Thread: What are you working on?

A little off topic but it is what I’ve been working on. Hammer handles. I made them from arbutus.

good job Shaun! i had to look up Arbutus wood, I know it as Pacific Madrone. Made a walking cane with some once, should make good hammer handles.

Forged this DE razor stand for my sons upcoming birthday(so if i don't get the Japanese style leather skiver/knife done i'll at least have something to give him,but that's another story). Not perfect but i'm still learning.

That’s a nice stand. Some years for Christmas we have use the gift exchange rule that all gifts must be hand made. We would employ that rule more often but everyone gets so darn bust. Hand made gifts are usually way more loved and used than most store bought items. what style of skiving knife are you working on?

Arbutus

My new word for the day!

Originally Posted by RezDog

That’s a nice stand. Some years for Christmas we have use the gift exchange rule that all gifts must be hand made. We would employ that rule more often but everyone gets so darn bust. Hand made gifts are usually way more loved and used than most store bought items. what style of skiving knife are you working on?

Thanks, i'm trying to make one like this
my first attempt last weekend was was made from a old circular saw blade. got the temper wrong as the edge rolled after a little use. It's just a guessing game since i don't have a good way to get a accurate temperature measurement in my home oven(plus using unknown steel doesn't help) Am trying to make one out of a old file this weekend.

A problem with recycled steel is knowing what it is so you can treat it accordingly. Apparently several layers of loose tin foil will stabilize in internal temperature from the usual control fluctuations.

Originally Posted by RezDog

A problem with recycled steel is knowing what it is so you can treat it accordingly. Apparently several layers of loose tin foil will stabilize in internal temperature from the usual control fluctuations.

I'm not sure if I was told this or read it somewhere or just thought "that should work..." but if it's an option I always use the convection setting. When I bought a toaster oven for the shop for tempering, that (convection) was the one feature I looked for. I figure that it won't do anything to fix a wonky temp control, but at least it should even out any hot/cold zones in the oven.

You can also get a little thermometer for your oven that will be much more accurate than the temp setting on the oven itself.

I've got a couple of rescales in wood I'm nearing the final stages on-just too tired after a long week to fiddle with pics tonight. I just want to say that Mike, you are the horn whisperer. You are like the old blind dude in Kung Fu showing the rest of us grasshoppers how to work with old horn.

I don't do a lot of real restorations because that's a whole 'nother level of skill, so I usually just buy up blade lots and rescale 'em (hey, somebody's got to do it!). But the next time I get a nice old Sheffield with bug-bitten scales, I've gotta try some of your techniques.:

Ah grasshopper