Killing 2 weeks in NJ

D

Dakota Dogman

Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Messages
48
Situation: Going to see in-laws for 2 weeks in May, bro-in-law getting hitched. (This is a good thing, great lady, helps him a bunch...)
2 weeks with the in-laws... 2 weeks in suburbia... kids will be playing with cousins / grandma & grandpa. Bro-in-laws will be working & I will be ... bored.

Goal: To kill the boredom want to create a knife...
Have had the chance to make a 1/2 dozen now, but my tutor moved on & life has sped up which has kept this fun to a minimum.

Plan: To send out a small box of tools & a piece of steel to NJ to play with
Pop-in-law has a small set of house hold type tools... can't plan on much more than a screw driver / drill / etc.
I have been blessed with a decent selection of tools because the men in my world have had & passed down.
Bought a Coot belt grinder about 2 years ago, but in NJ planning on only what I bring.

So I think I will grind the blade to profile here and then in NJ go at it with a set of files etc. to finish it

Your part in this game if you feel like playing...
1) what are the essentials that I can take with me to make this happen?
rough short list would include...
> profiled steel, wood scales, brass screws,
> files (flat & round)
> Back board to work on... (what to secure the board onto & how? no work bench... )
> sand paper (should have a short 2x4 out there to make a sanding block out of...?)


2) how to go about tempering the blade in suburbia neighborhood?
no charcoal grill... not going be able to do bondfire in the yard I doubt... don't know anyone off the top of my head with a good gas torch...



Thanks & God Bless,
 
Where in Jersey will you be? If you can get a few hours to your self, give Aldo a call and see if you can show up at his shop and shoot the bull with him and maybe get some more steel. He is a wealth of knowledge and a nice guy to boot. He can get distracted and sit on the phone for a while though ;). He is in north central Jersey.

How about a c clamp or two, a piece of metal for backing for hand sanding. Oil or oiled rag to store the blade. Safe place to store your knife and tools so that kids can't get to them when you're not looking. Maybe a fishing pole?
Have fun
 
Being bored isn't such a terrible thing. Embrace the boredom. Relish in the down time. Allow yourself to slow down and smell the septic tanks.
 
Thanks guys for input... C-clamps & flat metal mentally added.

Peter's Valley sounds good, unfortunately we are in the "kids not cash" stage of life & the entry fee is giggle material on our budget.

Place is in Southern Jersey, 'bout 1/2 way between Philly & ocean. Time to my self is no problem... but that is all I'll have available! No transportation... no shop... no... This isn't our first trip out there. After 18 years of marriage I kind of know what to expect, but hey, small sacrifice for a wonderful wife. Then again, when only get limited vacation time each year, I've got to do something with it. Bored not a terrible thing? GOOD FOR YOU! Not for me.

God Bless,
 
Looks like tempering is off the table, why not order up a couple pre-made blade blanks and some handle material, or a folder kit? Either of those should be do-able with household type tools.
 
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