Gareth bull: Slow Delivery/waitlist thread

Hi all

Just a quick check-in. Today was a lot of running around so not too much quality shop time. Fetching the Ti standoffs in the morning so small fiddly stuff coming up and lots of polishing :)

Gazza

EDIT :
Oops, just read through the responses!
Dflores - glad you like the pic.
Bull Mountain Custom - thanks for the comment, happy to chat when I've made good with everyone on my list
Mantzao - mailed ya bud :)
 
Thanks, Gareth.

'Not much time in the shop today' is always a fine report. It's just great to hear the consistent updates.
 
Hi All

Wolf - I can imagine you're hitting refresh often :D Glad it's showing your end, I had heart palpitations when the tracking # wasn't showing!

Now onto today's update : two steps forward and one back...

I spent the morning in the shop grinding merrily. I don't know about other makers but some days are just grinding days and everything works - today was one of those - good start.

I then headed out to meet a local forum owner with massive knife-world experience to hand back some regrinds I've had laying about for far too long and to discuss my moving forward - good day continuing.

Went a little south doing battle at the post office ( another overdue regrind and one of the Shards) but that's expected with the time of year - everything's busy!

And that's where the day hopped the rails. I went round to collect the standoffs for the folders and happily they were complete but looked "wrong" off the bat. Basically a big communication failure. I asked for this batch to be 1mm larger (IN DIAMETER) than my previous ones. What I got back was this:




For those who can't read a micrometer (or maybe just one in mm) the measurement is 4.2mm - exactly 1mm too thick. I'm hoping there's enough metal there to grab in the lathe so that I can have them skimmed to size (this batch of 20 are all 6AL4V and represent a fair investment in materials) HOWEVER it's year-end for the engineers and they open again on the 28th with a skeleton staff.

I will continue with my end of the making, grinding blades and shaping handles but completing knives has been set back by a few days.

Gazza
 
Good update but bad to hear the engineers didn't get it right... were all human though and mistakes happen.

Do you think you will be able to get them right without it being too much of a salvage effort?

These are an important key for fitting, correct?
 
wolf5391 said:
Good update but bad to hear the engineers didn't get it right... were all human though and mistakes happen.

Do you think you will be able to get them right without it being too much of a salvage effort?

These are an important key for fitting, correct?
Click to expand...

They're vital hey Wolf. The spacer has to be exactly the same thickness as the blade thickness plus the two washers. It's only 0.5mm to be taken off each side but I'm honestly not sure if they can do it - not having used a lathe myself. To my mind they should though. Worst case scenario is that these end up in a drawer until I find a project for them one day, I bought 3 feet of Ti from my US supplier so I still have a bar in stock.
 
Gareth Bull said:
They're vital hey Wolf. The spacer has to be exactly the same thickness as the blade thickness plus the two washers. It's only 0.5mm to be taken off each side but I'm honestly not sure if they can do it - not having used a lathe myself. To my mind they should though. Worst case scenario is that these end up in a drawer until I find a project for them one day, I bought 3 feet of Ti from my US supplier so I still have a bar in stock.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought. I haven't used a lathe either so I have no idea if it could be done, but it is good to hear that you have another tube of ti in stock in the worst scenario.

I guess that's one of the problems occurred when out sourcing work.

Good luck
 
Just a thought, Gareth — if you, or your engineers, could mill a .5mm pocket into the inside of your scales or liners, that might do the trick and save you from having titanium rolling around your sock drawer for too long.
 
Glad to hear progress is being made, and the daily update reports have to be a huge relief for many.... props Gareth!
 
I have been only watching and lurking. Good job to Gareth! I don't think I've ever read one of these threads that end well and you are on track to bucking that trend which speaks volumes.
 
MTeague said:
Just a thought, Gareth — if you, or your engineers, could mill a .5mm pocket into the inside of your scales or liners, that might do the trick and save you from having titanium rolling around your sock drawer for too long.
Click to expand...

I actually had much the same idea actually :) I need to do a sit down and measure of the mini pivots that engage through the standoffs but it might just work. I'd still like to have the proper ones run for my orders but it may work for future knives.

Today was a good one, I decided to get a jump on moving through the orders and did what we call donkey work. I still hacksaw every part out of Titanium and use an angle grinder on the blade steels so I blocked up ALL of my G10 and CF and all but one bit of titanium. I'll order more blade steel in the new year as I complete orders and get a touch more liquid but as of this evening I have 18 Warlock and Shamwari blades cut and profiled, plus kitchen blades.

On a humerous side note - My better half and I forgot about the doctors appointment and pre-natal class till the half hour warning went off on the phone. Hopped in the car and only realised I was wearing one of my more religious workshop shirts ( it's holey) on the way there with no time to change. The doc was understanding - turns out he's a knife nut actually! We're taking over!

Sechip, Mr. Clean and Jack - thanks kindly gents. It's in no small part thanks to the nature and goodwill of the industry - I've certainly been extended support and understanding in spadefuls. Now just down to me keeping nose to the grindstone and in my email inbox when not making steel dust :)
 
I received my Gem today and I have to say the craftsmanship and quality is amazing. The lines are amazing and I really like the size. The colors are very nice and the pearl is beautifully finished.

you'll notice in the last picture that the blade is slightly off center but I'm assuming its because the pivot is a little loose.

I don't have the tool to tighten the pivot though, so as soon as I have one Ill be able to work that out. (I will be asking Gareth to send a tool with my warlock when that comes).


Other than that, I'm am extremely satisfied with this Gem and now will try to be patient for my warlock :)

without further adu, here's the pics













Keep up the great work Gazza!
 
Ok so for a further review.


Pros:

Grinds/plunge lines are symmetrical.

screws are nicely polished

blade has a flawless hand rubbed mirror finish (doesn't show well in pictures)

the detent is prefect and allows for security when closed

Mother of pearl is gorgeous

lock up is rock solid (took it apart and tightened the pivot)

Early lock up (about 30-40%)

liners are anodized a beautiful electric blue color

light weight but sturdy

cons:

the anodizing is a little uneven on the sand blasted bolsters. Its the same color but almost looks a little blotchy (It's not bad but I was trying to think of what a super picky person would say.)

Blade is ever so slightly off center to the left. (not as bad as the picture above since I took it apart)

The mother of pearl on the one side where the screw goes in has very tiny chips (its to be expected with natural materials)



Overall Gareth knocked it out of the park with this Gem, and this is one of those knives that just makes you smile when you look at it :)
 
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I'm glad you had a Gareth Bull Christmas...awesome! I'm hoping I am one batch away from receiving my Shamwari. By all appearances I should be right there on the list. I'm sure things will get cranked back up after the holidays.

Congratulations on the Gem!
 
Wolf, out of interest did you pay for the Gem or did you offset it against what you paid for the warlock?
 
SAKC said:
Wolf, out of interest did you pay for the Gem or did you offset it against what you paid for the warlock?
Click to expand...

He sent it from the money I already sent him for the warlock.

I'll send him the rest of the money for the warlock when it is complete.

I'm very happy though with my gem and cant seem to put it down :)
 
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