Knife holding suggestions

[jimzim75]

Hi All,
So, I have a job to do that involves engraving initials on the but of a
Buck knife. I've not done this before. I'm looking for suggestions
on how to how hold the knife. Right now this was my first thought was to just
to put it in the position vice with a couple pieces of leather.

Maybe I should put a couple of pieces of wood on either side of
the blade going right up to the guard. This could steady it.
Anybody got any suggestions?
Jim

 

[Ray Cover]

I hate those jobs. I have a $150 surcharge for doing the butt of an assembled knife just because it is such a hassle.

Your going to find the set up you have pictured will work but it is very frustrating bacause the knife has a lot of leverage against the vise that way and it will not want to hold still and will tend to vibrate.

Another option, if you have a turntable is to, turn the ball vise vise at about 45 degrees or as far over as you can get it to sit stable. and clamp high on the knife handle with your leather pads. Set the vise on a tall enough block to give the knife blade clearance over the side of the vise. You will have to raise your scope and or lower your turntable vise stand and it is still not a perfect solution but it is better than just letting the knife stick in the air.

Another option is to to what I did and have a special turntable made with a 3" hole in the center for the blade to stick in. Then use a standard square sided machine vise turned on its side to clamp the knife in. This set up works fairly well but it is a hassle to set up for such a small job (hence the $150 surcharge).

Ray

 

[jimzim75]

Hi Ray,
Thanks for the suggestions. Ya, I do have a turn table. Making one with a hole in the center with machine vise is a
really good idea.
Thank you,
Jim

ps, $150.00 sound like a good charge also.

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Jim I made a vise for my benchmate a while back. I used one of those small cheap little vises there usually red. Took off the bottom (the part that would bolt to a bench) and got a length of threaded shaft at the harware store to screw the benchmate end or bottom bolt on. On the threaded shaft I brazed a bolt so that the shaft would screw into the bottom of the mini vise. You'll be somewhat limited on rotation but I think no matter what you will be. That may work also.
Mike

 

[monk]

the way you show the knife being held is a certain prescription for frustration. the object being cut must be as close as possible to the clamping device. the further away from the clamping device the vibrational elements that come into play will drive you nuts. may also lead to disastrous gashes here and there.

 

[jimzim75]

Mike, thanks for the Idea. I've got a cold and am a little fuzzy on how it works but in three day
it will probable make sense.

Monk, I think I'm going with a variation of Ray's knife holder using the turn table and a machinist vice.
Mounted on a tall box with a rubber rim on the bottom to keep it form skidding. Maybe a heavy steel tube
and tack weld a plate on top for the vice. The heavier the better, so it turns smoothly.
I let you know what I come up with.

 

[Darren]

Hi Jim, I do allot of this, I went around and around with trying to find an easy way
of holding the knife. I finally made myself a modified jewelers saw pin, protecting the blade and handle
with masking tape, I just hold the knife into the V cut and rotate the knife keeping pressure
into the V of the pin, Here is a picture, I hope it helps.

 

[jimzim75]

Hi Darren.
No welding and it quick & simple. Might as well give yours the first try.
Thanks,
Jim

 

[jimzim75]

That was easy

Hi Darren,
Well, that was easy enough. Thanks for the idea. This fits my set up exactly.
It took all of three minutes. Now I just have to wrap up the knife for safety.
Jim

 

[Joe Mason]

Jim,
I do a lot of butt caps also and my setup is real close to Darren's. I have some large wood dowels that are split. After taping the blade, I tape a half to each side and keep from damaging the point of the knife. I also use it as a height adjustment. I have also been around the world making holders to do this work and the is the best way I have found.

Joe

 

[Dave London]

Hi Jim
This is a bugger here is my solution so far the 2X4 are hot glued to the channel and screwed together with deck screws, Two 25 lb bags of shot to stablise

 

[monk]

Hi All,
So, I have a job to do that involves engraving initials on the but of a
Buck knife. I've not done this before. I'm looking for suggestions
on how to how hold the knife. Right now this was my first thought was to just
to put it in the position vice with a couple pieces of leather.

Maybe I should put a couple of pieces of wood on either side of
the blade going right up to the guard. This could steady it.
Anybody got any suggestions?
Jim

there are lots of ways to anchor the knife, as you are surely finding out. the critical aspect: clamp without damage to the part
clamp part as ridgidly as possible. if object can vibrate or wiggle, you're going to certainly botch the job, or at least lose your profit margin.

 

[jimzim75]

Thanks, Joe for your suggestion of the half dowels to protect the black and handle for damage. This is
going into the way I keep the finished knife in good shape. I am going to wrap it with felt cloth to
cushion the dowel and keep it form damaging the wood handle.

Dave, I like the idea, but will use it in the future on another project. I think it will be extremely useful with
odd shapes. I'm happy to add it to my bag of tricks.

Monk, unfortunately I still make 60% of my living form stone setting and arrangement is painfully familiar to
me. Holding the knife like a ring holder will be quite comfortable with a added support of being able to
pivot the knife on it's tip on a piece of hard wood. The other advantage is it's simple to set up without
having to take half a day making a permanent jig. I will make the permanent jig, but the part have
to be found by just keeping my open to what is needed. Lord knows, I shouldn't have to build it from scratch.
There enough stuff on the earth that should fit nicely, just by picking it up.

 

[Joe Mason]

This type of engraving is not that easy. I call it freehand engraving. If you are right handed, you are holding the knife with your left hand and turning it. Your right is doing a lot of wrist movement to make the cuts. I extended my board to the right and out about 3 or 4 inches to have a place to rest my hand. I am not at home so can not make a photo of it. Jim, if you decide to do the table rest I would let the knife cap stick up about 1 inch above the board. Hope this helps.

Joe

 

[David Jacobson]

I use the thermo loc from GRS (#003-667 Thermo-Loc starter kit $29.90)
I make and engrave a lot of knives and this stuff works great. You just put it in the microwave and mold it any shape you want. it gets as hard as a rock and will not scratch anything. I've put it right on the sharp edge of the knife and locked it in the vice without it cutting through the plastic clay. If you haven't tried this stuff yet, it's worth it to give it a try.

Dave

http://www.santacruziron.com

 

[monk]

knife holding

Hi Jim, I do allot of this, I went around and around with trying to find an easy way
of holding the knife. I finally made myself a modified jewelers saw pin, protecting the blade and handle
with masking tape, I just hold the knife into the V cut and rotate the knife keeping pressure
into the V of the pin, Here is a picture, I hope it helps.

this must be the very best engraving jig i've ever seen. round the ends of the split dowel pair, carve a round or conical socket in the lower wood platform- probably the best ever invention, made a tiny bit better. the round end riding in the socket- easier turnin- and the bottom wouldn't wander off. i'm thinkin a modification of this would be perfect for items that are long and ungainly, like flashlights. cool