Best way to clean up a knife.

[Zammo]

I've purchased a knife blade I intend to use to make my first knife with, however it's quite tarnished around the handle and I want to clean it up. I've started to file it a bit but realized it needs quite a bit of work because it has quite a few burs and the metal is cut slightly slanted around the handle. What would be the best way to get rid of this?

Currently at my disposal I have a vice, a number of files and a multi purpose sander.

Would a dremel power tool be best for this sort of job?

Here are some pictures of the knife:

 

[Singeblister]

Using what you have i would say, clamp it to a bench or block of wood and hit it with the sander start with 60 grit take off the worst of it then work down the grits finishing by hand with wet and dry round a piece of wood , main thing to remember is to keep it flat don't round off the edges or you will have problems when you come to fit the scales.

 

[Shinken]

If you have a dremel you could use a sanding drum attachment to do it. If you are thinking of buying one for this dont. You can get a cheap drill press and sanding drum for the price of a dremel, or a small belt sander.

You can however use some sandpaper and a cork block, and for the roounded bits a piece of dowel and sandpaper

Looks like a solingan blade to me!

 

[Zammo]

Ok thanks for your advice.

I bought the blade from Brisa I think it's called the Trapper.

 

[Shinken]

Yep that will be a solingan blade in 440c stainless!

 

[Zammo]

Yep that will be a solingan blade in 440c stainless!

I'll take your word for it as I have no idea what a solingan blade is.

 

[Shinken]

Well it dosnt mean it is good but like sheffield solingan has a reputation for quality

 

[Andy]

Solingan is a city in Germany known for making knives

440c stainless is what the kitchen kife blades I use are made from. I'd tape up the edge and use the belt sender to sort it out. A belt sander clamped in a workmate is fairly easy to use.
I did most of this with one

 

[leon-1]

Solingan is a city in Germany

Are you quite sure??

Try looking for Solingen Steel and you will find a large amount of data as it has quite a history.

Unless you know who made the blade it would be quite difficult to find out what steel it is unless they have been generous enough to print it on the blade.

Nearly all the Fallknivens that I have rehandled have had this sort of clag (for want of a better expression) and I have used diamond files and sanding bocks when cleaning them up by hand or a belt and disk sander and a pillar drill fitted with a diamond burr when using machinery.

The sander is your best bet, don't get a dremmel to do the work, they work at far too high a speed and if you make a mistake with it, it could be costly. A cheap pillar drill and sanding drum is a very good suggestion.

 

[Zammo]

OK I'll see if I can get the tools you mentioned thanks, i'm leaning towards the idea of the belt sander, I' ll have to see what I can get from the shops near me.

Incidentally the blade is made in Germany. Is it a load of pants?

 

[Shinken]

No, i have made a knife from the exact same blade. Not pants! its quite hard though

 

[Zammo]

No, i have made a knife from the exact same blade. Not pants! its quite hard though

Could you please post a picture of your knife?

 

[Shinken]

Nope! i sold it a while back!

 

[Zammo]

I decided to see if I could clean up the blade with my multi purpose sander and files and it worked. Athough it was hardwork and chewed up quite a few of the sanding pads.

Heres a picture:

 

[Zammo]

I've decided to use this thread to catalogue my more than likely messed up first attempt to make a knife.

Here are my materials minus one scale and vulcanised piece of material (which was being glued).




Here's the first scale/ vulcanised material glued up and clamped (I only have enough clamps to do one at a time).



The next step is to leave the scale to dry overnight then do the other one.

 

[Zammo]

Just wondering has anybody got a photo of a completed knife like the one I have here?

As I haven't a clue how to shape the scales.