The dowel technique has been working for me and you've confirmed that I should keep using it. Your process with the scribe lines will improve my process. Thank you.
All those milling operations got me feeling like some stone age peasant just setting my work rest to 45 degrees and using a disc grinder. The dowel is definitely a quicker/easier way to go compared to broaching. I left and also came back. It's just too quick and easy to mess around doing it any other way. That handle layup looked slick. Love me some spalted reds in a handle. Enjoying the videos man. Keep'm comin!
I truly appreciate you. Thanks a ton for the comment. If I’m being completely honest, I only did a couple handles on the mill before I went back to my original way of doing it, on the grinder. This just took way too long, but I do like how the mill doesn’t generate a lot of heat on the non-ferrous metal like the grinder does, which causes the epoxy to fail if you’re not careful. Options are good though.
Great video, beautiful knife! Side note, am I alone in fighting off intrusive thoughts every time I’m finish grinding on the 2x72? It could go wrong so fast! Lol
Much appreciate! Hahaha. You’re not the only one. I used to screw up all the time, when it was the most inopportune time…like the last pass on the grinder, then I catch the edge of the material as I turn around to leave. I’ve gotten much better, just by learning not to get too comfortable. I feel that mistakes are what make us better at what we do, as long as we’re learning from them.
I may have missed it on a previous video, but what temperature and soak time did you use on the Hitachi white steel, oh and what quench medium? Thanks again, great videos.
So, I heated to 1475°, soaked for 10 minutes, then quenched in Parks 50. I tempered at 325° and ended up at 63RC. I was hoping for 65RC, but I’m thinking I needed to water quench for that, which I’m not willing to do 😂
I actually like it quite a bit. It’s changed the way I do a few things, and it’s definitely opened up more possibilities for me. I think this guy was around $1500, so somewhat affordable. If I was to do it again, which I might, I’d probably go a step up and get a Precision Matthews mill. Something with a little bit larger table and a little more solid. All in all, for smaller work, this thing is great.
I do my own stabilizing, although I haven’t stabilized in a few years. I had to make space for more important tools, so I’ve put stabilizing on the back burner for now.
