windancer

Yup, me, too.

Thanks, guys! Dave

Rich mentioned a router/drill in the handle class: In the foregrouind is a roiuter drill, Got at big box store for a few bucks 1/4" It has teeth on the chank,,so youi can drill a hole and then useing high speed drill youi can m ove the hole to the side Don't force it. The local folks at both Lowes and Home Depot here have no idea what I am talking about. Anyone have any ideas about locating a couple of these bits? Thanks, Dave foreground of what? you forgot the pictures.

You can look around you where ever you are and if you think hot steel for a few minutes something will probably spark an idea. My problem is not what but which- my head is so full of ideas and thinhs I want to try that it's hard to pick just one or two. One of the old time knifemakers, when asked how he decides to make a knife, said the knife is already there- you just need to grind off the part that isn't a knife. Dave

Hey Jim Of course the standard way most of us do hidden tang guards is adequate. Thousads ad thousands of knives convinces me :) Don't believe there is any advantage for forming the guard on the knife tang in place. I have sold several hundred knives and given away maybe a hundred and thrown out another 50 or so. A good friend got me started blacksmithing about 5 years ago. Because the blacksmithing is still new to me I find it more interesting. I am looking for ways to make some knives that are not like all the other knives I have made. Damascus does a little of that because every blade is different. I am getting ready to make several friction folders, have never made a folder, and they appeal to me. Getting ready to make some more can Damascus, only done that a few times, and the cans have progressed a ton since I did my last one. New styles and patterns have started my thinking about more Damascus. I just spent three weeks doing only 'standard' Damascus and now have several patterns on hand, but nothing new. Mokume has gotten my mind going since I saw a demo of a feller making coin Mokume in his induction forge [i have only had mine a couple months] and making guards from my own Mokume and maybe a few bolsters has caught my attention too. I have never been much interested in big knives. A smaller knife always made more sense to me. I decided a few months back to do three bowies from Damascus. I enjoyed that a lot. The fella that was reroofing our house came into the shop while I was making them. His immediate reaction was ###### how much for one of those? I told him [i am retired and do not need the income from blacksmithing or knifemaking, but I don't work cheap:)] so I gave him a price and he said "can you have it ready when we finish the roof?" He was OK with my deadline being two weeks after his. I completed the knife as agreed, he came and got it, was thrilled with it and paid me as agreed. One of the other two will be on my site for sale in the next week or so. The third one got away from me heat treating it in the new induction forge and is in the pieces pile for my next bar of junk Damascus. I have made three bowies now and will probably never make another. The short [yeah, right] answer is I am getting a little bored with standard knives and am looking for a little more spice in my knives. I love visiting other shops and seeing how 'the other guy' does things. I also can't pass up a tutorial that has anything to do with knives or blacksmithing :) IFI has provided me with many, many, many ideas to try, and I appreciate everyone who ever posts anything here or asks a question. This site is the main reason I still make knives and still do blacksmithing. You guys are the very BEST!! Dave

Huh......... Spent several hours on google and found sites, reading till my eyes blurred. I also found a post with this same question from 2002, and I was the poster! My, how time flys. The jist of what I was reading were in two camps: Lost Wax with Pewter or Copper Brass, poured in place; also most suggested Pewter. There was a feller I think in or near Bothell, WA, [bronk, or similar?] that poured his guards in place and then some sort of poured in place handle coating, don't remember if the handle was metal or rubber. Will see if I can locate him. Steve, I will read up on lost wax casting tonight and give it some thought. Maybe find a tutorial on that method, but I am set on if I make the guards they will be cast on the knife. Most of the Pewter casting I came across were judt leaving a gaping hole in the handle, wrapping it with heavy paper reinforced with tape, then pouring the hole full of Pewter. That is a little rustic for my tastes. Searched some on UTUBE also, but the only things I found were guys pouring the oversized hole full of pewter. My college degrees were in Accounting and Business. There is a hard and fast rule in accounting- you never spend more to create data than the data is worth after you get it. This is starting to feel a little like that to me. Maybe a couple more nights unless I can find something simple that will work. Thanks to you all for the suggestions and ideas. Dave

Searched through IFI and then scanned through this forum. Is anyone aware of a tutorial for casting brass guards in place, on the [hidden tang] knife? Thanks, Dave

Ho Ho Ho! Great work, and giving a part of yourself! Is the pendent Mokume? Dave

Steve, you missed the A#1 rule here- Post more pics with more views! Nice work on these two. Dave

Just keep at it, Steve, you will get it! Dave

I can most always get very good grinds for 3 knives from the 50 and 120 grits. I have a hard time getting them to fracture, but if you can get that fracture you can do 3 more knives with each. Good grinds, not messy or sloppy or pushing. A couple times I have gotten a clean 2nd fracture for another 3 blades. I always end up with them glazing over and then it is very hard to get them to cut again. I have several now that I am going to work on tomorrow and try to get them to cut some more. Hard to get good grinds with crummy belts. I usualy just grab a new belt to keep working. Maybe if I try to fracture them 3 or 4 at a time I will have better luck. I am going to try the belts John recommended. Have to order more soon anyway. No idea how many belts I have used over the past 13 years but if I did my heart would probably just quit :) One of the older makers used to say pretend the belts are free or pick another trade. Thanks for all the ideas! Dave

talked with MSC today [been using them for many years- great company] and they called their supplier to see if they could get the Blaze 2x72. They can, but the price is almost $3 a belt more than trugrit. John, I will give a few of those belts a try but I am pretty happy with the norton blaze belts :) Thanks to all- Dave

Very, very nice work! Again, thank you for taking the time for this how-to. Dave

Went and checked AIRGAS and the site does not show any Blaze belts in 2x72? Are you getting them on special order or? Thanks, Dave

Steve/Rich yes, I did check the suppliers list. But I appreciate you both pointing out that the list is there. That list is nowhere near complete. A list of suppliers does not tell where folks are actually BUYING their belts, which is what I asked. Price is only one component of the buying decision we use to select a vendor. I have used Trugrit and supergrit for almost 20 years and am curious about where others are buying. Dave

Where are you folks buying your Norton Blaze belts [assuming you even use them!]? Thanks, Dave

Look servicable to me! Now all you need is someone else to swing it :) Dave

I am constantly amazed at how complex commerce has become. Seems like every time I try to buy something that I think will be simple.... Turns out that graphite comes in myriad grades and in varying temperature ratings and hardness ratings. I am experimenting with my new induction forge trying all kinds of new [for me] stuff. While reading about coin mokume I found a fella that was making quarter mokume in a graphite crucible that was just the teensiest (?) bit larger than a standard US quarter. I made several tools to hold the quarters for heating in my gas forge and the results were spotty. Made 4 'billets' and tried many techniques also with spotty results. I am working on a 'plate' style holder more like the sheet mokume folks use. In the meantime I thought I would buy a crucible and try that. First thing I did was contact this fella using the crucible to find out where I could buy a crucible like his that fit the quarters. He chose not to answer me, so off to Google and then this thread. I now have one on it's way so my search is currently over. I am interested in using some of the mokume for knife guards. I also want to try melting some copper and/or brass for guard material and eventually learning to pour the moltem brass / copper in place on the knife. Thanks to everyone for helping me locate a 'simple' graphite crucible :) Dave

I have been hankering to do a friction folder for several months. Thanks for doing this and nearly elimination my learning curve bumbling around on my own. Good job! Dave

A member sent me a note with a listing on ebay that is what I was looking for. I bought that one. I will post results after it gets here and I try it out. You guys [and gals] are the best! Thanks, Dave

Have been thru ebay several times, even checking other items and stores. Most of the sellers do not include inside measurements. A 2.5 x 2.5 x 3 inch block or round would be perfect. Will keep haunting Google and ebay... Dave

Nothing suitable for my use yet- will continue with Google tonight. The .95 inside diameter is critical for quarter mokume. RThanks to all for helping! Dave

Using the new induction forge more and more as I get used to having it in the shop. I know LESS than nothing about graphite crucibles but I am in the market for a couple of them. I would like them to be straight sided, about 3 inches tall and have an inside diameter of .95 inch. Has anyone a source for them? Can I buy a block of graphite and make my own hole of does it take special tooling? ANY info would be much appreciated :) Dave

I have lots of storage via sheets of pegboard. I have several peg hooks that were made for screwdrivers- my files fit right into those and the handles prevent the files from falling through. Easy to find the one I am after and easy to put back away. GOOD THREAD! Dave

Warm vinegar and hot water, 50/50.. overnignt. rinse with hose & spray nozzle. Repeat if required. Dave