November 27, 20169 yr I've been working on this chain damascus drawknife. It started as a bicycle chain and a large old ARCADE bastard mill file. It took me three separate forging sessions, as there was more steel than I expected to draw out by hand and my arms are pretty lame. I now have the forging complete and the drawknife rough ground ready for HT.
November 27, 20169 yr All I can say is that that looks pretty good except that every draw knife that I've worked with has had a much steeper bevel. I don't know that yours won't work but that doesn't quite look right to me. Aside from the bevel that is pretty pretty
November 27, 20169 yr Author The bevel isn't ground all the way yet, I just started it. But it is a bit thin at the edge, we'll see how it works.
November 27, 20169 yr That is amazing. I cannot understand why the thin wire just doesn't fizzle away in the forge and the whole thing fall to pieces.
November 27, 20169 yr Author 7 hours ago, ausfire said: That is amazing. I cannot understand why the thin wire just doesn't fizzle away in the forge and the whole thing fall to pieces. The wire does fizzle away pretty quickly, but it holds just long enough that I can do the first round of setting the weld. I need to get a mig or stick welder to help with this process. 3 hours ago, Tubalcain2 said: fantastic job. how long is the blade? I wanted to draw it out to 8", but I think I only managed 7".
November 27, 20169 yr Bobasaurus, Excellent job Have you considered forging the blanc so that it has a slight curve in it? That is, the blade would be a little more curved than straight flat. Such a draw knife is called having a little a belly by wood workers. Modern manufacturers skip making such a profile because it is an involved extra step. And most woodworkers, these days, are either not aware of it, or do not know the practical benefits of such a configuration. That extra feature would further highlight that the tool is hand forged. SLAG.
November 27, 20169 yr Author 6 minutes ago, SLAG said: Bobasaurus, Excellent job Have you considered forging the blanc so that it has a slight curve in it? That is, the blade would be a little more curved than straight flat. Such a draw knife is called having a little a belly by wood workers. Modern manufacturers skip making such a profile because it is an involved extra step. And most woodworkers, these days, are either not aware of it, or do not know the practical benefits of such a configuration. That extra feature would further highlight that the tool is hand forged. SLAG. I purposefully avoided a curve, as I'm making this drawknife to trade with a fellow woodworker who wanted a straight blade. I'm going to make another for myself eventually that will likely have a curve.
November 27, 20169 yr 7 hours ago, ausfire said: That is amazing. I cannot understand why the thin wire just doesn't fizzle away in the forge and the whole thing fall to pieces. Wire usually lasts long enough because it's very low carbon and so has a higher melting and burning temp. Concrete tie wire is pupular because it's VERY low carbon. Mechanic's wire has a little more carbon but still works well enough. Safety tie wire is higher carbon about mild steel or a touch higher and not so good for securing weld billets. Concrete tie wire works a treat. That's going to be a striking draw knife Bob. I love lower layer count, high contrast patterns and that one is going to be a DOOSIE. Frosty The Lucky.
November 30, 20169 yr Author 17 minutes ago, BlasterJoe said: Beautiful piece. What did you use for flux? Thanks. I used lots of mule team borax. Here it is after heat treatment and polishing, before and after the etch.
December 7, 20169 yr Author I finished the chain damascus drawknife I've been working on. Forged from a bicycle chain and an old file. Redheart handles with copper ferrules. I managed to crack one of them when inserting the tang, dang it. Filled with CA glue and sawdust, then sanded back... it looks decent, but obviously there. Still, I'm very happy with how this came out. I'm trading it with a buddy who is making me a fancy custom hand saw. It'll be hard to let it go, might have to make another for myself.
December 7, 20169 yr Absolutely beautiful! I would love to see the look on someone's face when you said "Well, whenever I need a drawknife, I just use a chainsaw blade."
December 7, 20169 yr Author Thanks. Fortunately I have one more chain and some 1080 stock that will make another good drawknife for myself. But I kind of like the recycled old file with the teeth still visible. Might have to find some more.
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