Thread: What are you working on?

Originally Posted by cudarunner

I for one Like It! Maybe 'Odd Ball Projects and Experiments' would be a good title?

It would mostly consist of you, Charlie, Tom, Vic and Mike 52 just putting on
a clinic for the rest of us. Not sure how many of Charlie’s ideas I’ve stolen just getting my forge together...

Originally Posted by jfk742

It would mostly consist of you, Charlie, Tom, Vic and Mike 52 just putting on
a clinic for the rest of us. Not sure how many of Charlie’s ideas I’ve stolen just getting my forge together...

Nearly all of my good ideas are things I have learned or stole from others. I tried to copy Mike Blues forge. Thats what makes the world go round.

That Mike is no dummy. I appreciate you guys sharing your knowledge with those willing to listen even if you’re just passing it along.

OK, I have made some progress with this. First, a couple of photos of the scales as they were shipped and after I drilled them.

Someone had asked before how I was going to drill them when there is the gap already. Basically I just put the tang of the blade between the two scales and drilled the top side. I had the blade between for a spacer, but not under the hole where it would accidentally get drilled. Then I removed the blade and ran the drill bit through the hole on the upper scale to drill the lower scale. Turned out a lot easier than I expected. If I had a drill press I think it would have been more certain that the hole were aligned and parallel.





The trouble I was having was being able to stack the blade and pivot washers when I didn't have much space to work with for my goofy fingers. I tried a string to suck it all together and had no real luck. It may have had I used bees wax, as suggested, but I was lazy and didn't go get it.



So, I did the tweezers thing. And, I think the biggest thing that made it possible was this $10 purchase. Unbelievably cheap, but so far seems to be working well and is a lot more robust than I expected.



It has various lenses that combine to magnify 2.5X, 5X, 7X, and 10X. It let me hold the tweezers, peel up the scales, and see well enough to get it stacked together. So far it is just bolted together because I needed to do some sanding to get it to close on the center.



While there is some tension when it is bolted up, I think the rubbing on the side is actually because the scales are not straight. I think I am going to soak it and then put something in between (eraser, maybe) so that it dries a little farther away at the end. I think that if I put the eraser near the end and then put a bolt through the pin hole it hopefully will get everything away from the sides.

I am not sure if I am going to try to seal it with superglue. Euclid has put up a good tutorial post on doing this.
But, getting an even coat between the scales seems like it may be tricky. I may just oil it and hope for the best.

Another note on the headband thing is that I think it will really help my honing. While not as magnified as the 30X loupe, it is so much easier to use that I think I will be able to see the stria better.

Your wedge does not appear to have much taper. It in theory should have the same taper as the tang, and maybe it does. I think if your blade does not sit straight naturally, this set up will be the trickiest to get it running true and on cemter. I am confident you will get it done. Progress is looking good.

Use a coffee stir stick to spread CA between the scales. I use them to clean between the scales. Hose down with WD40 wait 5 minutes then clip the end of the stick straight with a pair of side cutters and scrape out all the crud. Used to borrow extras from the coffee shop but found them at a craft store for a couple bucks, now have an endless supply. You will see they come in a variety of thickness.

Spray some WD40 on a paper towel fold over the stir stick and wipe it clean.

A wedge with the same taper as the tang will create a slight bow in the scales and keep the pivot pin under tension and tight. The same angle not thickness. Just trace the tang angle, tang on edge on a sheet of paper, now match your wedge taper to the tracing. Does not need to be exact, eyeball close is good enough.

For spreading CA on the outside of scales, pick up a tiny silicone cupcake frosting spreader from the dollar store. Spreads CA without getting on your fingers. Once dry it pops off when flexed.

Thanks RezDog,

Looking at it, the wedge is not tapered. I'm hoping that I can warp the wood to simulate it, though. I wish I had your confidence in how it will turn out . I've got it so that it just runs the side a bit, and the edge doesn't actually touch it. So adding another washer or two to the pivot may pull it away and look fine as long as no one looks too close.

If I buy scales from this place again, I will definately get them unassembled. That way I could have shaved the wedge into a taper. Fortunately, there is some tension on the pivot pin just because the gap is slightly thinner than the blade.

Thanks Euclid,

I swear it seems like you walk through the world and everything you see think "how can I use this thing on a razor". I'm thinking you are meaning the solid plastic ones, but I have a bunch of popsickle sticks that would be similar to the wooden type as long as it doesn't bond instantly.

It occurred to me though, that if I want to color it will oil I should do that before sealing with CA glue, right? Otherwise it won't penetrate?

It will say liquid for several seconds, enough to spread. Yea, once you CA it, it is sealed and stain will not penetrate it.

A brass wedge would look good with that wood, either brass or nickel silver but you would need to pin it.

Doing some razoring to-day. Got some pin-holes drilled and some scales cleaned-up.
Some preliminary mock-ups done. Gonna need a thicker wedge.
Long way to go...