SpencerD Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 This is the first knife that I am proud to call mine although it is going to be given to my sister as a Christmas present, she said she wanted a "pirate" knife for her renaissance fair costume so this is what I've come up with. It's made from a railroad spike and I did put the bumps in it on purpose no matter how much they irk me to give it that rough look. I also twisted the handle then hammered the sides flat for a handle that feels good in the hand while looking pretty. If you have any thoughts and tips I would love to hear them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.J.watts Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Nice, I grind or file the ridges down on a twist all around, that way it's more comfortable and is more even and pleasing to the eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoRockNazz Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Welcome Spencer. Looking good, prettier than my first knife by a long shot. What did you do the grinding on, bench grinder? Nice nug hanging out on the desk there, that for scale? haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 1 hour ago, TheoRockNazz said: Looking good, prettier than my first knife by a long shot. What did you do the grinding on, bench grinder? Nice nug hanging out on the desk there, that for scale? haha HaHa, I think that might be a bit of a dead leaf or something I don't know. I did use a bench grinder for lack of a better tool but it seems to have done a good job I could have done a better job on my part mostly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoRockNazz Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Grab yourself a good metal file; these early pieces are great filing practice. Then follow that up with sandpaper. I always leave hammer marks and a touch of scale on my blades, but you need to clean up the bevel so that it is an effective cutting tool. How did you heat treat? Softer steels like RR spikes benefit from a water quench, and although they will never be as hard as tool steel, can prove practical and useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 draw filing will improve it and the dents will still be left... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 4 hours ago, TheoRockNazz said: How did you heat treat? Softer steels like RR spikes benefit from a water quench, and although they will never be as hard as tool steel, can prove practical and useful. I heated it to a nice Bright orange then quenched the blade before putting the whole knife in swirling gently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoRockNazz Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Oooh, yeah, no offense but it's time for some reading: http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/143-knife-making-classes/ There are some great lessons available here at IFI that will help you tremendously in your journey. For now you need to be safe and tell your sister not to use that knife for her own safety. Technically the RR spike will not match the hardness of tool steel / high carbon steel, although if quenched at bright orange it can snap like tool steel, even if you tempered it. Additionally, when you ground that tip it got too hot and lost it's hardness - you can tell by the blue oxidization - meaning it will bend easily and loose it's edge fast... just make sure she's careful with it. I encourage you to keep at it, this is a great start. Look at the classes, practice on some leaf springs, and forge on :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted November 27, 2015 Author Share Posted November 27, 2015 Ok, that's really good to know that I wouldn't want it to hurt someone I care about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 If you hammer the edges of the handle before you twist it (just a 1/8" bevel or so), you'll get both a comfortable handle and a prettier twist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayakersteve Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Off of RockNazz post, a knife needs to have the ability to harden to be too brittle where a break could occur. In this case, you cant harden a RR spike enough due to low carbon content, so I believe she can have fun using it, but it will not hold much of an edge at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted December 1, 2015 Author Share Posted December 1, 2015 6 hours ago, kayakersteve said: Off of RockNazz post, a knife needs to have the ability to harden to be too brittle where a break could occur. In this case, you cant harden a RR spike enough due to low carbon content, so I believe she can have fun using it, but it will not hold much of an edge at all. I don't plan on actually putting an edge on it due to its costume purpose just so she will be able to carry it around without any fuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayakersteve Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 It appears to already have an edge, albeit a crude one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worshipdrummer Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Great first knife. There is a real nice tutorial located here that will help you build a simple jig to grind your edges. I hope we can post links like this if not please delete it and forgive me. http://goughcustom.com/blog/2013-08-16-making-a-filing-jig/making-and-using-a-bevel-filing-jig.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted December 2, 2015 Author Share Posted December 2, 2015 13 hours ago, kayakersteve said: It appears to already have an edge, albeit a crude one. I didn't post a picture of it but on the "edge" there is a solid 1/4th of a millimeter of flat metal where the blade should be so it looks like it has a edge until you actually examine it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Good Morning Spencer, What part of the BC are you making a shadow. If you put a few more particulars in your Avatar, you are probably close to someone who can help you. A first knife (?) from a Railway Nail. A great start. Probably no different than just about everyone here. Some like them shiny, some don't. I hope your sister enjoys it, It will be a Great Gift. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted December 2, 2015 Author Share Posted December 2, 2015 Im from Langley and im making pancakes, they tasted pretty great, on fire bricks heated by the forge. 16 hours ago, swedefiddle said: What part of the BC are you making a shadow. If you put a few more particulars in your Avatar, you are probably close to someone who can help you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Good Morning Spencer, Next time you build Pancakes, add Cottage Cheese to the batter. it makes them taste like Sourdough, only better!! I was told this by an older German fellow, He said "Don't critisize me until you try it. Then I will answer your questions". I am not allowed to make Pancakes now, if there is No Cottage Cheese in the Shack!! There are many different ways to treat the 'Poor Nail', Don't be afraid to experiment "Make-Em till you Break-Em". You never know where "Too Far" is until you get there. Then just come back a little bit!! Gunnar Jorgensen in Invermere has a Display Board of about 40 different things to make from the 'Poor Nail (some call it a Spike)'. When you start stretching one out, you can get a great length (then tie it in a Bow). Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Swede, I have to try that now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 9 hours ago, swedefiddle said: add Cottage Cheese to the batter I don't know about the cottage cheese but my mother always said "shut up and eat it" so I will give it a try next time I make pancakes and knives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Good Morning, Swede, I have to try that now I mix my pancakes from scratch, 2 cups flour, milk or water, 2-3tsp Baking Powder, little bit of sugar (1tsp +/-), 2-3 heaping tblsp of Cottage Cheese. Don't mix too much, let it sit a minute for the Baking Powder to kick off. Make Happy Faces in the Pan. I make mine full size of the pan. One Pancake=One plate. Add a little syrup or whatever you like, Sit down, Shut-up (not supposed to talk with Food in your mouth anyway!!), ENJOY!!! I tried Cottage Cheese in Waffles, the Cottage Cheese sticks to the waffle irons. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Unfortunately, since my throat surgery messed up my sense of taste, I can't taste maple syrup anymore, making pancakes (which are, let's face it, essentially a syrup delivery vehicle) largely pointless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 1 hour ago, JHCC said: I can't taste maple syrup anymore at least you aren't Canadian a syrup-less Canadian is probably the biggest oxymoron I have ever heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 31 minutes ago, SpencerD said: at least you aren't Canadian a syrup-less Canadian is probably the biggest oxymoron I have ever heard. No, I'm a New England Yankee. That's almost as bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpencerD Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 so sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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