Don't know where to post this but wanted to share it anyway, if moderators have a better place for it please move it.
I finished up my summer crunch at work, the days when school here in sunny CA is out and staff and students are off for summer vacation marks my busiest time of year, every public school that has remodelling, modernization work or ADA upgrades, seismic upgrades all has to start and finish in 54 days. I've had a seven man staff working 6-7 days a week on 15 different projects in. Two counties. It all ended when the kids came back to school, so what to do what to do, I desperately need a break having not taken a real vacation in close to 18 years. I dug around and found a filet knife project I never did anything with so clear off the reel parts and tools from my workbench and bring out the knife blank. Odin through a box of knife scales and find I don't have anything long enough for this blank, it's 18-1/2" OAL with a seven inch handle? So I select some synthetic abalone for the main part of the handle and some buffalo horn for the hilt, add a strip of brass to separate them and some brass pins. Here's the rough out parts.
Next mix up some slow curing epoxy, I'm not adept enough to use the five minute stuff yet.
Put everything in place and clamp it up to cure.
Rough out the shape on my 12" disc sander. The brass has to be filed down separately and fitted as close as possible because sanding on a high speed disc generates high enough temperature to make the epoxy fail.
Here it is rough shaped and ready to start final shaping and finishing.
From here i start with 150 grit sandpaper, and progress to finer grits until I get to 600 grit, then I switch to
Wet sanding progressing ever finer up to 3000 grit, then paste compound, scratch remover and finally a polishing compound rubbed by hand. Here's what it looks like today.
Arthur would be pleased to have his salmon filleted with that! Nice work. Hope you enjoy using it on lots and lots of fish.
Ron
Thanks I do hope to filet a big halibut with it this year. But I'm grounded while the boat gets repaired, working part time leaves me to much time on my hands and without a project of some kind I revert to my natural state of vegetation, couch potato supreme. Watching the nature channel and re runs of NCIS. This was supposed to take me more time however it's surprising what can be accomplished in a short time with a bit of diligence and I still have to build a sheath for it, BUt I don't have a piece of leather big enough so I have to place a order and wait for it to arrive. My three reel projects are grounded waiting for parts so I may have to pull out another knife blank tonight. Looks like my planned winter projects are getting an early start.
Very nice job Dave. Looks great with the different materials. I've been making some reel knobs from marbled cast acrylic. Where do you get the simulated abalone? If its not too expensive maybe I'll try a couple of knobs out of it.
Lots of great talent here and it goes a lot further then reels! A bunch of great cooks too!!!!!!!
.....................Lou
It's age Lou were all like a fine wine and we just keep getting better.
I got those acrylic pieces a couple years ago, not sure where but I will look back and I'm sure I can find them again. hadn't thought about it but I bet it would make a gorgeous handle knob. It would have to be glued up to get enough thickness. As I recall when I got these scales the seller told me he had larger pieces.
I'll let you know.
Very nice job Dave. I like your line about aged wine, that how we usually relate it our wives, unfortunately for some, at times that wine turns into vinegar ;) ;D.
Thank you Sal but Vinegar will make your face pucker. I must be aging at the right temperature.
Lou. Google: woodturningz.com. They have all sizes and colours also there's a tab on their homepage called big blanks, they have acrylester blanks in 1.5"X1.5" x 6" or 12" 10-20 bucks I think. They're in the Midwest somewhere I think Indiana.
Quote from: Alto Mare on September 11, 2015, 10:42:32 PM
Very nice job Dave. I like your line about aged wine, that how we usually relate it our wives, unfortunately for some, at times that wine turns into vinegar ;) ;D.
You might be the one to ask a question I have had for awhile,
I have been toying with the idea of using gemstone for a knife handle.
I chose to work with this combo of Acrylic, brass and horn on this particular knife for a couple reasons.
One it should be pretty weather and water resistant, two it gave me the chance to work materials other than wood, but I'd really like to try stone, I know it's a great deal harder to work than anything short of stainless steel, so I'm wondering if there is any fancy grained stone you might know of that can be worked by hand that might make a colourful unique knife handle?
Wow! I'm first in line here...................
You have a talent there David.
David, as a fellow knife cutler I appreciate and enjoy your work :)
Quote from: Rancanfish on September 12, 2015, 01:10:03 AM
Wow! I'm first in line here...................
You havea talent there David.
Thank you for that, any talent I may or may not have has been buried for years under work work work but being here on this site just about everyday for the past 10 months reading old posts and following all the great reel builds, has truly been inspirational.
David, Nice Work!
For something different, this folding hunter has fossilized mammoth tusk ivory scales.
The rest is titanium with an SS blade.
Best,
Fred
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx130/foakes1/DC1FD2A1-A096-48AF-9461-256FAE57691F_zpschl5asou.jpg) (http://s748.photobucket.com/user/foakes1/media/DC1FD2A1-A096-48AF-9461-256FAE57691F_zpschl5asou.jpg.html)
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx130/foakes1/05CE1F11-3E32-4D96-981B-A99BD3E0825C_zpsuvfd7ucp.jpg) (http://s748.photobucket.com/user/foakes1/media/05CE1F11-3E32-4D96-981B-A99BD3E0825C_zpsuvfd7ucp.jpg.html)
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx130/foakes1/4ED1D922-490D-4322-A71B-DA40EAE12E0E_zpstqmxeazz.jpg) (http://s748.photobucket.com/user/foakes1/media/4ED1D922-490D-4322-A71B-DA40EAE12E0E_zpstqmxeazz.jpg.html)
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx130/foakes1/F08A7EA3-89A4-49E5-9B1A-8C269362AB22_zpsiyjonv38.jpg) (http://s748.photobucket.com/user/foakes1/media/F08A7EA3-89A4-49E5-9B1A-8C269362AB22_zpsiyjonv38.jpg.html)
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx130/foakes1/3D5A1D13-AB96-43D4-AA19-96F370081C2F_zps3q3rmryx.jpg) (http://s748.photobucket.com/user/foakes1/media/3D5A1D13-AB96-43D4-AA19-96F370081C2F_zps3q3rmryx.jpg.html)
Beautiful Fred, that's what I'm talking about. I hadn't thought of fossilized bone, is it still legal to buy opposes here in the calistani government?
This is a work of art
Hey Dave, the problem with stone is most of it will require a diamond wheel to work it and plenty of water. We have a couple of local guys here that fashion a lot of stuff from granite scraps, some of it pretty amazing! I'll ask around and see what I can find out.
Have a great evening!
.......................lou
Marble usually has a lot of figure to it. Turquious (however you spell it) is nice too.
Looks great Dave, how does I'd on fish?
Wow!! A true ARTEEST!!
TomT
Quote from: MarkT on September 12, 2015, 03:30:39 AM
Looks great Dave, how does I'd on fish?
Just finished polishing it today and my boat is down for repairs so I don't know how it does on fish yet. But I can tell you it makes a hell of a watermelon slicer!
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on September 12, 2015, 01:21:28 AM
David, as a fellow knife cutler I appreciate and enjoy your work :)
Thank you TB. I'm just learning.
Now I have someone here I can seek help from for this hobby.
Hope you don't mind if I wear out your PM's?
No problemo bro :)
Quote from: David Hall on September 12, 2015, 06:42:55 AM
Quote from: MarkT on September 12, 2015, 03:30:39 AM
Looks great Dave, how does I'd on fish?
Just finished polishing it today and my boat is down for repairs so I don't know how it does on fish yet. But I can tell you it makes a hell of a watermelon slicer!
Melon slicer of fish dicer, you have a great skill. You did a really pretty job with that one. A friend of mine is a master of the trade and builds with some unique items but I can't testify to the legality of it but there is a lot out there for you to choose from. You could join some knife forum and ask around for legal parts.
Join another forum?
I don't think so, I have enough to keep up with here, Bryan got home yesterday from his 8 day trip and I haven't found his pics yet?
I have a good friend in San Diego that has been making knives for some years, I get to consult with him when I hit a snag. I'm not going to do much with knives I don't want to make them for sale or anything. just trying to keep myself occupied while I wait for reel parts!
Dave, thanks for the heads up on woodturningz.com. I think they have a better selection than my supplier. The only downside is the blanks are square and have to be turned on a 4 jaw chuck. Not a big deal, just a bit more time consuming. Shipping prices seemed more than fair also.
Thanks again, .. Lou
Quote from: David Hall on September 11, 2015, 11:37:33 PM
Quote from: Alto Mare on September 11, 2015, 10:42:32 PM
Very nice job Dave. I like your line about aged wine, that how we usually relate it our wives, unfortunately for some, at times that wine turns into vinegar ;) ;D.
You might be the one to ask a question I have had for awhile,
I have been toying with the idea of using gemstone for a knife handle.
I chose to work with this combo of Acrylic, brass and horn on this particular knife for a couple reasons.
One it should be pretty weather and water resistant, two it gave me the chance to work materials other than wood, but I'd really like to try stone, I know it's a great deal harder to work than anything short of stainless steel, so I'm wondering if there is any fancy grained stone you might know of that can be worked by hand that might make a colourful unique knife handle?
Very nice craftsmanship on your jumbo fillet blade/ sword.
Here is a website with fancy stones.
http://www.stoneartsofalaska.com/sculpture.htm
Gary is great to work with and I have many pounds of his inventory.
He packs up and leaves Prince of Wales island AK in the fall and heads back to Bellingham, IIRC.
The link acted buggy with me a time or two. If so, just google stone arts of Alaska with Gary McWilliams, proprietor.
The stingray coral makes very nice knife scales as does the honeycomb fossil coral.
Steve
Quote from: David Hall on September 12, 2015, 04:00:53 PMI'm not going to do much with knives I don't want to make them for sale or anything. just trying to keep myself occupied while I wait for reel parts!
Whaaaat? I'm crushed. ;D
Beautiful work! Can appreciate the attention to detail and patience required to create that beauty.
The U.S Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Forensic Labratory is located in Ashland,Oregon. You could give them a call and get the scoop on Walrus ivory straight from the folks that enforce the laws pertaining to ivory possession. There are a lot of gray areas...don't ask me how I know this.
Quote from: Steve-O on September 13, 2015, 04:44:21 AM
Quote from: David Hall on September 11, 2015, 11:37:33 PM
Quote from: Alto Mare on September 11, 2015, 10:42:32 PM
Very nice job Dave. I like your line about aged wine, that how we usually relate it our wives, unfortunately for some, at times that wine turns into vinegar ;) ;D.
You might be the one to ask a question I have had for awhile,
I have been toying with the idea of using gemstone for a knife handle.
I chose to work with this combo of Acrylic, brass and horn on this particular knife for a couple reasons.
One it should be pretty weather and water resistant, two it gave me the chance to work materials other than wood, but I'd really like to try stone, I know it's a great deal harder to work than anything short of stainless steel, so I'm wondering if there is any fancy grained stone you might know of that can be worked by hand that might make a colourful unique knife handle?
Very nice craftsmanship on your jumbo fillet blade/ sword.
Here is a website with fancy stones.
http://www.stoneartsofalaska.com/sculpture.htm
Gary is great to work with and I have many pounds of his inventory.
He packs up and leaves Prince of Wales island AK in the fall and heads back to Bellingham, IIRC.
The link acted buggy with me a time or two. If so, just google stone arts of Alaska with Gary McWilliams, proprietor.
The stingray coral makes very nice knife scales as does the honeycomb fossil coral.
Steve
Thanks for the link. Interesting I spent 10 yrs in Bellingham.