15" Sirupati for Fine Detail Work

D

Don Nelson

Joined
Aug 4, 2003
Messages
302
We often times hear of these splendid Khuks with their astonishing chopping capabilities, but wanted to report on something from a different tack.

One of the projects I've had going on for the last few weeks was a remodel of my kid's bedroom, including a new bed-frame to replace the one of mine she was was using. Mine was literally almost 35 years old.

So bought my young-un an unfinished bed consisting of head-board, foot-board and frames. After staining and sealing and polishing the time came to put it together. It went together almost perfectly. But, the operative word is 'almost'.

I needed to do some detail work in shaping some of the connections and plugs. Naturally I couldn't find any of my craft knives......

Then I remembered the 15" Sirupati laying in my sock drawer (don't ask - long story).

The 15" Siru performed extraordinarily well in this task, and the curved arch of the edge came in very handy for work on the doweled pieces.

At one time I had contemplated selling this Khuk. Glad I didn't. This fellow continues to work its way deeper into my affections every week.

Don
 
I almost did that one time too. But, think about it is all I did, After using it for a draw knife for a couple of days I got to liking it very much indeed. I've used bigger khuks for a draw knife but, I didn't need any thing quite so heavy on the project I had. It scared me just a little bit. I forgot how sharp that bugger was when I hung it up on it's peg. I wound up gloving one hand.:) :D
 
Originally posted by Don Nelson
I needed to do some detail work in shaping some of the connections and plugs. Naturally I couldn't find any of my craft knives......
Click to expand...
Yep.
:D
 
Have a customer, college prof., who carves stuff as a hobby -- likes to carve kitchen utensils. He routinely uses a khukuri (can't recall which one exactly -- he bought about a dozen) for a lot of his stuff. Says they are especially effective making wooden spoons and and bowls.
 
Gave a nephew a 14 or 15 inch Sirupati when he completed his Eagle Scout ceremony last spring, & he has written me a couple of times about learning to carve with it. Said it was the most useful knife any of them had ever seen.
 
Through experimentation I've been able to confirm a position long held by Federico. For woodworking where small amounts of wood are being removed, and precise control is paramount, it's dadgummed hard to beat a 12" AK. The small size gives good control, while the excellent balance and weight distribution provide efficient stock removal of the piece being worked. Read that, real darn good at hewing and shaping wood in situations where precision is preferable to the sheer chopping power provided by the larger khuks.

I make no secret of the fact that I'm a big fan of the "littlest" Ang Kholas, they're the right knife for a heck of a lot of "real world" chores.:D

Sarge
 
Will give that a try sometimes. It will also be comforting to me that if my effort turns out to be a total wreck, I can just chop it up for firewood without changing knives...

Andrew Lim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top