file knife for my mom

[Crawdaddy]

Looks pretty nice. I am sure Mom will like it.....which is what is the most important thing.

Tip on photography:
Notice how the photos with just the green felt look clearer than the ones with the computer and workbench in the background? That is because the human eye and brain take everything in the field of view and scan the background first, then looks at the object of interest. It is an evolutionary thing that looks for danger before looking for food. If you get a piece of plain color cloth, about 2X3 feet, and drape it over your computer and down on the table, it will make a "backdrop" and surface to set the knife on and provide a non-distracting background for your photos. The viewer will only pay attention to the knife in the photo that way. Crop the photo to only show the backdrop if needed. You want a color in the central vision range - blue or green ( the eye sees these best). A neutral gray also works. You can usually get a yard of cloth for a few bucks at the piece goods store ( sewing shop).




BTW, you should put your state and city in your profile. I am guessing Louisiana from your user name, but it is good to know roughly where someone is. It helps with offers of assistance as well as concern over weather, fires, and natural disasters.

hey Stacy, thanks for the heads up on the photography deal, never really thought about it, started making knives on youtube and i do much better with video than pictures. so that is a huge help, thank you.
an on where i am, will need to change that, i'm kind of a hermit, and didn't think it would ever come up...LOL but now that i have thrown myself into the lions den so to speak i guess i need work on getting my stuff organized. thanks again Sir

 

[Crawdaddy]

what a nice organic package ,real nice .

LOL, i think LOL, i do believe you are the third person who has used that word for my work, organic. is that a good thing? i hope so...lol and thank you

 

[Crawdaddy]

I'm sure your Mom will love it.


One Question,

...If you're so sold on using lawn mower blades to make knives, why is this one made from a file?



Big Mike

i am sold on water quench steels, i just use which ever one strikes my fancy, i have used 3 steels for my knives, files and i ordered some w2 for 3 knives(special brothers knives) and lawnmower blades when i wanted some width, i don't remember, because i made the knife almost 2 years ago, but i believe the knife i made for my dad was a mower blade, thank you for your inquiry

 

[Crawdaddy]

Sounds like his Mom wanted a file knife.

mom doesn't really know anything about knives, this one will probably sit in a drawer, appreciate ya

 

[Bluebs4]

Organic as in Wholesome ,a one of a kind a real handmade knife you can tell its got personality = good good

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Couple of things about the sheath.

When doing your stamp, try not to press it hard enough to get the border of the stamp defined in the leather. If it happens again, work the impression out with a bone folder.

Round the end of any straps. You can make a template, punch or use a metal lid to cut around. Even just cutting off the corners will look more professional.

With knives that are mostly balance or blade heavy I like to sew the loop where the handle of the knife ends (before the ricasso) when it's in the sheath. You get good balance and more room in the loop lower (if needed).

Nice work.

 

[Crawdaddy]

Organic as in Wholesome ,a one of a kind a real handmade knife you can tell its got personality = good good

oh ok, cool. i appologize it's a long story, but i don't know much about the knife world outside of the research i have done in the making of them. before i made my first knife 2 and a half years ago i didn't even know a custom knife existed. sorry

 

[Crawdaddy]

Couple of things about the sheath.

When doing your stamp, try not to press it hard enough to get the border of the stamp defined in the leather. If it happens again, work the impression out with a bone folder.

Round the end of any straps. You can make a template, punch or use a metal lid to cut around. Even just cutting off the corners will look more professional.

With knives that are mostly balance or blade heavy I like to sew the loop where the handle of the knife ends (before the ricasso) when it's in the sheath. You get good balance and more room in the loop lower (if needed).

Nice work.

thank you for your input, on the leather stamp on the claw stamp the bolt surround is part of my intended stamping, the border around the crawdaddy forge stamp is not, i will have to work on that. to be honest i haven't been pressing, i've been using a hammer and smacking

ok, need template for the ends of straps , check, will work on that

i am working with leather i got out of the dumpster at the saddle shop so i am limited on what size whatever i can do. but i will try and see if i can work that in.

thanks again

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Yeah, I got that about the claw stamp. It looks good.

If your stamp has a handle for whacking then you're good. If it's plastic without a handle you can use a c clamp, vise or might even try pressing by hand or using a drill press (not running obviously) although I'd use one of the other methods. Of course the "proper" (according to the vendors of the product) tool is a machine made especially for this and costs a couple of hundred dollars. Most people like a good old arbor press. I have a hand stamp now and just ordered a custom mark so I'm in the same boat.

I've noticed that a lot of guys do really good work with very limited tools and materials. Pro tools sure make life easier, but they don't make the craftsman. Good job.

 

[Crawdaddy]

Yeah, I got that about the claw stamp. It looks good.

If your stamp has a handle for whacking then you're good. If it's plastic without a handle you can use a c clamp, vise or might even try pressing by hand or using a drill press (not running obviously) although I'd use one of the other methods. Of course the "proper" (according to the vendors of the product) tool is a machine made especially for this and costs a couple of hundred dollars. Most people like a good old arbor press. I have a hand stamp now and just ordered a custom mark so I'm in the same boat.

I've noticed that a lot of guys do really good work with very limited tools and materials. Pro tools sure make life easier, but they don't make the craftsman. Good job.

my crawdaddy forge stamp is a piece of plastic, i got a guy to make it for me, no handle or anything, the pig sticker knife was payment for that
i had built a 2x72 with a 14 inch wheel, i have a video about it, if i can pull the money together i'm going to rebuild it, i made wooden wheels for it before and i already have the blank made for the new wheel. using a piece of framing that didn't get burnt too bad and planed it down, took the hub from the mower deck of one of the riding mower that got burnt, and using a couple circular saw blades to help reinforce it, anyway that part is almost ready, just gotta get a motor. oh well one day.
and thank you for the help on the leather, i made a burnisher with a piece of a branch from a bois d'arc tree and a deck screw, used my drill press as a lathe.
anyway, thanks again for your help