Making Drawknives

[Mr Smith]

G'day all!

Here's my how-to for this week.

I've managed to get a scanner than can knock out .pdf files. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read them, but I think you'll agree, it definitely improves the detail I can show you in terms of file size.

Anyway, as usual, enjoy, and please don't hesitate to pitch in with comments, etc.

P.S. Glenn, your BP is still on its way (Honest!)
BP0387 Draw knife from a File :)

img003.pdf

[Ted T]

Mr. Smith, Thank You. What a gift to have people like you who will share their knowledge with others. Thanks Again!
Be Safe, Be Safe!
Ted Throckmorton

[Crackers]

G'day Ted, thanks for your comment. Michael has made a number of these draw knives now and has become quite skilled at it. The last one I saw him make, a couple of weeks back, looked very professional. He puts quite a bit of time into them. I'll see if I can get him to post some photos of them, if he hasn't already done so. Regards, Brian.

[Strine]

Well done Smudger, a great effort but here's a thought. I have a drawknife where the tangs are bent up before being bent around to point to the operator. As well, it has a fairly decent radius to the blade. It is a brilliant combination, especially if you're working flat stuff held in a vice because your hands are raised a little above the plane of the blade. I have to say it is much more versatile than the other flat knife I have

To explain again, at Smithy's third step, bend the tang 90 degrees at the point where it is resting on the horn of the anvil, in a direction away from the hardy or pritchel hole.

Just a suggestion, but do try it, you might like.

[Ted T]

Crackers;
I will not imply that I know alot about draw knives. So this is just some comments for the heck of it.
I have, and still use draw knives in my shop, although I don't consider my self as an expert. I have built a 28' x 30' by 12' high, three sided shed out of rough cut timber to store my tractors and coke in. I had to use a draw knifes quite a bit. Where I live there is several saw mills. Some people out this way build log cabins and furniture out of the fresh logs for a living. They use draw knives on a regular basis. They are very protective about thier knives. I noticed that they sharpen them so often that they wear out fairly fast. The real devout log scrapers and shapers are interested in ergonomics. ie. a. How wide the knife is, b. the angle of incidences of the hand grips, and c. the horizontal blade angle in reference to the hand grips, seem to be an issue with men who use them on a regular basis. No doubt mens arm length, body width, and height are all different. They want the tool to be custom fit.
I collected a few old knives to get an idea about any varables in construction I could find. I found so many variables that it was over whelming.
As an example, I found one that would fold up and you could adjust the angle of the grips.
Bottom line: I am thinking about making an adjutable mock up of a draw knife. One that would allow the customer to adjust the width of the blade, angles of the hand grips horizontally, and the angle of aggression of the blade in reference to the hand grips. I am also considering making personalized custom hand grips. I do the same thing with regular knives. I let the customer grip clay and mold it to comfort. It works!
Like I say I don't know to much about this. Just a thought for you who do.
Be safe, be safe!
Ted

[Crackers]

G'day Ted, I found your informative story on drawknives very interesting. I had no idea that this tool is still in so much use. It never ceases to amaze me, how much one can learn from this web site. Thanks again and a very merry Xmas and happy new year to you & yours. Regards, Brian.

[Crackers]

G'day Strine, yep, I can see how that idea would make a drawknife easier to use. Thanks for that. Merry Xmas & Happy New Year to you & yours. Regards, Brian.

[Mr Smith]

Thanks for the info and comments, guys.

I have a couple smaller drawknives that I'll be finishing in the new year. I'll post photos then!

[cheftjcook]

Mr. Smith and all the fine folks from BAWA, I always look forward to and Enjoy the new creative items you gents a showing here. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas from the other side of the world.
I am going to make down there one of these days I am quite sure with folks like yourself its a great place. Again Thanks, Merry Christmas and keep posting those ideas/prints.
TIM

[Crackers]

G'day Tim, your comments are much appreciated by us at B.A.W.A. many thanks. When you are able to make the trip "Down Under", we hope that you are able to include Perth, Western Australia in your travels. You would be made very welcome in our humble corrugated tin workshop. This welcome extends to all of our American & Canadian blacksmithing friends. Please remember that we are just a small group of hobbyist blacksmiths. None of us are professionals, but we definately have a passion for the blacksmith's craft. Regards, Brian.

[cheftjcook]

Thank you Brian, There is an anvil or two in a small garage in New Jersey you can visit if you make it out this way. The wife Loves having company for dinner as well!(great Italian cook)
You mention Hobbist....I was at first very intimidated by all the knowledgable folks, as I am a true amatuer. But I have bitten by the bug and really strive to learn and grow. I as I learned more from this sight I was struck by how many were not proffessional Smiths but just people who really enjoy this work and are willing to share and help others learn.
That seems to be try of most people in Blacksmithing.
Again thank you for the great blueprints as well as the invite. Hope to visit someday, have a cold one and learn a trick or two at the anvil.
Have a Great New Years
TIM