A few cut outs... and how I set myself on fire getting them.

T

texas gun person

Joined
Jun 9, 2010
Messages
700
Hola,

I had another topic a while back showing one knife I had cut out, and that knife is on top (and I royally screwed up the plunge cuts, but I'm learning. Right?) so I thought I would post a few new ones I have. Spyderco Police 3 is for comparison. I didn't finish the cutting because my cutting blade is down to being hardly usable. Trip to Lowes today. :D

KnifeCuts.jpg

Planning on trying out the single brick heat treat here pretty soon. Have to scout around for who sells fire bricks in my area, but I have a candidate in mind. I also have a few different handle materials coming from Jantz up in road in Oklahoma. :thumbup:


As to the setting myself on fire part... So I was cutting out one of the knives with an angle grinder from a piece of stock. The sparks became so intense on the regular ole apron I was wearing that... it caught on fire. :D No smoldering or just smoking, but visible flames on my apron right on my man parts. I beat them out with the knife I was holding, and then inspected my shorts underneath. Crispy, but fine!
 
I haven't been able to set myself on fire using a hacksaw and a bastard file yet. Just be careful with that angle grinder of yours, not the best tool from the research I've done to cut out blanks. I like your designs keep up the good work.
 
Awesome. First, the title made for a mandatory read. I mean, come on; setting yourself on fire?!?!? And then, reading that you beat the flames out with a knife! Classic!!!!

Cool knives, man. I like the one at the far right in your pic. Pointy. Reminds me of the Sharpfinger.
 
Cotton and wool won't burn, but synthetics do.


Fireplace brick will not do what you want it to.

you want lightweight Insulating Fire-brick

You can carve it with a spoon.


See the pottery supply places.
 
Just one comment - if you make knives, please have fire extinguishers handy. They put fires out significantly better than knives!
 
12345678910 said:
Cotton and wool won't burn, but synthetics do.


Fireplace brick will not do what you want it to.

you want lightweight Insulating Fire-brick

You can carve it with a spoon.


See the pottery supply places.
Click to expand...

And whoa. Fighting fire teaches you that cotton certainly does burn. It doesn't melt, but it burns just fine, just not a quick as some synthetics like polyester. Wool is the only natural fire resistant fiber. Key word there: resistant. Wool also burns under extreme heat. The inside of bunker gear/ppe are wool linings.
 
I'm partial to the blank 2 from the left. that's kind of a shape I was going to try going for a kitchen prep knife.


hear leather welding aprons are pretty good at keeping sparks off your crotch, might be a bit better protection in the off chance on of those grinder discs explode. that story just moved leather apron one spot up on my to buy list, or maybe metal cutting band saw.
 
bittermanbrewing said:
I'm partial to the blank 2 from the left. that's kind of a shape I was going to try going for a kitchen prep knife.


hear leather welding aprons are pretty good at keeping sparks off your crotch, might be a bit better protection in the off chance on of those grinder discs explode. that story just moved leather apron one spot up on my to buy list, or maybe metal cutting band saw.
Click to expand...

I damn well knew that tons of sparks were going from the blade right on to me, but I just kept going. Perhaps I shouldn't have. :) As far as that knife goes, that's kinda what I was aiming for. Right now I'm just playing around with shapes. :thumbup:

I've seen leather aprons and bibs for between $20 and $30 too.
 
When I forge or heat treat I wear an old raggedy set of nomex from my woodland firefighting days. It seems like it'd be good to wear when using an angle grinder.

What're you planning to do with the handle on the blank that's second from the right?
 
texas gun person said:
As to the setting myself on fire part... So I was cutting out one of the knives with an angle grinder from a piece of stock. The sparks became so intense on the regular ole apron I was wearing that... it caught on fire. :D No smoldering or just smoking, but visible flames on my apron right on my man parts. I beat them out with the knife I was holding, and then inspected my shorts underneath. Crispy, but fine!
Click to expand...

Am I the only one who gets the visual and humor in this part and finds it hysterical?
 
I use an angle grinder to cut out all of my blades. And yes, I wear a leather shop apron (just a sheet of thin leather with string for the neck and back ties), and leather shoes. Works just fine for me. Please be safe! Make sure you have a respirator at minimum. I also wear ear protection and goggles for some of my grinding. Nothing like getting some molten steel in the eyes, lungs, etc to ruin your day.
 
Why in the world would you use an angle grinder with the sparks and debris coming directly at you? That's a terrible idea. :thumbdn:
 
Just get the harbor freight portaband saw, mount it to a piece of angle iron, clamp it in the vice, use a little plate steel to make a table, and then you have a metal cutting band saw. Life is good.

Abrasives suck. Grinders are dangerous. Trust me. I'm in the tool business.

Love using the bandsaw modded up for cut outs
 
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