Got my offer I couldnt refuse (or resist) last week and got some other stuff I needed to day and did a practice run on a piece of the thin stuff today and drew out the pattern for the thick stuff. I have to pick up a couple more hacksaw blades for the sabre saw tomorrow when Im in town (not driveing the extra 30 miles to get them today) so I can cut out the heavier ones and then start grinding/sanding/fileing and see how I can do on them by grinding untill I can get my reagular forge set up at least. Am thinking once it is done I will probably inlay a rose (on of the few things I can draw and carve well) or something in the handle or may put it up for sale here if it comes out well enouph and let the buyer decide if they want that or thier initials inlaid and the color of inlay.
I used to make them a fair bit when I had acess to a forge and have done a few by grinding and such but am useing new meathods to me, hopefuly it will turn out well.
Well, I got one blanked out (I think the same thing Valkman refers to as profileing) today, think it will be called an 'ugly boy'. Its a nice heavy blade thats deep guted and has a humped back with a spot for a thumb to get extra leverage on it. I think it will be pretty nice when done but not exactly standard lines. When I can I'll try to get my girlfriends camera and go to a friends where I can load pics.
Well, I drew the blades on the piece of heavier steel you sent me then tried a sabresaw with metal cutting blades to cut them out and half way through cutting the 2 pieces apart the saw burned up so finished the cutting with a hacksaw then used a bench grinder (wheel type) to get it down to the lines. Today I used a file and formed up the edge then drilled the holes in the handle for the pins and used a belt dander to take the heavy scratches out and smooth it up. Figure later tonight or tomorrow I will harden it, temper it and polish it up then start on the handle. Still trying to decide wether to put my mark on the blade or not, I plan to sell it and with not haveing made a name for myself at it not sure if it would be worth more with or without it or what would do better. Do figure to polish it to or near a mirror finish and will likely let buyer decide what if any simple inlay (like 3 letters, a rose, simple symbol, etc) if any they want in the handle.
My suggestion is to put your mark on the blade..... then write down somewhere what you marked it and when.... also take a pic of it..... Some of the great makers have changed or evolved their marks on their blades and can tell around when the blade was made by looking at the mark.... I also know one mastersmith who told me that he really regrets not taking pictures of the blades he made.... even with a good memory.... he can't remember every knife he made .... so those memories are lost..... Mark the blade..... take a pic.... everything you make is a part of you worth the pride and the memory..... JMHO....
I'd like to lose the memory of the first ones I made, but Melbo saved the pics! Anyway, that's why I was telling TLynn that cutting this stuff is tough. If you get stuck without a power saw drill holes along the outside of your line and then hacksaw through them. If I had to make anymore knives with files and hacksaws I'd quit!
I need a book guys - tell me what to go buy. I'm not the best at drawing and I want some direction before I start trying to just cut away at something (even so it's a month or so down the road before I can clear enough space to set up). Okay I guess I could set up and just sit on the concrete outside - been known to do that plenty of times. Pictures I'll take plenty of - so you can all laugh at me... Laughter is good for the soul anyway - and I like laughing at me too Monkeyman - listen to them. You do want to take pictures so you can remember what you've done. Unlike Valkman I think it's a good idea to keep track of the first blades...and the process. And Valkman I can always take a picture of one of your first blades if you ever forget
Well, had my first significant screw up on it today. Went to do the handle and marked it on one side of the wood bolcks with them taped together and decided I wanted to change it a bit so fliped it and marked the other side, then cut the two ends off...useing one line from each outline...so it wound up with the wood I got sent to short for this knife. I may still be able to use it on another. This may have been a good thing though. I have some bow blanks setting around that are over 80 years old and are bodark (aka; hedge or osage orange), this stuff is absolutely bueatiful...and almost as hard as the steel. I oicked out one that would not have made much of a bow anyway and cut the handle plates from one of the limbs of this stuff, carved them out with the belt sander and hacksaw. I had gotten some welding rod for the pins and picked the aluminum since it was shiney and pretty but when I found how easy it cut and bent I decided to use a couple of nail shafts, so the knife is now drying in the vice with the plates pinned and epoxied in place so I can finish shapeing and such the handle tomorrow evening then decide If I want to put a finish on it or not. The stuff is over 80 years aged and was not sealed before and with the sanding and such it lost the deep chocolate color that it would regain if not sealed and its not likely to be a problem so may just leave it. It dose have a nice color even now though so may use clear sealant, I just dont want to stain it or anything as the wood its self is so nice. I havent been able to get the blade to polish to a full mirror finish but its real shiney and if held in front of your face you can clearly tell its a face in the reflection but cant see clear detail. I think this will be a real cool knife when Im done.
No book needed, unless you're going to get into this. Then I'd get "The $50 Knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard and "How To Make Knives" by Loveless/Barney. Otherwise go to http://hossom.com/tutorial/jonesy/ and use that tutorial - it's the one I made my first one with. Monkeyman, you can always grind the tang to fit the handles - not that I've ever done that. Believe me, every mistake you guys make I've made many times!
On this one that would make the handle to short to be comfortable and also screw up the balance on the knife, besides it worked out well, the bowdark is over 80 years old, georgeous and only gets harder with age. It was as hard to cut with the hacksaw even as the metal and a 50 grit belt on the sander barely wore on it but did eventualy shape it, just took about 30 min to wear off 1/16 inch or so of the surface on the 2 plates.
Girl friend has one, shes just been in a bad mood so I havent bothered to ask to use it. Main problem is my computer wont load the pics so will have to go to a friends after I get them taken to upload the pics to the net, by that time it will likely be done.
Hey Monkeyman..... sorry to hear about the wood scales... let me know and I can send you a replacement if you like..... sounds like things are coming along though..... TLynn.... listen to Valkman on those books and tutorials.... their good ones.... I think I owe you some tapes and stuff too.... doh.... senior moment.... getting old in my old age.....
