looks like it is giving it a much better angel?
Best video on youtube! This gentleman is an amazing teacher.
Thanks very much Gryph!
No worries mate! Best of luck with your first knife!
Thanks for this video, found it via the Sugarcreek Forge build-along series and saved it to My Favorites. Can't wait to make the jig, buy some materials (steel, handle material, etc.), and start a new hobby that I hope will turn into a business like yours!
Sounds good mate! Just be warned: to make a million dollars making knives, it's best to start with 2 million dollars :) It is a lot of fun though!
Haha true that! Hence why I said "start a new hobby" that I HOPE will turn into a business. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky lol. I've been infatuated with the idea of having my own knife shop for years, pretty much ever since I got into knives.
It's because of videos like yours, the Sugarcreek Forge Build-Along series, and the awesome book "The $50 Knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard (Shameless plug, I've never met Mr. G, but his book puts it in perspective pretty well that you don't have to have a huge budget for equipment to start out making knives, which is what I first thought for a while after seeing some of the well known makers' personal workshops.) Cheers!
That makes sense. As you mentioned, I have also found that straight plunge lines are impossible to finish nicely, so this should be much better. Thanks!
That particular part at the end where you can see the bevel form showing through the paint was very very helpful. Really great quality video!
Glad to hear it mate, thanks!
I built your jig today and for a first time knife maker it works beautifully. Thank you
Glad to hear mate!
This video should have 1 million likes. Amazing. Tried it. Easy to build and use. Thanks man!
Hey Juan! Really glad the video was helpful and that you liked it! Best of luck!
@@GoughCustom thanks for the reply!
I've seen a couple of videos about filing jigs now but yours was the best. Lot's of attention to details! Good job!👍
Thanks mate, glad it was helpful!
By far the best tutorial on file jigs I have seen. Thank you for this video going to try this out on my first knife.
Thanks mate! Glad it was helpful!
No worries, glad you liked it! The blue stuff is called 'layout dye'.
Young man I like the simplicity and minimum materials that your build has. You have a round file rod with a round I-bolt which allows for superior control.
You have several very good points concerning the file process. Thanks very much young man for a very good tutorial. I've been a subscriber for a while now and your Chanel is simple and clear.
Good job.
+gary gibbs no worries at all Gary! Thanks for watching!
It will cut the plunge line straight down, if that makes sense. The point of radiusing the files is so you end up with nice radiused plunge lines. If you'd like a sharp, square, plunge line then you need to leave the file square.
-Aaron
I made the jig aside from gluing it took about 20 minutes in the shop. Works like a champ. Two things I did different; Instead of using a screw tot tap the holes, I just chucked a 14/20 bolt into the drill and went to town. Second, I made a second row of holes about 1" from the file end of the jig for thinner smaller knives so I would not keep filing the plywood. Oh, and I used a set screw for the backstop. I can see that depending on the back line of the knife a few different screws could be used for the back stop to keep the edge parallel to the jig. Thanks for a great video. Hope that VMC mill motor driver hangs on for you.
Robert Lunsford Sounds good mate! Should serve you well!
Yeah I'm hoping the driver hangs on as well... I definitely think it needs to be replaced, it's just a case of now or later. Apparently the unit in my VMC was notoriously unreliable, they only used it for 4 years. Oh well!
A dandy little jig and lots of very useful information. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
You're very welcome Stan!
My first knife was garbage but man i'm glad I found this channel, lots and lots of information here
It takes a lot of practice to get things right!
I generally lower the bolt in the same hole, but this requires a bit of experimentation to make sure you start with the bolt in the right hole. For my knives using the rear-most hole works well.
Also, make sure to leave a little bit of meat at the edge before HT. You don't want to file it until it's a sharp edge, as that sharp edge will warp and decarburize (lose it's important carbon) during the heat-treat process.
-Aaron
This is a great video perfectly explained all the little things to use this simple jig to make a top quality knife. One of the best videos I've seen on knife making especially for beginning knifemakers.
Thanks mate! Hope it helped!
No worries! Best of luck!
Absolutely! It's actually not too hard to get nice straight bevels, I've even done a double-edge dagger on a similar jig in the past.
Still the best jig video I’ve seen! Thank you!
Thanks for the tip. I just made one for myself and finished beveling a blade on it. Works great. Thanks
By a long shot the most helpful video I've found on filing jigs. I'm mostly doing scandi grinds but some day will try a flat grind. Thanks
Glad to hear Luke! Thanks!
Just finished heat treating my first knife using this jig. Turned out AWESOME! Thanks for posting these videos.
Awesome man! Good work! You must be stoked!
Hey mate! A fully heat-treated and tempered knife blade will generally still 'skate' a fiel to some extent. The file definitely won't bite in like it would with soft steel...
I use abrasive stones (sharpening stones) for the final sharpening. A file would leave far too coarse a finish even if it were able to cut the steel.
Best of luck!
-A
I bought a Damascus blade blank to put my own handle on,and will be getting a raindrop billet in a few days. I have no tools and had no idea how I would grind bevels and an edge,so happy I found this vid. Thanks heaps mate 👊🏻
I also wanted to thank you for sharing your wisdom with us all I personally prefer hand filing even though it takes more time. For me it is relaxing I forge my bevels and then do finish filing so again thank you godbless and be safe.
with a few more adjustment to your jig I now have my new knife filing jig and its working fairly well. first knife has some obvious flaws but second is coming along nicely. I'm amazed at how easy files do the job. NO POWER TOOLS required. thanks for your help.
+ron newton Excellent work mate! Glad to hear it's working for you!
Built one of these today after seeing this video last night.
Instead of using plywood I used 2x4's because its what I had on hand.
Amazing!
Works great!
Thanks for posting this video!
Great! Glad it worked out for you!
Very nice setup and excellent tutorial on how to make a knife…very well done!
Superb idea for solving associated problems; clear tutorial. Thank you.
No worries mate!
11 years later and I'm making this tomorrow can't wait to start knife making
The cutting edge is applied only after finishing and heat-treating are done... I use a diamond Lansky sharpener to apply the final edge.
The tips at the end are pure gold.
Very glad they were helpful mate!
No worries! Glad it was helpful!
Hey mate! The modification to the file is basically to remove the teeth from the side of the file, and also to round off the corner of the file a little. This will help get you a nice rounded plunge line.
Ask around your friends/family that have a garages, maybe one of them has a bench grinder. You only need to prepare the file once, and it will probably last you for about 6 knives or more. This would work better than a dremel for sure!
nooice. this helps alot, as i feel like making knives by hand rather than using a grinder is much more enjoyable. Very helpful and very easy to follow along with.
Much more controllable,and have some heavy workout!
+Virtual_realitY Glad it was helpful mate!
I used this jig to create my first bevels today they came out great thank you for sharing this info!
Really glad the video wash helpful Joshua!
I am glad I found this channel, you make it look so easy the way you explained everything and it was very enjoyable to watch.. Thank you very much!!
I knocked one of these up in about half an hour today, works like a treat on the bit of mild steel I used to test it with, just need to get some practice in with it now and I think it will produce some great results
+Dale Lamont Nice work Dale!
Finished my first knife off this jig. Great video. Helped me a lot
Awesome Josh, very glad to hear!
This was, by far, the best Information for beginners (myself) that I have found. I've been watching a lot of videos on this topic, and this one is by far the best for what I needed to know to get started. Thank you for the details you provided! Can't wait to get started and make my first knife! This video took away a lot of the intimidation.
Glad to hear Corey! You can also let me know if you have any questions and I'll be happy to answer them!
I meant to comment on this before, but I've made 4 knives on a jig that I built based on this video, and can't thank you enough for posting it. I just draw filed my earlier knives, but this jig gives you a super crisp ricasso. Also, thanks for the carnival of knife destruction, as depressing as it was to see so much knife death it was very informative. Anyway, thanks for the videos, they re-inspired me to knife making.
Thanks for taking the time to let me know mate! Glad it has been working well for you!
What an amazing file guide and video, great job and instructions that you gave board lengths, drill sizes, screw sizes everything. I am going to make one for myself I know it will work well thanks for sharing this build, I'm sure there are many people you helped like myself with your clear instructions.
Very glad the video was helpful Kenneth!