OT: Rainy day? Time to grind some steel

Sylvrfalcn

Sylvrfalcn

Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
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Feeling a bit cooped up, but no worry, got a big old mill bastard file, and a sweet hunk of curly maple, that's even got "birds eyes" in it. Made myself the knife in the pictures a few weeks back, inspired by an 18th century "trade" knife, and it's proven itself most handy and useful. Think I'll make it a big brother in roughly the same pattern. Gotta figure out something to do until my new sirupati gets here. :D

Sarge
 
You know if you're really bored, i could use a ........... ;)

Those are beautiful. You are very talented. :)
 
Nice as always Sarge. Maybe one of these days I'll be able to do some metal work again, one can always hope.;) :D
 
Cool Sarge. :thumbup: I was thinking about your file knives just today and was wondering something. Could you do the tempering before the grinding, to make them easier to work? Or is it just as easy to grind, then temper?

Inquiring minds want to know. :)

Thanks,
Steve
 
ferguson said:
Could you do the tempering before the grinding, to make them easier to work? Or is it just as easy to grind, then temper?
Inquiring minds want to know. :)
Thanks,
Steve
Click to expand...

Steve,
I don't claim to be an expert, so maybe the experts'll bail me out if I botch this up. Using the process I do, i.e. grinding at full hardness, it's best to temper after you're done. The gradual heating and cooling (slow bake in oven, air cool at room temperature) not only softens/toughens the steel, but also helps relieve any stress in the metal that may have been imparted during the grinding process. Optimal, if I had a full size forge on hand, would be to fully anneal the steel prior to grinding, and then reharden and temper. Don't have a big enough forge yet, so I have to try and get the most out of the hardness already present in the file. 'Course, if I had a proper forge, I wouldn't have to do near as much grinding anyway. Shucks. :D

Sarge
 
Bobwhite said:
Did you carve the spoon yourself?
Click to expand...

Yessir,
Made all the geegaws in the picture. The spoon was carved from hard maple using one of my homemade spoon carving hooks. The little "possibles bag pipe" is made of elk antler with a wooden stem, and a bit of patriotic decoration using the peyote beading technique (smokes fine by the way :D ).


that'll surely "Git-R-Done"...!!
Thanks Dan, but you and I both know you could crank out one of these crude little 'tater peelers in your sleep if you wanted to. Making knives is a fine hobby to keep this decrepit old retiree (figured I'd best beat the Duck to the punch) busy, but if I had to do it for a living my diet would mostly be pinto beans and rice. :( :D

Sarge
 
mamav said:
You know if you're really bored, i could use a ........... ;)
Click to expand...

Just send me a sketch and a wooden model Gin. :D Not to de-rail my own thread, but how's the police work going? I'm sure I'm not the only one gets worried when we go a spell without hearing from you.

Sarge
 
Well, police work is the usual. Last week I got in on the arrest of a sex offender who had worked at the Falcon Field Explorers post. He sodomized at least 3 kids that we know of and was caught when he sent child porn to a guy in WV who was under surveillance by the Feds. Very sad indeed. He will get his just sentence here. It indeed is a sad world, but I know that there is good out there and I intend to spread some to the people I come in contact with.

You guys spread some everyday here. This is a great place and I miss it when I'm busy. I'm sure everyone does.
 
Such repulsive acts, against children especially, must be pretty grim stuff to deal with. Just remember, you, and all the others like you, bring light to the darkness, and God willing, some justice to an otherwise unjust world. Give 'em hell Gin, and thanks;

Sarge
 
Dave,
Might help you to know, if a project's really whooping my butt, I call a cease fire and tactically withdraw. I.E., pack it up, put it aside, and come back to it when the mood strikes you. Frustration can hairball on a fellow quick, best to treat it like a dud round and just let it "cook off".
Spend some time squaring away your tools and materials, then just relax and go do something else. When the time comes (you'll know when that is, don't let nobody push you), you'll be ready to jump back in by the numbers.
In my mind's eye, I already see a beautiful khuk with a handle of Madrona wood, can't wait for you to post the pics. :D

Sarge
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Yessir,
The little "possibles bag pipe" is made of elk antler with a wooden stem, and a bit of patriotic decoration using the peyote beading technique (smokes fine by the way :D ).
Click to expand...

Very nice work on all the items.

Glad you didn't smoke all the peyote and left a little for beading! ;)
 
You make nice stuff, Sarge.

I recognize the fire steel. Did it come from Ragnar at Ragweed Forge?

I have one just like it which came from him. Good folks.


Ad Astra
 
Ad Astra said:
You make nice stuff, Sarge.

I recognize the fire steel. Did it come from Ragnar at Ragweed Forge?

I have one just like it which came from him. Good folks.


Ad Astra
Click to expand...

No,
Ragnar is a friend of mine and a fine man by anybody's measure, but the fire steel is one I actually made from an old file (sent Yvsa one like it, hope he ain't burnt down Oklahoma with it :p ). Ragnar is a member of the American Bladesmith Society, and before I packed out to Afghanistan he forged me a blade for a neck/boot knife. Actually he forged me three, he didn't like the first two, so the one I wound up with was forged from a cherished piece of steel given to him by none other than Bill Moran. What did he charge for the blade? Nothing more than that I serve with honor and bring myself home safe. That's just the sort of fellow he is.
If you've got one of Ragnar's fire steels I already know it's a good'n. I see that he's importing fire steels from Sweden now, and pretty much out of stock on the one's he makes. I pray it's just because business is keeping him busy, and not because those cold upstate winters have stiffened him up too much to swing the hammer.

Sarge
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Dave,
Might help you to know, if a project's really whooping my butt, I call a cease fire and tactically withdraw. I.E., pack it up, put it aside, and come back to it when the mood strikes you. Frustration can hairball on a fellow quick, best to treat it like a dud round and just let it "cook off".
Spend some time squaring away your tools and materials, then just relax and go do something else. When the time comes (you'll know when that is, don't let nobody push you), you'll be ready to jump back in by the numbers.
In my mind's eye, I already see a beautiful khuk with a handle of Madrona wood, can't wait for you to post the pics. :D

Sarge
Click to expand...

Great advice there. I learned that being annoyed, tired or frustrated and pushing on anyway is the quickest way to wreck what your working on, or cut yourself. I have the scars to prove it.
 
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