Project #5: Leaf Knife

The weld was done with a flux wire welder, so what you see is the splatter I didn't file off. As for the intended use, as with all the other knives I make, it's just for show. I have all my knives in a display case at home.
 
tryppyr said:
The weld was done with a flux wire welder, so what you see is the splatter I didn't file off. As for the intended use, as with all the other knives I make, it's just for show. I have all my knives in a display case at home.
Click to expand...

You mean MIG?

I blew out the contrast to see the tang area better.

contrastg.jpg


It doesn't look like spatter. Granted I'm also not sitting in front of the knife. For showcase sitting it will be fine.

I'm interested in seeing where this goes.
 
Yes, MIG. The spatter was pretty thick on this when I finished the weld. I wanted to make sure I had a solid join all around. I sanded back a lot of the spatter when it was done, which is why it looks porous now. I'm pretty confident I didn't compromise the integrity of the bar.
 
I've been distracted the last couple of days by computer problems my wife is having, so I haven't made as much progress as I'd otherwise have made. About all I've done since the last photos was to finish the plunge grinding to the point where the ricasso is well defined now (if still somewhat rough). I also sanded off most of the remaining slag in the ricasso area, so it is now smooth and shiny (with the exception of the area below the edge of the bar).

I briefly fiddled around with the finer files to see how far that would take me toward finishing the blade. Some sanding will still be required, without a doubt.

What I'm up to at the moment is straightening out the center line and getting the outline to be a bit more symmetical. As I look at it now, I see the natural curves of the leaf... but since the leaf was just the inspiration (not the exact shape I wanted to copy), I think making it more symmetical will improve the appearance, and (coincidentally) allow me to sharpen the center line a bit in the bottom half of the blade.


- Greg
 
Tonight I did spend a little time changing the profile, but I wasn't able to finish the work on the center line before I started losing the light. Good thing the weekend is coming up.

Here are the latest shots.

LeafWIP6.JPG


LeafWIP7.JPG
 
Greg even if that wasn't a knife the shape is great. But since it is a knife WOW! There's some imagination at work. Can't wait to see the finished knife. Keep up the good work. John
 
It's been great watching the progress of this. I was wondering if you were going to
slant the ricasso like the veins or what. Now I see.
 
Are you grinding this blade or filing by hand?
I try to imagin the knife with its handle. Do you have an idea yet?
 
I'm filing by hand. Frankly, I can't imagine how I could do it any other way.

As for the handle, I have a few ideas, but I haven't settled on one yet.
 
It's from a bush in my back yard... I don't know what the bus is, though. Here's a picture.

LeafSource.JPG
 
I was recently introduced to the availability of a new toy called a USB microsoft. I bought one (mostly because they are so cheap), and it occurred to me this might actually be a useful tool during the sanding operations. Since I am beginning to sand this knife know, I thought I'd post the first image. This is a section that was lightly sanded but still bears strong file marks.

LeafMAG1.jpg
 
Can you tell us a bit more about the USB microsoft
Google only gives pages on software

I prefer to drawfile before I start sanding. It gives a good result and saves the 120 grit sanding stage
 
The USB microscope I bought is the Celestron Handheld Digital Microscope, which you can see here. Celestron's price is $79, but you can find it at other sites for as little as $52. It's got an integrated circle of LEDs to light the subject evenly. It records single images, bursts of images, or streaming video (WMV format). This is a 2D scope, so everything will appear flat. They do make stereo microscopes as well, but they are MUCH more expensive. However, with one of those you could see the shadows that give some hint of the depth of imperfections.
 
Uh, Greg, THAT'S POISON SUMAC! Just kidding. It's looking good this far. I know you were planning a knife, but have you considered making it into a spear?
 
that digital microscope is pretty awesome. You could use it at 10x to see the edge as you sharpen a blade.
 
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