bobasaurus Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pancho07 Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted November 27, 2016 Author Share Posted November 27, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 fantastic job. how long is the blade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted November 27, 2016 Author Share Posted November 27, 2016 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". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted November 27, 2016 Author Share Posted November 27, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 Gotchyah, Guvnah! SLAG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlasterJoe Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 Beautiful piece. What did you use for flux? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted November 30, 2016 Author Share Posted November 30, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 That is awesome. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcav Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 Came out great! Very cool pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted December 7, 2016 Author Share Posted December 7, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Wow Bobasaurus that is a beauty! Yup I'd have a hard time letting go too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted December 7, 2016 Author Share Posted December 7, 2016 And it's done! I attached the finished pics below, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 that's so pretty i wouldn't even want to use it! great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 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." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 technically, wasn't that the chain ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Magnificent! I would definitely not let that go, whatever the deal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted December 7, 2016 Author Share Posted December 7, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 I call the flat part the bar and the chain the blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 yeh and we wont even get into what he calls carpenters saws..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Hey Dassy, can you teach the poor fellow how to spell "yeah"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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