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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Damascarbotanium-----Chris Moss WiP
- Thread starter Lorien
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2006
- Messages
- 1,073
had a bunch of honey-do and general upkeep stuff to take care of around the house (plus thanksgiving) an di had to finish the KITH knife as the deadline is hard and fast. updates very soon!
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2006
- Messages
- 3,494
Tease!
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 27,637
surprises are nice, but it's good to have something to look forward to...
**********
I got the guard cleaned up to 400 grit and ready for blasting- I didn't want there to be any scratches that showed through. Also notice how I made a cap and a plug so I wouldn't round any corners.
The sand blasting was done, and I threw it back on the handle just so you can see how it fit, and what the handle looks like now.. also to 400 grit. It will be getting a 2-part epoxy clear coat in just a few days, (once it warms up to above 60 degrees).
I got my anodizing setup working. The only glass container that is large enough, that I had, was a beer stein, (works for me!) but that will be changing for my next go-around. The setup is very simple- a variable voltage AC source converted to DC over a 4-way bridge, and then a ion-rich solution, (I used TSP cleaning powder in water) with the leads hooked up to an electrode and the part to be anodized. The color is dependent on the voltage. This will be set at about 10-15 volts for a bronze color.
Here is the guard ready for anodizing:
And the Ti spacer in the solution. The anodizing process takes about 30 seconds to a minute.
I need to make some Ti clamps, as the steel alligator clamp I was using pulls voltage away from the work piece, giving an uneven coloring. So these will get blasted again and the corners rubbed to a polish and then anodized again with Ti clamps. But I think this is a nice preview...
And I did the key just to see what it would look like on a polished surface... pretty cool to watch it change colors!
**********
I got the guard cleaned up to 400 grit and ready for blasting- I didn't want there to be any scratches that showed through. Also notice how I made a cap and a plug so I wouldn't round any corners.
The sand blasting was done, and I threw it back on the handle just so you can see how it fit, and what the handle looks like now.. also to 400 grit. It will be getting a 2-part epoxy clear coat in just a few days, (once it warms up to above 60 degrees).
I got my anodizing setup working. The only glass container that is large enough, that I had, was a beer stein, (works for me!) but that will be changing for my next go-around. The setup is very simple- a variable voltage AC source converted to DC over a 4-way bridge, and then a ion-rich solution, (I used TSP cleaning powder in water) with the leads hooked up to an electrode and the part to be anodized. The color is dependent on the voltage. This will be set at about 10-15 volts for a bronze color.
Here is the guard ready for anodizing:
And the Ti spacer in the solution. The anodizing process takes about 30 seconds to a minute.
I need to make some Ti clamps, as the steel alligator clamp I was using pulls voltage away from the work piece, giving an uneven coloring. So these will get blasted again and the corners rubbed to a polish and then anodized again with Ti clamps. But I think this is a nice preview...
And I did the key just to see what it would look like on a polished surface... pretty cool to watch it change colors!
- Joined
- Dec 10, 1998
- Messages
- 4,860
Chris,
Make a Titanium hook and grab the long end with the alligator clip. Then submerge your piece. I have titanium bicycle spoke that I bent and use.
Make a Titanium hook and grab the long end with the alligator clip. Then submerge your piece. I have titanium bicycle spoke that I bent and use.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 27,637
the knife is getting close to done now, but before I give you Chris' updates, I thought it would be interesting for the thread to include this picture I took this morning;
When I first saw Chris' original thread, with the picture of his blade blank upon his stove top, I tried to replicate the shape as closely as I could and then went from there. As I sketched it out, I messed around with the guard area A LOT, but when this final shape popped off the page, I knew that Chris and I were destined to 'partner up' on this project. Happily, he agreed
I put this particular sketch book away since then and haven't looked at this sketch in probably about a month. After I made the sketch, I contacted Chris and suggested my ideas to him, intimating I might buy his knife if he moved forward with it according to those suggestions, and if I could afford it. Chris more than covered the bases on both accounts.
Chris never saw this sketch, and all I added to the process was the suggestion of unidirectional carbon fiber, and a titanium 'Bitchin' Camaro' s-guard, and a raft of photos of knives with s-guards, some of which I like and some of which I don't. I didn't tell him which. He sent me one picture, and it was of a Larry Fuegen knife that I agreed was totally bitchin.
The knife which I will post pictures of here shortly, is ALL Chris. He asked me a few questions during the process, generally receiving 'attaboys' and vague answers, but I didn't micromanage any of it.
I am extremely pleased with Chris' approach to making this knife, and I have in mind a second- more complicated- project for some time in the future... Chris exhibits all the hallmarks of a good knife maker that I know of- great knives, genuine passion, honesty, the ability to communicate, and appreciation and respect for his patron:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:.
When I first saw Chris' original thread, with the picture of his blade blank upon his stove top, I tried to replicate the shape as closely as I could and then went from there. As I sketched it out, I messed around with the guard area A LOT, but when this final shape popped off the page, I knew that Chris and I were destined to 'partner up' on this project. Happily, he agreed
I put this particular sketch book away since then and haven't looked at this sketch in probably about a month. After I made the sketch, I contacted Chris and suggested my ideas to him, intimating I might buy his knife if he moved forward with it according to those suggestions, and if I could afford it. Chris more than covered the bases on both accounts.
Chris never saw this sketch, and all I added to the process was the suggestion of unidirectional carbon fiber, and a titanium 'Bitchin' Camaro' s-guard, and a raft of photos of knives with s-guards, some of which I like and some of which I don't. I didn't tell him which. He sent me one picture, and it was of a Larry Fuegen knife that I agreed was totally bitchin.
The knife which I will post pictures of here shortly, is ALL Chris. He asked me a few questions during the process, generally receiving 'attaboys' and vague answers, but I didn't micromanage any of it.
I am extremely pleased with Chris' approach to making this knife, and I have in mind a second- more complicated- project for some time in the future... Chris exhibits all the hallmarks of a good knife maker that I know of- great knives, genuine passion, honesty, the ability to communicate, and appreciation and respect for his patron:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 27,637
One or two steps closer to the final knife. I got the Ti parts re-blasted and the edges polished. Then I got them anodized to the proper color. Holding the part in the solution with a Ti hook I made really fixed the evenness of the anodizing. (thanks Chuck for the suggestion!)
The handle is finished and ready for the clear-coat and I also got the finial to the finished dimensions. It looks pretty sweet if you ask me. The picture makes it look like there is a slight gap around the finial, but it is an optical illusion.
I started polishing the blade and had to throw it together. All that is left on the knife is polishing, etching, and bluing the blade and clear coating the handle.
The handle is finished and ready for the clear-coat and I also got the finial to the finished dimensions. It looks pretty sweet if you ask me. The picture makes it look like there is a slight gap around the finial, but it is an optical illusion.
I started polishing the blade and had to throw it together. All that is left on the knife is polishing, etching, and bluing the blade and clear coating the handle.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2000
- Messages
- 8,888
That is one elegant hard-use knife with a very handsome, unique handle. Congratulations, Lorien! :thumbup:
I'm glad you left the sweep of the guard wide open to avoid restricting your grip, and the fact you abbreviated it enough that it's out of the way when chopping with a rear-handle hold. Nicely done!
Where does it balance?
I'm glad you left the sweep of the guard wide open to avoid restricting your grip, and the fact you abbreviated it enough that it's out of the way when chopping with a rear-handle hold. Nicely done!
Where does it balance?
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2006
- Messages
- 1,073
Lorien,
i wanted to say that i have really enjoyed working with you as well. Your willingness to let me explore the design without micromanaging has has made the project a lot of fun, and kept me interested. I also believe that your guidance really made this knife something special.
the blade is hand sanded to 180 grit and i hope to have it finished in the next day or two. I am waiting on the leather for your sheath, and then you will get to see it first hand.
thanks so much for this opportunity
~Chris
i wanted to say that i have really enjoyed working with you as well. Your willingness to let me explore the design without micromanaging has has made the project a lot of fun, and kept me interested. I also believe that your guidance really made this knife something special.
the blade is hand sanded to 180 grit and i hope to have it finished in the next day or two. I am waiting on the leather for your sheath, and then you will get to see it first hand.
thanks so much for this opportunity
~Chris
- Joined
- May 26, 2005
- Messages
- 2,514
Great looking knife!! Love the overall package w/the guard, handle and blade coming together so nicely. Can't wait to see the finished pics! So cool seeing these various WIP threads... if for no other reason than to squash my own desires to build a knife in my garage w/hand tools... Ha.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 27,637
I'm really looking forward to, I dunno...swingin it around a bit. This baby won't see much in the way of chopping timber, but there is plenty of stuff to slice at around here that's prickly and which sucks to get raked across the knuckles.
I'll likely get some video footage too, because that's fun stuff. Maybe even an edit.
Anyone care to guess the soundtrack?
