A couple of pieces I've made during the pandemic

[My_Teenage_Self]

That scrap timber turn up yet ?

Sorry still havent finalized a shape yet

Not yet, but the post around here is slooooow...

I have some ideas, need to do some scribbles...

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Had a little time to play recently.

First, more work on the one started on the previous page.

Since the last pics, I refined the shape, drilled some holes, and roughly ground in the bevels. Once I was happy that it was okay, I did three heat cycles (normalising) then heat treated and tempered it. Today, worked from a 36 grit belt through to 400. It's ready for Handles.



I also had some time to work on something for my Dad. For a while I've wanted to make him a small knife made entirely from things he's used/found. My plan is for a small integral bolster belt knife. The final thing rarely looks like the initial sketches, but should end up *something* like this;



He was a machine fitter so I inherited a lot of his old tools. I'll never have a use for 19mm Allen keys though...

This is what I got done today, about 2.5 hours work;


An untouched 19mm Hex key for reference; For the other one, I straightened it, and roughly forged out the shape - no power tools used yet. I annealed it at this point too.



The biggest struggle is to keep it all square and true.



And then a tickle with the belt grinder - all at 36 grit at the moment, so still very rough.

 

[dyna-ti]

Again very nice. I particularly like your makers mark. Whats the idea behind that ? is it you like dogs

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Again very nice. I particularly like your makers mark. Whats the idea behind that ? is it you like dogs

Yep, love Doggos*, but also the garage is my retreat when 'I'm in the Doghouse'.


As I've said before, I'm relatively new to this, so I've made the offer of a free knife to someone in return for some inspiration and they suggested something I haven't done before. Progress will be slow on that one as I'm trying a few new techniques out for it :facepalm:


*dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles - I'm an animal nut.

 

[dyna-ti]

've made the offer of a free knife to someone in return for some inspiration and they suggested something I haven't done before. Progress will be slow on that one as I'm trying a few new techniques out for it

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

DingDing! round 2...

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

The knife for my Dad is almost finished now after a few false starts. The left side of the blade needs more polishing and I haven't added the edge yet.

It's made from a 19mm hex key, Antler he found in the local forest, Oak from his garden and one of his old drill bits. The blade is 3.5" long and the overall is 8.5"






Overall, I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[mdvineng]

Re:

Nice skills

 

[mk one]

excellent.

Im sure he will be well chuffed, and using those parts just makes it that bit more special.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Well, I've got one Happy Pappy; he liked the knife. I thought i'd better make something for my Mum too, so knocked this up;




It's set in the same block of oak that the knife handle came from, but I forgot to get a pic.

With christmas out of the way I've had a chance to work on something else. I think it'll be going back in the forge for a bit more work on the shape and it's a little thicker than I wanted. This has taken a while as I've been practising forge welding - this is a San Mai, three layers of steel heated and beaten into a single billet. the outer layers should help staining/patina as this is for use with food.




Lots more to do yet, including heat treat, temper, handle, plus this one will be etched to show the different layers.