Genius Tool (It's So Simple!) - Knife Maker's Friday Five #68

[@Nebulax123]

Walter: I really enjoy all your videos! Here is my fool proof and fast method for non tapered tang knives. I finish the fronts of both handles to their finished dimension and then double face tape them together with the fronts being equal I then double face them to one side of the tang of the knife where they will be when the knife is finished and then drill using the actual handle as a guide, makes for perfect holes every time. I also double face tape them together to finish the front of the tang area on the slabs before drilling them as I can exactly match the contours as it is very easy to see any mismatch with them taped together. I use standard size pins and drills and then follow up with a reamer bit that is one thousandths over sized a real time saver since often the pins are the same size as the holes you are drilling and trying to beat the pins through or file down the pins slightly or wallow out the holes is a real pain. The pins just fit in nicely but still fit tight. You can buy the reamer sets on Amazon or EBay and they are not very expensive. The sets have both one thousandths over and under reamers which are quite handy sometimes also. You can also buy tapered reamers to use on the hinge pin of folders that really help lock them together when peened into the taper. Note: I use a drill press to drill not sure how it would work just using a portable drill.

[@highplains7777]

A low tech trick I use for scales is to epoxy a scale to one side, drill out the holes, epoxy the the second scale and then drill away. I also slightly oversize the holes for my Corby bolts.

[@zahnklyberg9448]

Me also

[@gstanley75]

Love the locator pens. One addition, sand the edges of the handles to make an octagonal shape like a pencil so in the event you lay then on your shop table, they won’t roll off to the floor. Great hints!

[@michaelnewell9662]

or two flat sides like a guitar tuning knob

[@NorrisKnives]

Genius. Ideas? Yes. But the real genius is how you did this. You threw it all down and learned from someone else and then shared it with the public. I love it.

[@mr-_-steele2434]

Copper rivet pins can be found in multi size packs and they are very easy to cut and inexpensive. I've used them multiple times to achieve this same function! Great videos always!

[@dhess140]

Great video and perspectives on craft learning.

[@daveh777]

I epoxy one scale on, drill it, then epoxy on the other side and drill through the first into the second scale. The very front of the scales need to be shaped first but then the rough scales just get sanded to the knife after.

[@WalterReade]

Huh. I'm going to have to try that!

[@Mike-ss1ju]

This is how I felt about gridfinity. Having a place for specific tools much like how you drilled holes for your pins as well as making them easy to get and put back is a game changer. Everything has it's place and it makes it easier to clean up and find what you need when you need it.

[@michaelidarecis]

You can also use a drill undersized and then finish with a reamer to get a more precise uniform hole since drills are not ideal

[@wullgrew1]

I've had good luck using a technique that J. Neilson told me about with surface conditioning belts. Edge down, some sort of oil on the blade, and low speed. It produces a really nice machine finish.

[@richardabernathy6242]

Those locator pins are brilliant

[@icasabona]

I jsut have a bunch of broken drill bits in different sizes and use those as locator pins.

[@bigernbladesmith]

What a freaking great idea! How is it I've never seen this before. Thanks for tip.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing.

[@iamarawn]

A hopefully great tip for beginners: a 3D printer. You can design a knife, print it, see how it feels in the hand. If it's good, you can then use it as a template. Simple designs aren't difficult. Not advertising, but two good options are, for cheap (but also difficult to setup, but great community) the ender 3 pro, for expensive (but from reviews i've seen, turn it on and go) the bambulabs. There are thousands of other models of printers available. It's also possible to print your scales with cool new materials such as carbon fiber, colored nylons, etc.

[@pipsqueek420ify]

I do I use a spent drill bit

[@dougshepherd8608]

Link to the locator pins?

[@billclancy4913]

I made a set a while back but no knobs on them...until tomorrow, when I make some new ones with knobs.

[@ryanblystone5153]

Thank you

[@ironhead65]

Could sand the plastic handle hex or square, or even with just two flats. Then it won’t roll anywhere! 😊

[@MrDdaland]

I'm of the opinion that a simple tool using a easy to understand method is vastly superior to one that may theoretically be "better" but achieves compable results- no matter what the field is 90% of "issues" is in our own brain- our thoughts about how a process should work blinds us to other possibilities

[@davidscadlock5569]

FYI - Kyle Daley is selling locator pins on his website.

[@leonbarnes1402]

Second. I made some of these yesterday

[@Rsama60]

I usually use Corby rivets and pins of usually the same defined sizes. I keep all my pins and the respective drill bits (4,6 and 6,2 mm, yes I live in the metric world) in a sorting box. So no need to search for the correct drill bits in my bit drawer. Those drill bits I buy in small boxes of 10. I just useanother drill bit as my locator pins. My advantage, the drill bits always have the same size. I keep them in the sorting box and put them right back after use so no need to search for them. I might make those pins from old or broken drill bits but on the other hand - why.

[@ShaminMike]

Hiding the weeny 😂😂😂 where do you get this shit.. I just got some steel from pops for my first knife. Thanks for partnering with them 👍

[@HonestDoubter]

Hiding the WHAT? ;)

[@davidscadlock5569]

Thanks!! I’ve been using drill bits for locating but they are often too long and in the way. I’m going whip up a few ‘formal’ locator pins this weekend. As you said there’s always something new to learn!!

[@Hungrybird474]

I’m a use what ya got maker atm

[@johnrisher3007]

It's hard to make a 1/8 pin fit a 1/4 hole

[@markgoggin2014]

I thought the blue denim shirts were going away like a year ago

[@MindField_Custom]

Leno called and said four more years.

[@markgoggin2014]

@@MindField_Custom 😂

[@danhandke5012]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@steve_blake]

I don't mean to be negative, but I find the practice of cutting back and forth between a head-on and side-on angle really jarring while watching videos. I think the switch to black and white makes it even more distracting. I know it's a popular technique (especially it seems with American KZbinrs) but I just find it an annoying distraction.

[@larrymarsico4059]

🙌💪🤙🇺🇸

[@johnjude2685]

Good and your board to give it a home for organizing your tools I've been searching for a ŕiĝht drill bit and that's s l o w e rv Your system is great Thanks

[@WoodsGhost]

first