Fairly Knives Chat - For people who like Knives, have Knives or use Knives.

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No hangover today, still fighting the remnants of this head cold. I ended up not working in the shop last night, we had a big electrical storm pass over, it was the most active I have seen in years! It reminded me of being in the midwest, I just ended up laying in bed with Brandi and opened all the blinds and watched it for an hour.

Anyways, I was hoping to build a new slingshot last night, since its getting nice outside now. I need to get my arsenal out and tuned up, practice a bit and then go walk the river banks for some hunting.

At my mother inlaws now, picked up some fresh doughnuts and a lattè. Have a good one y'all!

-Xander
 
I want to see that slingshot when it is done!

As a kid we would harvest an osage orange crotch section for a ready made one. Most would crack when drying but a solid one was unbeatable!


Good morning!
 
Mornin troop.

The day after a holiday is always brutal round here, Zyler wakes up expecting to go to grandma's house, or more presents, or candy and deffinitely des not want to get dressed and go to school! He has thrown about 4 tantrums this morning, ugh! Just you wait Daniel, it's coming!!!

Anyways, I don't go to work until later today, gonna start that sling shot this morning. Will report back with pics after a bit. I think I have some extra bands around here somewhere.


-Xander
 
lol!

Jade has already hit the terrible twos at only one. :D

She will walk me to the food cubbard and ask for more snacks... brings me her hat, shoes and jacket wanting out... there are consequences if it doesn't happen!
 
Morning.. I don't know where the terrible twos came from, other than it rhymes. It's seriously easy at 2.. Now once they turn 3.. HOLY CRAP... we are hoping on his 4th birthday this year something changes... 3 is HARD lol.. then again 3 is hard with a 7month old.. no breaks.. my office door is closed and I try to pretend I don't hear grunting/crying/whining for more something/repetition/etc

fun, and hard.. up and down... no even keel here!
 
4 hours answering emails??!! Good gawd! Keep yer head Daniel!
I'll take this as good news though. :D
 
fast14riot said:
Damn Wilson, that just blows. I know how you feel though, I went through it several years ago with the demise of MEMS projects and the total elimination of LIGA technology from the defense budget. Hang in there dude, I know you'll find work. I know several shops around here looking for competant machinists who can do manual machining, seems all the new guys have never done it -only CNC- and never mind having them try to use rotary fixtures!


-Xander
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Thanks, I sure something will work out. I hear you on the manual machines. Been a while since I worked a rotary table or an index head, but I've still got my notes....somewhere.

flatblackcapo said:
Sorry to hear that Wilson.Good luck finding new work.I tell you,I think it is laaaaaaaame that SECO is closing their only U.S. plant !!! Is SECO a U.S. owned company?
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Thanks Fbc, I think it's pretty lame also. SECO is Swedish owned. Last year they were bought up by Sandvik, which is a HUGE company. Also Swedish.

Daniel Fairly Knives said:
I'm really sorry to hear that. That sucks!

I bet you can turn it into something even better, you have serious skills!

Let me know if you ever need anything.
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Thanks Daniel, I'm hoping to at least get a day shift job out of it. Something will work out, always has before.
 
Daniel Fairly Knives said:
I want to see that slingshot when it is done!

As a kid we would harvest an osage orange crotch section for a ready made one. Most would crack when drying but a solid one was unbeatable!


Good morning!
Click to expand...

Natural forks make great shooters, I have a couple forks drying slowly. I'm about halfway done with my sling shot this morning, here's the progress...

First, you need some idea what you are going to make, this one will be a finger braced shooter, much like the popular Dankung style. I draw only half of it, fold the paper over and trace th other half to be sure things are symmetrical.

2013-04-01101521_zps355ffe7a.jpg



Now this one will be made from .250 mild steel rod, heat and bend. Since using pliers to grab and bend is not optimal, I need to make a bending jig, two .250 rods, .250 gap, through a plate to keep them from shifting. The plate is only on one end so if you capture the jig in a tight bend you just undo the vise and slide it out. These are peened over, but not locked into place, the plate can slide up and down so I can tap it with a hammer to keep things in the same plane.

2013-04-01101628_zps70464d74.jpg



Now all you do is heat the rod, slide it into the jig, bend it accordingly and compare to your pattern! I'm halfway through this one, if you notice the fork ends are a little tall compared to the pattern, I will cut the ends off the curls, heat and forge those down to match the pattern. I cannot bend all the way to the very end of the rod with the jig, so this is how I figured it needed to be done. I will forge it straight down from the top to close the curl a bit more once I'm ready.

2013-04-01101757_zps7b8befb6.jpg



Now back to my torch and work bench, my latte is getting cold.


-Xander
 
Ok, here is part two.

Finishd up the hot part, got the ends forged down to spec, but one eye is just a hair smaller than the other, no big deal. File or sand off any burrs or sharp nicks, especially in the eyes.

2013-04-01114930_zpsc837f851.jpg



Once that's done, here's what's needed to finish off the project. One tapered band from Trumark, two 5/16" ball bearings, and your frame. You can also do the double loop chinese style with these, but I don't have any tubing right now.

2013-04-01115127_zps9a3ffdc4.jpg



To assemble, you take th ball bearings and stuff them in the ends of the band, be sure to put them at least 1/4" in. Make sure that the pouch is centered, the bands may not be even. Take the band, stretch it and slide it through the gap at the eye, pull them down to the ball bearings and your set! Now shooting this style, you tak the bands and pull them back around the eyes, not straight back from the ball bearings. Drawn properly, the ball bearings will be facing you the shooter.

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Be safe, know your target and what's beyond, these are not little kid toys, they can injur and kill you.


-Xander
 
IMWILSON, we're rooting for you!


Xander, wow! That is as cool as it gets! Thanks for posting that up, talk about awesome. I bet that doesn't play! :cool:
 
IMWILSON, we're rooting for you!


Xander, wow! That is as cool as it gets! Thanks for posting that up, talk about awesome. I bet that doesn't play! :cool:
 
Thanx Daniel! I haven't launched anything yet, I don't have a catch box at home. I may end up throwing it in the tumbler for a day or so, and the paracord wrap the handle for comfort. This one is pretty comfortable, and my first finger braced SS.

Here is the one I made last year, more of the style we all know from the hardware store. Easy to shoot, simple to make.

2012-03-05151055.jpg



Maybe I'll make a full size fixture for making these, they're great fun!


-Xander
 
That one is awesome too! You should make a permanent fixture, I bet they would go over well here.

Tumbling and cord sounds cool. You do need a catch for that, I bet that would shoot through some solid stuff!
 
Good morning! :D

I was too sore to grind yesterday so I worked on a bunch of random knife projects that really needed to get done!

I have been too sore a few days in a row but get too amped about grinding and go anyways, lol! I had made it until 6 on Sunday when I went and cut a bar of Ti. I just can't stop!!! :D I think I'm doing some heat treating and more today.

I'm getting some keychain tools and Backpackers going soon... Ti may be purchased today!
 
This thread is useless, without pictures, as the kids like to say on the interwebs!

Sup, homies? I'm about to put out some Phö.
 
Wha gwan! Pho fo sho!

I just got in from New Mexico... ready for a big week in the shop and photos!

Back to my CAD work! I'm trying to finalize the folder design. It's actually done but this one line is being funny...
 
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