Since I did all the shoveling I never got to cutting out my next knife. I was two tired and decided to relax. Still using a sawblade as the material. Eventually get better material but for now it’s good enough to learn with. My dad expressed an interest in a knife and thought just for fun may send the host we had on our holidays a knife for putting us up. Will first see how these turn ouby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
So for a few years now I have been wanting to get rid of the pea gravel. I guess the first owners thought it was a great idea but all I find are stones in the lawn after every winter. I had no idea just how much gravel was there. I had advertised on local platform that it was free to pickup. Someone responded and today hauled away 5, 45 gallon drums filled. I continued to gather the gravel and Iby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Great pics of the dagger! Thanks for sharing, Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Kurt, Thanks for the post. Having the dog was a mixed blessing. He kept wanting to "drive". Wife had to keep him from diving into my lap while driving. Twist and turns are nice but also makes you have to be alert to wildlife and pesky speeders who take risks to pass everyone. Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
No doubt you have been very busy! Hope the next batch of knives find new homes quickly! Those are some interesting colors on the scales? Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Hi Lon, I could have bought material. I got two old large saw blades from work. I had seen a video about making a knife from it so thought I would try it. The blades only collected dust for the last year or so and I didn’t have a dime invested into them. I can get good material anytime but it costs money. Am I cheap, maybe, but I knew for the amount of time I have didn’t want to throw tby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Hey Gary, I used a cut off disk to cut away most of the blade from the saw blade. Do not want to waste carbide endmills cutting that stuff. I should have annealed the material after as well before continuing. Ideally do what you suggest or even go to A2. I can use my dad's heat treat oven to heat treat it correctly. Done this many times myself. A2 is rather forgiving. Fun stuff, just doby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
I ground out the crack as I mentioned. Then I beat the snot out of it. Went and hacked a bunch of older branches that have dried out. Cut into them multiple times and just abused the knife. I resharpened the edge as best I could and used it yesterday to cut saplings that are growing on stumps I need to remove. Cut nicely when branches were under tension. Makes me think how much better a knifeby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Hello Lon, It is .093" 3/32. Like Gary mentioned cut from a saw blade. Worked okay but not ideal. Thanks, Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
It is .093" 3/32. Like Gary mentioned cut from a saw blade.by pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Last night I ground out the crack and sharpened the blade again. Then went and hacked at some wood limbs and whittled a bit. Didn’t get the geometry perfect, edge rolled a little. Was a good learning experience and have a better idea for my next blade. Again, for the amount of work it is for a custom knife, I can see why the knives cost a lot. In Gary’s case, the customers are getting an iby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Some of us might have been on vacation, I was off for a week... Details... most people miss the detail and really have no clue how things are made. I am very much like minded with Gary. The simplest item can have a lot of tools behind the scene to manufacture. Take cold heading for example. Complex machines that cut and shape bolts. Simple looking product but a well thought out machine that reby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Made it home from a week of travel. Drove 15 hours one way to meet up with my wife's friend. She lives in Germany with her hubby and knew each other before she moved to Germany. Her parents live in Canada and here and her hubby come visit roughly every 5 years. Northern Ontario is mostly trees and a few lakes. Rolling hills every so often and a few scenic spots. We had last traveled through inby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Gary, So far no respiratory issues other than a light cough. Has gone away. I don't why men do the things we do and don't seem to always remember either if something was bad the first time. Itch seems to be getting less. Just need to wait it out now. Thanks for the comment. Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Looking really good! Your customer will really appreciate this dagger! Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Well, I took another look at the blade later in the day! Oh snap, a crack! Small hairline crack developed from hacking at the tree limb. Good thing I wasn’t on the show, have to “surrender your weapon” due to not being safe! Haha Oh well, it’s a learning experience and had to start somewhere. I am sure mistakes where made on my part as I know I didn’t perform the heat treatment allby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
“Rivet Grinch” must be related to the "computer gremlins" and such. It sucks to run out of items. You may want to start a Kanban system. Sheath looks really neat, and forming is interesting as well. Seems to be thermal plastic? I made many molds in my 20's when I worked in another province. Mostly for vegetable packaging. It is amazing the detail some plastics will take. Do you haveby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Yes I have an itch, it’s not just airguns & knives but Pityriasis Rosea (Christmas Tree Rash). A few weeks back I cut off a few spruce tree branches. Didn't think much of it as I have done it before. Over a few days I noticed two spots with black dots. Thought it was an insect or spider bite. I had to visit a doctor for unrelated concern and he took a look at it. Ordered blood work and proviby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
I checked out YouTube university and found many videos on sharpening knife blades. Wet stones, apparatus for files and MDF wheels. I only have small pieces of mdf so thought I would try it. Diameter was about 1.5”. Ideally 6 to 8” diameter would be best to get a high rim speed. Well even with this simple test using a little buffing compound, the edge got really sharp. Not razor sharp, butby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Simply awesome Gary!by pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Sorry Kurt, Was to be the 2nd posting of the first build. I didn't build two knives. I am in no way ready to make gifts. I need to practice more and work with good steel. I have to many other projects on the go and perhaps on the fall will try my hand at forging a blade from scratch. Thanks for comments. Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
I bought some better sanding belts today after work and ground a nicer bevel to the edge. I have the knife sharp but not razor sharp. Need to work on the angles and get better stones for it. A whole another task to learn. It will be a utility knife. I don't know if the material that saw blades are made from lends itself to a high polish. But not going to waste time on this one, will starby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
WOW, that is an awesome looking dagger. I agree with Lon, the camo handle really adds to the look of the blade along with the accents. Some very straight grinds with blade edges. Cannot be easy to attain? Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
So did some scale profiling and worked on the blade geometry. Still not super sharp and may grind a little more angle on the blade. Blade is 2mm thick. Did all with files and a small desktop sander with one type of sandpaper. Eventually will buy more variety of grits and types for wood and steel. I didn’t have high expectations so the results are what they are. Learned a few things, mighby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Hi Kurt, Thanks for the comment. I hear bone stinks when ground, antler would do the same? Making something yourself definitely gives one appreciation for those like Gary who make it look rather easy. You learn from what you do. YouTube “university” and tv shows only allow for arm chair comments! Regards, Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Well ole uncle Gary, I drew back the hardness heating the steel along the spin to the blue you suggested. Should make the steel less brittle. I will test the steel as you suggested in 2 weeks. On holidays next week and travelling. I did learn a few things: 1) never epoxy the scales onto the blade until blade work is near complete. 2) Perhaps finish scale profile a little closer to final siby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Hi Lon, Used the little forge I made even with some refractory missing. As much as it was suggested to add on to this one I think a brick forge is in the works. Blade was heat treated and cooled in oil. Tempered after. Thanks Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
So thought I would try a knife from a saw blade. Cut out the shape using an angle grinder with cut off wheel. Saw blade is rather hard but noticed a file doesn’t skate off the surface. Drilled the holes with a high speed steel 1/8” punch. Sharpened the punch with a drill tip and managed to drill all 4 pin holes. Ended up heat treating the blade using my little forge. Cooled in oil and nowby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
DEAD MAN WALKING! I am sure you can make her something? Your wife seems really nice, I am sure she will forgive the one slip up.by pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum
Thanks for the tips, I will incorporate them and see how things go.I had thought of some type of blower, and only need a little air. Don't worry, will not be competition. Still working out many details and might make some items for myself and friends. I do like the idea of making knives, but will see. To many other projects need to be completed first. Thanks again, Pedroby pedrog - Airgun Rendezvous Main Forum