I was grinding out the knife on my belt grinder yesterday, and you know what happens? The only belt I have left snaps while I'm grinding. Thing whipped all over the place and got me pretty good in a few places on my arm. It's a good thing I always wear my safety glasses, or this could've been a lot worse.
Anyway, point it, I'm completely out of belts now. :\
I can't do any work until I get my next order in... which will hopefully be on monday. Hopefully, tonight I'll have some youtube videos up. Which brings me to the next point:
Fuck usin' linkbucks. I made an AMAZING $0.0013 YESTERDAY! Shit's not worth the inconvenience to you guys, so I'm abandoning that. Next youtube videos will be embedded just like they used to be.
By the way? If you've got a very sharp tanto knife blade on the floor... where you sleep, you should probably move it before you go to bed.
I made the mistake of not noticing it there (or simply thinking it would be fine,) and uh. Not so good for me. I remember feeling it while I was dreaming and thinking, "Damn. My dreams are starting to feel more and more realistic, that really fuckin' hurt!"
Friday, October 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
So, in the mean time I'm doing this other thing.
I've got a friend, who has another friend that's interested in commissioning me for a knife. She wants a Scots Sgian Dubh, with nature themed engraving upon the handle. That last part's gonna be kind of hard- I've never done any carving or engraving.
This morning I drew the rough design for the knife, and traced it on to the steel (I really need to find a better way to do this, by the way.)
Also, I'm doing something a little new. I'm still going to embed pictures, but I'll be linking to my youtube videos from here on out. Sorry for the inconvenience.
I've got videos of almost the whole cutting process. Later tonight or tomorrow I'll get to drinking. Er, grinding. I don't know why I typed drinking. Or why I didn't just delete it.
And now, youtube vidoes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrHzlSzVmM
This depicts the start of my grinding.
And yadda yadda yadda the rest is self explanatory. xd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8jBBvMPuv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUvBSrmhjxU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z383P52XRsY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5NR4Zym3ro
This morning I drew the rough design for the knife, and traced it on to the steel (I really need to find a better way to do this, by the way.)
Also, I'm doing something a little new. I'm still going to embed pictures, but I'll be linking to my youtube videos from here on out. Sorry for the inconvenience.
I've got videos of almost the whole cutting process. Later tonight or tomorrow I'll get to drinking. Er, grinding. I don't know why I typed drinking. Or why I didn't just delete it.
And now, youtube vidoes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrHzlSzVmM
This depicts the start of my grinding.
And yadda yadda yadda the rest is self explanatory. xd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8jBBvMPuv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUvBSrmhjxU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z383P52XRsY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5NR4Zym3ro
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Oh God I am a dick
Okay, so... "I'm back in the game!"
CRICKETS FOR A WEEK.
Seriously now, though! I've got the steel the blah blah blah and an idea. I got the cement I needed, and I have an angle grinder (which will allow me to cut the steel oh-so-much faster than before.)
The angle grinder will also allow me to cut the steel closer to the blade shape, meaning less wasted steel, less wear on my belts, and over-all a better work experience. Later on, once I've an anvil, I'll be able to melt down the refuse into ingots and use them for forging.
In fact, this morning I may very well record myself doing some work. I'm juuuust a little hesitant though- my brother bought me a Vado HD to use. So... I don't know, I guess it's up to the five of you that actually read this.
Do I get to work now, using the current video quality and youtube? Or do I wait for the new camera and record in GRIORIOUS 720P?
CRICKETS FOR A WEEK.
Seriously now, though! I've got the steel the blah blah blah and an idea. I got the cement I needed, and I have an angle grinder (which will allow me to cut the steel oh-so-much faster than before.)
The angle grinder will also allow me to cut the steel closer to the blade shape, meaning less wasted steel, less wear on my belts, and over-all a better work experience. Later on, once I've an anvil, I'll be able to melt down the refuse into ingots and use them for forging.
In fact, this morning I may very well record myself doing some work. I'm juuuust a little hesitant though- my brother bought me a Vado HD to use. So... I don't know, I guess it's up to the five of you that actually read this.
Do I get to work now, using the current video quality and youtube? Or do I wait for the new camera and record in GRIORIOUS 720P?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Back in the game!
A couple days ago I placed an order at Jantz for four 18" long pieces of 1095 Hi-Carbon steel! It's due to arrive thursday afternoon. I'm so happy, and excited! I've also ordered some handle material, epoxy, and pins, as well.
I'll be back to making "knives" quite soon. Thanks for being patient and waiting, everyone!
I know a few of you had expressed interest in a knife from me, and if you're still around, I'd be more than happy to attempt to make something for you. I recall somebody wanted a 10" blade, and someone else hadn't specified what they wanted.
Remember, these knives would be sold to you at a discount. I'd just appreciate the business, and any word of mouth it may generate.
I'd also like to say that if anything happens with anything I make for someone, I'd be more than happy to cover shipping costs for sending it back to me.
I'll be back to making "knives" quite soon. Thanks for being patient and waiting, everyone!
I know a few of you had expressed interest in a knife from me, and if you're still around, I'd be more than happy to attempt to make something for you. I recall somebody wanted a 10" blade, and someone else hadn't specified what they wanted.
Remember, these knives would be sold to you at a discount. I'd just appreciate the business, and any word of mouth it may generate.
I'd also like to say that if anything happens with anything I make for someone, I'd be more than happy to cover shipping costs for sending it back to me.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Hiatus ):
Sorry there haven't been any updates in a few days.
I'm all out of steel, and I don't really have an scrap around I can use either. I won't be able to even make any orders for more until Wednesday, and I'm not entirely sure how long it will take for the shipment to get here.
However, the next shipment should have two or more bars of steel to work with, as well as some stainless steel for fittings and pins.
Heh, I just remembered I'm running out of sanding belts, too. They can get worn out pretty quickly- it doesn't take all that long for an 80 grit to become as effective as 120 grit, then 300, and eventually it'll either just fall apart, or basically polish the steel.
Until I can get back to work, I'll be on a hiatus. Once I get materials again, I'll be sure to let you all know. In the mean time, I'll still be reading your blogs, and I may leave comments.
I'm all out of steel, and I don't really have an scrap around I can use either. I won't be able to even make any orders for more until Wednesday, and I'm not entirely sure how long it will take for the shipment to get here.
However, the next shipment should have two or more bars of steel to work with, as well as some stainless steel for fittings and pins.
Heh, I just remembered I'm running out of sanding belts, too. They can get worn out pretty quickly- it doesn't take all that long for an 80 grit to become as effective as 120 grit, then 300, and eventually it'll either just fall apart, or basically polish the steel.
Until I can get back to work, I'll be on a hiatus. Once I get materials again, I'll be sure to let you all know. In the mean time, I'll still be reading your blogs, and I may leave comments.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Getting a GRIP on things
Yup, it's a terrible pun and I make no apologies.
Last night my dad picked me up some more materials for finishing up Jim's knife. I'm really lucky to have a dad who's so supportive of this hobby/hopeful-profession. He's basically paid for all of my tools. Paid for the forge ($120+,) materials ($60+,) Belt Grinder ($120~,)bench vise ($30~,) and a bunch of other items.
So any way, he picked up two clamps and some epoxy, so I was able to put the wood scales on Jim's knife. I recorded the whole thing, and gave some narration, too. I'm nervous, so my voice is shaky and I have an awful speaking voice. Although, I'd still like to mention that the camera makes me sound a lot more nasal and lispy than I really am :x
Last night my dad picked me up some more materials for finishing up Jim's knife. I'm really lucky to have a dad who's so supportive of this hobby/hopeful-profession. He's basically paid for all of my tools. Paid for the forge ($120+,) materials ($60+,) Belt Grinder ($120~,)bench vise ($30~,) and a bunch of other items.
So any way, he picked up two clamps and some epoxy, so I was able to put the wood scales on Jim's knife. I recorded the whole thing, and gave some narration, too. I'm nervous, so my voice is shaky and I have an awful speaking voice. Although, I'd still like to mention that the camera makes me sound a lot more nasal and lispy than I really am :x
Friday, September 10, 2010
Forging *withOUT an anvil.
Not a good idea, let me tell you. I was trying to get by using a 20lb dumbell. Shit. Don't. Work. Like, at all. There's a reason people suggest 150lb anvils, and it's not just because they're better quality. Having that weight there to ensure your surface doesn't jump under the hammer is a Godsend.
Earlier today I tried hammering the steel. I was hoping I could give it a bit of a downward tilt, to later grind it into a kukri or something like that. Well, it didn't work out. Like, at all. There's a reason they hammer it as a square bar first, and then shape it. All I managed to do was bend the steel a little bit the way I wanted, and too much in ways I didn't. I tried to straighten it out and salvage it, but... I don't know how well that's working.
Once I'd figured it wasn't getting any straighter, I decided I might as well start to grinding on it and make something of it anyway. Here's what I'd come up with so far:
Tomorrow or tonight I'll be able to quench it. I need more propane- I'm not sure the tank I have right now has enough left in it. But after that, she's ready for a handle and all that.
Later tonight I should also get about 4 videos up, showing some of the progress of the knife. What would be really cool is if I had something I could do a timelapse with. I don't have a camera capable of that, unfortunately.
Edit: Videos are up!
Earlier today I tried hammering the steel. I was hoping I could give it a bit of a downward tilt, to later grind it into a kukri or something like that. Well, it didn't work out. Like, at all. There's a reason they hammer it as a square bar first, and then shape it. All I managed to do was bend the steel a little bit the way I wanted, and too much in ways I didn't. I tried to straighten it out and salvage it, but... I don't know how well that's working.
Once I'd figured it wasn't getting any straighter, I decided I might as well start to grinding on it and make something of it anyway. Here's what I'd come up with so far:
Tomorrow or tonight I'll be able to quench it. I need more propane- I'm not sure the tank I have right now has enough left in it. But after that, she's ready for a handle and all that.
Later tonight I should also get about 4 videos up, showing some of the progress of the knife. What would be really cool is if I had something I could do a timelapse with. I don't have a camera capable of that, unfortunately.
Edit: Videos are up!
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