Trad Gang

Title: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 30, 2025, 06:26:22 PM

I cleaned up a couple of drawknives and sharpened them this week. Removed any rust, cold blued a couple and sharpened four of them. I was tired of the too steep, convex, and uneven bevels. A 2 x 72" belt sander and a knife grinding jig makes short work of creating nice flat bevels. They range from 22 to 30 degrees. Scary sharp and ready for action.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on January 30, 2025, 06:54:40 PM

Beautifully cleaned up! I've got a couple drawknives I should do that with.

Kyle

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Kirkll on January 30, 2025, 09:48:27 PM

Years ago i built a couple draw knives from old planer blades. Getting them really sharp was a chore without a knife grinder.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yMpeZSMBZXPj3Euv9

Those sure look nice! :clapper: :clapper:

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: OldRawhide42 on January 30, 2025, 09:53:31 PM

What kind of knife grinder jig are you using ??

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 31, 2025, 05:47:32 AM

Very nice, Jeff.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 31, 2025, 06:48:41 AM

I don't know why the picture above got turned sideways. Maybe this one will too.

I got this jig on Ebay a couple years ago. Can't remember the name of it though.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 31, 2025, 07:10:03 AM

I fixed the picture, it was too big.

If you have a buffing wheel, that will make those scalpel sharp.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 31, 2025, 08:17:21 AM

Thanks for fixing the picture bud.

I have a buffing wheel but I cant imagine needing them any sharper.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 31, 2025, 09:12:29 AM

Cool..

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: OldRawhide42 on January 31, 2025, 12:06:05 PM

Thanks Bowjunkie .I like it.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Kirkll on February 01, 2025, 02:02:39 PM

So that jig holds the angle and is adjustable with that knob?  i'm having a hard time picturing this on a knife grinder. i have one myself but have always just free handed the angles.  Do you have a photo with a knife blade set up on the grinder?  I'd be interested in seeing it...  Thanks    Kirk

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Bowjunkie on February 01, 2025, 04:26:14 PM

Here ya go bud.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 01, 2025, 04:49:38 PM

Pretty snazzy bud.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on February 01, 2025, 09:36:51 PM

Nice setup. I like the jig

Kyle

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Kirkll on February 01, 2025, 10:10:53 PM

NICE!   I've gotta get me one of those! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: wooddamon1 on February 04, 2025, 08:01:00 AM

Very nice. My draw knives look like they came from flea markets, which they mostly did. I need to clean up and sharpen a couple. Do you keep one a little duller for chasing rings?

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: dbeaver on February 04, 2025, 09:41:57 AM

You got a radius platten on that knife grinder bowjunkie?

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Bowjunkie on February 04, 2025, 05:30:50 PM

Wooddamon, some of mine are from flea markets too. The last one I got from a flea market was covered in rust, I walked past it twice with little more than a glance, then when I found nothing else to buy, went back and looked closer. It was rusty but not pitted, handles were tight but grungy, but I saw great potential when i picked it up. Got it cheap. It cleaned up well. It's the top drawknife in the first picture. A 10" Pexto. Yeah, I have some drawknives that aren't 'quite' as sharp, but I always liked my ring chasers to be fairly sharp.

Dbeaver, no, the platen is flat. I wouldn't mind getting a radiused one though.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: wooddamon1 on February 05, 2025, 05:40:38 AM

Thanks, Bowjunkie. They look great. Curious what you use to clean up the steel and gunky handles? I've got a couple that could use some TLC. A loose handle, rusty steel, grimy handles, etc. They have barely used-looking steel so I figured I'd get around to a restoration someday.




My favorite one actually looks like someone used it for a splitting wedge at some point, it's a Greenlee.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: Bowjunkie on February 06, 2025, 06:46:25 AM

Depends on how bad the rust is. If I can get away with using Kroil and steel wool, or a Scotch Brite pad I'll do that. If that doesn't cut it, then 400 grit, 240 or even 150-180 in the bad areas, all depends, then work back to about 400 then steel wool. I have some diamond surfaced sanding pads that got used on the last one. Soaking in vinegar/water for an hour or two first can help with rust too.

Same on the handles, ferrules, and caps. I try Scotch Brite first, sometimes that's enough. If not, something more agressive. Then a coat or two of boiled linseed oil.

Title: Re: Drawknife dress up
Post by: wooddamon1 on February 06, 2025, 02:39:09 PM

Thanks, appreciate it!