Welshj

From the pics- that is a really clean looking car. I'd think that she'd be worth fixing up.

I love the look of the birch bark. Think in all, it's a well proportioned blade too.

You have just solidified my plans to use it in a future project.

I live in Ohio- but come from michigan originally. In a not so recent trip through the upper peninsula to get my anvil- I passed through a region where the highway was lined with birch trees for about six or seven miles. I may have to take another road trip now! Thanks alot bnewberry...

First attempt at blueing for me. Was done cold, with the birchwood. I used vinyl stickers for doing the name as a mask for the blueing.

I've never hear of "shallow" hardening steel.

I have however heard of the process of case hardening steel parts. I used to work in a foundry that did just that for the automotive industry. We did roller bearings, clutch pressure plate arms, etc...

You are talking about a process that cannot not reliably be done in a home shop. (In my opinion) Ammonia, nitrogen, and argon gasses , amongst others were pumped into storage tanks which were fed into large furnaces under controlled conditions.

I just recieved a bottle of Birchwood Casey's super blue gun blueing today, going to try it on a blade I'm making. It was recommended by a machinist buddy of mine- he uses it on the parts he makes. Gives a flat, oxide black look to the steel... let you know how it works.

The midwest has been uh... hotter than usual, and my weekend really let's just say wasn't enjoyable. But, I got some hours in after dark tonight and roughed in some handle scales for my blade.

Also got a delivery today- some gun blueing arrived. Black will be the final color if things work well after scales are attached.

^That looks very similiar to an air cooled vw fan shroud. A single sided one?

Hmmm...

Just got back in from the shed... came out ok. A little thinner than I planned, but something learned for next time.

Knife scales made from army issue mechanic's coveralls- for a knife for an army mechanic.

Trimmed down, they're a little over a 1/4" thick. Should work well.

Didnt get a picture... been sick since saturday morning with some kind of food poisoning. Ugh.

But, I got out in the shop and made the mold, and laid my first cloth micarta scales for my buddy's military knife. I used an old pair of ACU camo, army issued mechanic's overalls for the cloth. Its clamped and curing now... when it cures, and my stomach settles some- I'll post a picture of the results. Hopefully, they're good!

Anachronist58- nope, not hard to keep up at all... I like things that are purpose built. Now you've got me wondering what the flanged die in the bottom pic is used for! Pretty cool to me.

Holy... lol. I thought I was doing good with five cars.

'18 fiat spider abarth, '13 fiat 500 abarth, '18 jeep compass, '99 2500 HD, and a little '64 austin cooper.

Hmmm... 41 willy's. Good choice.

If we're talking dream cars- mines a '29 model A truck, old school blown hemi, fenderless... big and littles, old school hot rod look....sigh....

Owen- that was my coworker's choice. I had him draw out what he wanted exactly, and built it to his hand.

He wanted one that he could handle more for slicing/chopping things like onions and veggies a bit more so than actually cleaving meat or butchering... but could do it if necessary.

Gave it to him today, supposed to let me know how he likes the cut.

I like the tomahawk! I want to make one for throwing eventually.

16 hours ago, Old Crew said:

I can post more pics if any want to see them.

Uh... yeah. Seriously?

428 cobra jet? 

Drool ..... I wanna see pictures of under the intake, a couple connecting rod caps, the inside of the exhaust manifold, the alternator bolt, the.....

Finished up the handle on the cleaver, and put an edge on it. I'm a firm believer in "if it won't shave, it ain't sharp." That, and my dad always told me theres nothing more dangerous than a dull knife.

BGD- I fully agree with George's statement... theres no shame in that at all. I've too many a time suffered through bouts and dry spells in depression motivation and drive. I'm an iraq vet, and am diagnosed with PTSD. I take an anti depressant med, and at times- the medication grabs me and I dont get anything done.

But, as long as you dont give up entirely- you're slowly winning the fight brother!

Btw- drooling and fully jealous of that car list right there!

George- I know little to nothing about roses!  But I will pass the information along for sure. He sent me a picture of the rose bush in question/use, and a weird picture of the resulting liquid.

1 minute ago, Nobody Special said:

Mr. Welsh, So pink.....so very, very pink...

 I cant account for taste.... my daughters rifle, and her favorite color.

Hmm..... mead.... awesome!!

I love trying different spirits. I cant appreciate much from them anymore but flavors, as I'm on a medication that... as a side effect- keeps me from getting the most enjoyable benefit of alcohols. No buzz. Sigh.

Currently have a quart of legal peach moonshine in my fridge just for the occasional sips. My younger brother is currently trying to make rose petal wine as an experiment.

Oh boy... did you open a can of worms.

I get into alot of stuff. Knives, art, carving, amateur gunsmithing, I do custom cerakote paint jobs for friends and family in my free time. Also get into woodworking, vinyl graphics, stickers and artwork, as well as being a car guy. I live in the country in Ohio- I can go out in my yard, go fishing in the pond, ride 4wheelers, then go shoot, hit the shed and make something or go in and play with toys. Too much fun, not enough time.

Spent some more time shaping, hand filing, and grinding a blade. Time for heat treat... I'm going too crazy and getting a pretty thin edge before hardening. Wish me luck.

There is an old school method for dressing honing stones.... that may help you do what you want.

You'll need-

Someplace to make a mess.

an old piece of glass that you dont care about. The thicker, the better... helps alieve nervousness and breakage.

Sand- fine play sand, or a finer blasting grit even... but make sure it has no large chunks, or rocks or anything in it that will destroy your stone.

Water.

Place glass on a level, even surface so that it doesnt move around. Pour a handful of sand in the center. Add water to a puddle consistency... rubbing sand around. Place stone face down in water and sand, and move around with even pressure, in circles, in a line, whatever is needed to smooth and flatten surface til smooth and cleaned. Took me ten minutes to clean and dress a stone I've had for twenty years. It was dished in the middle concave... on one side, and worn down on an outer edge on the other. Convex...

It would take some time to grind a bevel with this method- but it could work.

55 minutes ago, Nobody Special said:

BTW Welshj, ya've got four lieutenants pointing north on your avatar.

Yessir! And never found a single one of them!!

E FSC, 2/8th Inf. Bn. 2002-2007

Thoroughly enjoyed.. cool project!

From my experience- the most important thing I can say when working with a belt grinder... is a very light touch.

I just recently got my 2x72, but I've run some serious belt grinders before when working in a foundry. We ground aluminum intake manifolds.

I'd watch a "new" guy across the shop pick one up and just shove it in the belt... and wonder why he wound up in the hospital. 

Like any other machine, it's a common sense approach... slowly feed the stock into contact with the belt. To me, the more you use it, the more you'll know what you can do and get away with. But, it's also like riding a motorcycle... it's not if you go down, but when you do. It will happen, you're gonna get a knuckle or finger eventually.

It's just practice that will keep you safer. My 2 x 72 has pretty easy access to the belt face, pretty open top and bottom too. I like that alot. The less you have to catch on, or get caught in... the better.

Ooohhhh... I just saw your location. I'm in NW ohio in wauseon. I have a buddy that made mine- makes some pretty awesome grinders if you're interested. I'm set up for 110, or 220 with a 2 hp motor.

^ this is just amazing to me. The history in innovation... just the ideas that came from burt's mind. Sigh.... just too cool.

3 hours ago, 1forgeur said:

Reminds me of a guy named Burt! One of my favorites

Ooh... one of my favorite movies, and stories. That man was dedicated to his machine!!!