Fredy's mischief

FredyCro

FredyCro

Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
1,484
Hello guys, I thought to open a thread with my current projects. I am going to try including a lot of pics and there will be a lot of "how to" questions. I hope that some of you experienced guys give it a look now and then and help me when I get stuck. Critique, comments and opinions welcome.

Here are the links to my posts in "What's going on":

Intro and first knife - https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...bout-your-work.1115736/page-467#post-19305448

First knife done - https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...bout-your-work.1115736/page-484#post-19480288

Spaghetti oak - https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...bout-your-work.1115736/page-484#post-19480288

Meat cleaver design question - https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...bout-your-work.1115736/page-487#post-19515796
 
Current stuff includes building a stabilization chamber, working on some kitchen knifes and trying to get ready for my first KITH (might not be ready though). Spaghetti oak split and chequered badly.

Non knife related projects are a take down ski bow and a walnut cutting board. I think I got overexcited buying wood yesterday. I got some spalted apple almost for free.

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That spalted apple is gorgeous!! I have some birch crotch that looks really similar to your first picture. A neighbour has an old apple tree that is basically dead....I'm going to have to take a few cuttings and let them sit in the elements for a year or two.
 
Randydb said:
That spalted apple is gorgeous!! I have some birch crotch that looks really similar to your first picture. A neighbour has an old apple tree that is basically dead....I'm going to have to take a few cuttings and let them sit in the elements for a year or two.
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I actually went to buy the wood for non knife related projects and then asked for spalted and or burl wood. Got the pieces for lunch money.

In the future I would like to trade some stabilized wood for the knives of other makers cause I will not be able to use all that wood that my new discovered wood addiction provided for.
 
I will give it a go myself first. I also have some poplar burl and other wood I would like dyeing and stabilizing myself. My chamber is finally holding - 27 inHg and not collapsing. Will post pics from some blocks and the set up..
 
I took a short look into stabilizing myself and decided it wasn't my gig and I was going to spend a fair bit setting up to get results like K&G. I didn't think I could beat the $6ish/block that it costs me to get them to do.

On the other hand I think it is a pretty cool process and would be a lot of fun to do. Cushing has a couple great threads around what it might take to do it well. Seems that Cactus Juice is a solid product to use and the bigger issues is getting the right set up and experience!

You are in Austria. Access to stabilization might be different there too.
BTW you are making some pretty beautiful knives now. I don't think you will have a hard time measuring up to the KITH group.
 
Thanks. Indeed it is, the cheapest cost I found was around Eur 15 per block, it get's cheaper with quantity. Cactus juice is available in UK. There are other resins available in EU, I went with ImpResin90, 1 l to try. My chamber set up costs:

Pump - fridge compressor for free
Fittings - EUR 25
Polycarbonat 15mm - EUR 20
Vacuum Gauge - EUR 10
Stainless Steel Pot - EUR 10

Two small problems I run into was trying to do a proto putty for gasket but it always broke and the pot is too thin.

I just did my first run. Reinforced the pot with a plywood ring and used bike inner tire for gasket.
 
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I got some purpleheart, walnut, beech, poplar burl, black poplar burl and ebony in there. Black poplar burl I tried dyeing in alcohol dye mixed with printer ink.
Will post the results.
 
If you like spalted wood, look at birch.
It takes good spalting and has a beautiful gold with black lines contrast when finished.
 
Hengelo_77 said:
If you like spalted wood, look at birch.
It takes good spalting and has a beautiful gold with black lines contrast when finished.
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I know, a friend of mine picked up a piece from the woods, but no action. There are some huge trunks near university in my home town that are laying there since years. Thinking how to grab those, but I always think people will think I am crazy if they see me loading it in my car. I did found some spalted burl poplar near my house and have two huge pieces drying in front of garage. Thinking of buying a small chain saw and electric plain next. Oh my, sometimes I sound crazy to myself even..
 
FredyCro said:
I know, a friend of mine picked up a piece from the woods, but no action. There are some huge trunks near university in my home town that are laying there since years. Thinking how to grab those, but I always think people will think I am crazy if they see me loading it in my car. I did found some spalted burl poplar near my house and have two huge pieces drying in front of garage. Thinking of buying a small chain saw and electric plain next. Oh my, sometimes I sound crazy to myself even..
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If you really want the wood, you are sure you aren't stealing from anyone, and are just worried about looking crazy, then it is easy.
Wear an orange reflective vest, pull up and with no hesitation, just act like it is a job for you.
Bonus points if you put out a traffic cone, wear a hard hat and chainsaw it in place...
 
595AC165-B5D1-4031-B723-7F16F19B85E8.jpeg I got some spalted birch Burl from my brother a couple weeks ago. Looks incredible, I’m drying some now, It has some blue/green stain in it. Can’t wait to use it!
 

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I will just go there on Sunday, no people around. I wouldn't call it stealing, just lazy people leaving the wood to rot, I don't think someone would complain. A vest wouldn't help with me throwing the wood in car with foreign license plates :)
There is a crazy story of a guy in my hometown who actually feinted to be public service and planted over 500 trees over the course of 30 years.

Nice stuff, guys!
 
FredyCro said:
I will just go there on Sunday, no people around. I wouldn't call it stealing, just lazy people leaving the wood to rot, I don't think someone would complain. A vest wouldn't help with me throwing the wood in car with foreign license plates :)
There is a crazy story of a guy in my hometown who actually feinted to be public service and planted over 500 trees over the course of 30 years.

Nice stuff, guys!
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You should look for Juniper wood .........If it hold same colors after after stabilization , it is most beautiful wood I ever seen .
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Just look in this beauty
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Natlek said:
You should look for Juniper wood .........If it hold same colors after after stabilization , it is most beautiful wood I ever seen .
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It would probably become deeper amber and highlight the dark spots. I will bake the scales tonight and post color comparison. Now it is still soaking, but everything seems much darker (still wet though).
 
Pics are here
https://imgur.com/a/Kdb5WQs

All in all happy with first run. I think some wood picked up some moisture before I got it in the juice. Will know when I cut in.

Purple heart, walnut and burl wood look good.

Lessons learnt:
Dry the wood thourugly and put it straight in resin.
I wouldn't do it in my home oven again.
I wouldn't dye with alchochol again.
I wouldn't do such a large batch again.
 
Q: Can I add a bicycle ventil to my lid and secure it with clamps to the table and pump up to push the resin in? Pump can probably go up to 8 psi?
 
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