Eddie Mullins

Well I scored 2 more leaf over springs at another shop last week. At the rate its taking me to make a single knife, with 4 springs I should be good for a while. Still need some coil springs and maybe an axle or two so I'll keep asking as I find oportunities. I was really thinking a small knife would be the way to go for giveaway, because what guy doesn't like knives, but now I'm not so sure about making 1 or more to give away. I wouldn't feel right about giving them a knife I wouldn't carry myself, which means no short cuts, no lesser quality, and right now, with my current equipment and skill level, that just too many hours invested (plus I want to make knives for my Dad, son and a few others for x-mas, I figure if I start now, I may get them done in time LOL). Maybe a mild steel letter opener? I have made one out of 1/2 sq, hammered on the diamond for a pointed double edge shape, then a rope twist handle that looks pretty decent, and not to hard to make.

Well here is my 1st attempt at a snake handled version of your opener. This is also only my 2nd attempt to make a snake, so the proportions are not quite right, but its functional and identifiable. The tip of the tail works quite well to open and can be used from either side (doesn't have to be turned right side up). Great design you have come up with and you'll be able to do lots of variations with it.

:lol: :lol: - well if nothing else it brought a smile to my face today!

This is something I have been a little curious about for some time. It kind of started when I became interested in forging and I discovered ABANA. ABANA, by its name would seem to be geared towards artists. That did not seem like the right fit for me, but I now understand ABANA is a resource for what I would consider the non artist craftsman as well. So I'm wondering if my perceptions is off. Maybe most blacksmiths view themselves as artists. There were a couple posts on another thread that raised this curosity for me again. The posts were in refernece to producing tongs. Sam Salvati, on 28 May 2013 - 6:16 PM, said: A craftsman can make 100 just alike or each as different as the next, an artist can make 100 all different. Sam Salvati, on 29 May 2013 - 5:47 PM, said: it takes a long time to become a craftsman. So - what defines a Craftsman or Artist, as it relates to Blacksmithing, and which you consider yourself? or maybe your both?

Congrats on your first hatchet! I attmepted my first about a week ago, but wasn't succesful on my forge weld : ( .

I have a small 70lb london pattern Vanadium anvil. I was fortunate and found it locally at a good price. I definitley appreciate the traditional shape, but am limited in some respects because of its small size, which has me wanting to build a striking anvil of the type I have seen Brian Brazeal use. Even if I didn't have this anvil I think a striking anvil which you can build and other components could be an option to a traditional anvil.

Nice, clean design. 1/4" x 1/2" stock?

Thanks guys. Video downloads are slow for me, but I'll try to watch it. But I'll also give the fuller and twist and file a try. Like I said, I don't plan to do this often, just want the knowledge and experience. I also like to hunt and fish and cook outdoors and could see some potential uses of a removable hook or hanger I could screw into a tree without the need for a hammer or drill. @bigfootnamp - I would have never thought to predrill and super glue for nails. I actually haven't even made a nail yet, a header is another item on my list to make.

OK, I have searched but haven't found the asnwer. I'd like to make make some bolts or hooks/hangers that are threaded to screw into wood. I don't plan on the becoming a habit necesaarily, but want to go through the process and use a few is some applications. I have a die and can thread the shaft, but how are the threads done out to the tips of lags bolts and the like? Cut with a file? I'm thinking with a pre drilled hole a threadded tip isn't really even needed, but I may not always want to do that so I'd like to at least know how and give it a shot.

Thanks for the feedback, all more food for thought and good info. I don't know if you can tell the scale of things in my pictures, but my anvil is quite small, only 70 lbs, it was local, in great shape and priced right so its serving me well as my first, but it does not provide much work space. Thats one reason I went with the pritchel, I have another idea or 2 to make some changes and will post the results when I get time to try them out. I've gotten a little distracted with knife making and scrolls.... and a few ideas for a foot or spring operated hardy hold down. I'm trying to decide if its best to have a third hand to hold the punch or to hold the work (I have made a traditional hold fast but its not quite performing as I want for different stocks and shapes). Heck I may use a hold down for the stock , the tool for the punch, then I can hammer with one hand and scratch my head with the other . :lol: So much to learn and do and try and sooo little time.....

Thanks 'Ill check them out. I looked at Tandy previously but didn't know which type of leather I really needed. My current problem is I am not sure exactly what defines a quality file. The ones I saw at the flea market were used but to my eye and feel were of better quality or better suited to blade work then what I currently own. If you have some specifics on files or types please share. I did do some work on the knife last night with my current files, first a coarser then finer file and got better results than I had expected and was able to flatten some of the surfaces the angle grinder did not. I need sand paper now, I guess it'll be auto body type stuff purchased locally.

Here's a pic of my bracket.

I'm not sure I even know what kydex is, I'll ask Google : ) . Any tips on sources for either it or leather?

My leg vise also had the bracket missing, Glen, who sold it to me made another using a u bolt and about a 6" long pc of 3/8 plate, or flat that is a little wider that the the leg of you vise. You want to mark and drill holes at one end to accpet a u bolt which will fit around the leg of the vise (you could also make the u bolt if needed. Then heat and bend the end at 90 degrees, kind of like a L shape. The bracket can now be secured to the vise with the u bolt and you have a horizontal area to mount to the log, etc. Drill holes for the desired bolt size and mount. The bracket can be left squared or shaped to be alittle more pleasing the eye.

I actually just read the sanding and filing and the sharpening ones. For some reason I had overlooked them. There is definitely a lot to take in. Thanks for taking the time to put those together, they are certanily helpful, and I am trying to do my homework.

I'm "working" right now :ph34r: so can't down load and watch these til I get home, but I have seen some of your other videos and have been quite impressed. I'll also confess I really like Brians videos as well and his techniques which you seem to have really made your own. I actually am in the process of making my first set of punches based on Brian's prior posts on here, so your videos come at a great time for me. Teachers come in many forms, and although you may not realize it, you are instructing those more than twice your age. If your taking requests on videos, how about layout, making and assembling shelf brackets with scroll work, I know a guy about to start building some for the first time LOL...

Neat design. I don't know why but it made me think of a tail wrapped back around itself. I think I might might steal your idea and have a little play with it, making the handle a snake or some other critter with its tail forming the opener. Could also be a vine with a leaf handle, quite a few possibilities.

Couldn't have said it any better. I am just starting to make knives so am making fixed blades, because of the simplicity, but I really prefer folders for daily carry. They seemed a bit out of my league currently, but this design gives me hope and insight into how simple they can be. Thanks for sharing.

Files, now why didn't I think of that. My use of files has primarily been limited to rough work, like mower blades, or removing burrs, did give em thought for knives, and doubt the few I own would really be suitable. I am guessing there are techniques and different styles I need to learn about. I do happpen to know of a local flea market with a nice assortment.

I kind of get caught up in this a little myself, for example it somehow seems like mig welding is cheating, not traditional, but its a tool I have available and is incorporated into other traditional techniques. If I had a plasma cutter, I'd probably make use of it, particularly if I was doing production work. Tongs have been a chalange but I learn from them and have no time deadlines (and no plasma cutter), so I hammer away and add to the scrap pile as needed LOL.

Just thought I would share my first attempt at making a knife to a somewhat defined shape. Prior to this I have hammered out 1 "knife" from 1/2" round mild and 1 " knife" from 1/2 mild square. These were just hammering exercises. I finally scored a leaf spring and made 1 knife out of it, no plan in mind, again just hammering away. Yesterday I actually found a pic of a knife that I wanted to replicate. I am not at the point of making handles yest, so will just para-cord wrap the handle. Also don't own a sander so this was done with an angle grinder. Pics are knife as forged along with the size of stock started with, and then with a pic of the knife and a test fit of the handle with the para-cord to see if any tweeks were needed. Still need to finish the heat treatment, polish and sharpening. A belt sander would be soo handy, I am using an angle grinder with flap disks currently. My next hurdle (among many) a sheath. I guess I will be buying some leather.

I have a lead on a saw mill blade, but am not quite able to produce anything of that caliber just yet. I really like it. I enjoy cooking and a good knife in hand makes it so much more pleasurable.

Thanks for the suggestions and feedback, and have no fear of criticizing my efforts, its how I will learn. I think I may have created some confusion with my stock dimension comments. My thought was to use wider stock for the bracket with the scroll being narrower. For example 1" x 1/8" for the bracket and 1/2" x 1/8" for the scroll. Since I'm going to weld the scrolls (mig) I thought the narrower scroll would work better. These will be pretty light duty brackets so I thought the 1/8" would be adequate, I'm also trying to keep things simple right now, so hadn't really planned on tapering them :ph34r: . I could see where the thicker stock would be more visually appealing though, particularly if tapered . I'll have to make up a few different sizes to compare. I'll look for the book suggested, and I have seen the "Golden Rectangle" calculations some where, but got a little lost in it. I need to spend more time with understanding layouts or buy some more tie wire LOL .

I would also love to see more videos, this is the only one of John's listed on youtube. Where are the others? Posted by someone else?

Looks like a very productive week.