Knife making adventures... part 4 - Shaping blanks

Ok, so now it's time to put a final shape on my blanks.

To do that I will do what I can on the belt grinder and then I will follow it with files.

My grinding station. Many people would condemn me for what I am doing, but I have no choice. I am using my beltgrinder in the bathroom since two years. It is easy for me to take everything out of the bathroom, setup my grinder and clean after job.

My belt grinder:

And blanks before shaping.

 

Of course using PPE is crucial

 So I started from shaping spine on the 40 grit belt.

 And then rest of the curves.

 I have noticed that doing that on the disc sander is way faster.

And here is the result of shaping on the grinder.

Later I had to refinish all curves on the handles with files (another gift from my girlfriend).

  

I tried to do that over the sink, but I couldn't mount my vice properly.

 

Then I have tried portable workbench, but it wasn't comfortable as well.

I have mounted vice to the table in my saloon.

After shaping with files I wanted to even out all edges. I've used pillar drill with grinding stone.

And here is the final result.

Not bad so far. My next step is to make distal taper.

TBC...

For sale - new items

I still have to sale Kiyoshi Kato petty 150mm and Oohira Tomae lv4. I adding Shigefusa Mukimono 180mm.


Shigefusa Mukimono 180mm.

So I am selling this knife, because I am  not using it. I bought it second hand. The shinogi line is not straight, but I believe that it was like this from very beginning. I can find original pictures of new knife and it will be the same. The ''ura'' (back of the knife) is in perfect condition. This knife have great amount of hamaguriba edge as you can see on the choil shot picure. The best thing about this is the fact that you can see plenty of ''clouds'' on the cladding as well as on the top flat face of the knife. It was extremily hard to take picture, but you must believe me. It's almost like ''kitaeji''. I think that after some time with uchigumori fingerstone this will be very visible. I used this knife once and sharpened once. I can send it with two small uchigumori fingerstones for polishing purpose.

I never had and don't have the box for this knife or saya, however I will send it properly packed.

The cost of this knife is £240 (gbp) + shipping and paypal fees. 

Clouds:

 Clouds:

Visible clouds:

Kiyoshi Kato 150mm petty.


Yoshiaki Fujiwara is very well known blacksmith in Japan. He is mostly making Japanese swords. Few of his pieces are in Japan national museum. Pictures below shows actual picture of the knife. I will refinish this blade with Japanese natural stones as well as Uchigumori fingerstones. Handle is made of Ironwood and propably bog oak or blackwood. Coated with few layers of Tru-oil. Comes with hand made cedar wood saya. Saya is a bit loose, but I can make pin and drill a hole. This is great cutter. Great knife for a great price.

I DON'T HAVE ORIGINAL BOX.

Cost of the knife and saya is £160 (GBP) + shipping from UK + paypal fees.

 
Oohira Tomae lv4.

This is finishing stone for knives and tools. Very hard. Best used with nagura or Tomo nagura.

Stone comes without Kanji on top.

Size: 205mm 80mm 25mm

Price for this one is £150 (gbp) + shipping from UK + paypal fees.

For sale.

I have few things to sell. Both knives will be refinished before sending to buyer.

Konosuke HD 240mm gyuto.  - SOLD

Pictures shows actual look of the knife. This is nice thin gyuto made of HD steel. This steel is semi stainless which means that it's behaving like carbon and it's stainless. It comes with stabilized amboyna burl and water buffalo horn handle. Comes with original saya. I will refinish and sharpen this knife after order is placed. Finish can be made by machine or by hand. You can choose.

Price for this knife is £120(gbp) + shipping from UK + paypal fees.

Old pictures in better light:

Next one is Kiyoshi Kato 150mm petty. Yoshiaki Fujiwara is very well known blacksmith in Japan. He is mostly making Japanese swords. Few of his pieces are in Japan national museum. Pictures below shows actual picture of the knife. I will refinish this blade with Japanese natural stones as well as Uchigumori fingerstones. Handle is made of Ironwood and propably bog oak or blackwood. Coated with few layers of Tru-oil. Comes with hand made cedar wood saya. Saya is a bit loose, but I can make pin and drill a hole. This is great cutter. Great knife for a great price.

I DON'T HAVE ORIGINAL BOX.

Cost of the knife and saya is £160 (GBP) + shipping from UK + paypal fees.

OOHIRA RANGE SUITA - SOLD

Next for sale is famous Oohira Range suita. It is great Japanese natural finishing stone. It's hard, but not too hard. It leaves great finish on single bevel knives. Contrast between Jigane and hagane (soft iron and hard steel) is great. Oohira range suita is not famous without reason. They are very fast finishers. You can see thick black swarf after few strokes. It is must have stone for every J-nat lovers. This one also comes with cedar  box bespoke for this stone by my friend.

Price for this stone is £200 (gbp) + shipping from UK + paypal fees. It is really good price for this stone. PM me for more details.

Next one is Oohira Tomae lv4. This is finishing stone for knives and tools. Very hard. Best used with nagura or Tomo nagura.

Stone comes without Kanji on top.

Size: 205mm 80mm 25mm

Price for this one is £150 (gbp) + shipping from UK + paypal fees.