homeshow

A cold breeze, uneven profiles, swirling your blade in the quench or boat oar pulling it thru the quench are all ways to warp a small thin blade. Now I always quench on a still non windy day and cut thru the oil with the blade. Moving it back and forth in a straight line. This advice was given to me by a FAR better knife maker than I. A bending fork ready to go could help you straighten a small bend if done right away. I sent mine in my anvil, turn on the toaster oven, tell the wife I'm heat treating and close the doors. Again advice from a better bladesmith than I am. I hope this helps.

I got a last minute invite from a close friend and we drove up for the day on Saturday. If you have the opportunity to go to a hammer in. It will be a great experience. I got to see a starburst Damascus pattern billet be made. I met some great folks and got to drool over some really detailed work. I had a lot of fun. Ron uses the iron in the hat to pay for his hammer in every year so there is not really a cover charge. I did not go home with a hammer in prize but I definetly feel like I won something.

How about a top down cross section view?

I agree with Gearheart and BCROB If you find a steel that works for you and it happens to be O1. Great. Some of us love to work with different stainless alloys. That's what works for them. Stainless is the way to go for daily wet areas ( meat cutting, and commercial or home kitchens for examples. I personally have very little experience in stainless.

Nice! Can you bring it to the forge thursday?

Sweet! Great work on the handles as well. Definite art.

Propane bottle to go outside piped in. The ideas about the cut outs, cabinets and lazy susan are great. Posting this was a great way to get ideas. The shop is attaching to the side of a 16x24 metal barn building. The long side is a common wall with the door anywhere on the opposite wall. 10'6' high at the long side 8' on the door side.

I have a 2x4' forge table, a hand crank blower, and a 2'x6' wood table. in a 12'x14' shop. I need placement for a small propane forge, 8" grinder, and a 2"x72" belt grinder and a post vice. With room to walk around. Any suggestions? Pictures and or drawings would be great as well.

Go to you tube and put in wood stabilizing. There are some videos on this subject. The one I watched used the small hand vacuum from harbor freight and min wax wood hardener. Looks simple enough but I'm sure there is a learning curve with it.

There is a curve. Try the vacuum method with 1/3 each minwax wood stabilizer, linseed oil, and isopropyl alcohol. BEWARE THE FUMES! The best knife maker I know gave me this recipe.

To me one of the acid tests of a blade maker is whether they actually field test their work. I mean give them a work out and see how they hold up and if they do the tasks intended. That means they care about their product...nice looking knife....Hope it is all you wished it to be.

Very true. You should have seen the look on my nephew's face when I finished the.rough file work on his knife and beat it on an anvil! He said what are you doing and I said "If it breaks now do you want me to finish it so you can have it? He looked at me and then I told him that you have to test a knife for its intended purpose and a little beyond. The look on his face was Great!

BCROB have you abuse tested this knife? There are a few farrier's files laying around the shop. And now I want to make one.

No, but that's really not a bad idea. What type epoxy do you like?

Lots of good stuff on here but. I want to know your favorite techniques for getting those pesky scratches off. I use a buffing wheel. Well I use 3 buffing wheels with 3 different grit. Washing all of the old grit off before using the next wheel. I keep them in seperate Tupperware containers. I have never tried steel wool. Anyone here a steel wool fan?

Pjh66 good idea. I'll definetly be doing that.

That is what a file knife is supposed to look like!! Well done.

1080 knife, forest green leather wrap with black paracord tie over. Matching vegetable tanned leather sheath. I used marine epoxy for the leather and minwax wood hardener for the paracord.

My first KSO was a rail road spike. We all started somewhere. I agree with Vaughn first knife is a big step. Showing it to people is an even bigger step. Solicit honest criticism from someone who makes great knives and their advice will lead you in the right direction.

Nice first try.

Sweet

"real nasty folk carry guns". That is your and their right.

 

 

 

No it is not a right for everyone.  IFI reaches many countries, not many allow private ownership or possession of fire arms. Think before posting

If your making tools your not making knives (money). Is what .my knife making journeyman instructor tells me.

Thinning beeswax with canola or soybean makes for a good grip as well.its what I used on my weapons when I competed

Really nice work!

How about a view from the top?

Nice fillet knife.