secret weapon?

Would it be weird to say breaks?

I don't think I would come up with anything decent if I was working on knives all the time. The huge downtimes let me think over things and brainstorm better.
 
Lighting....You can't have too much of it, but most shops sure as heck have a lack of it.
That and a good magnifier hood ( optivisor) for inspection.
 
For making scales, my secret weapons are my Iwasaki Japanese carving files. On wood and synthetics they cut like rasps, but leave a smooth surface like a file. The small ones are the best thing I've found for trimming out blocks for stick tangs.

TedP
 
I ordered a carbide faced file guide from Bump as well. Hopefully it shipped Saturday like it was supposed to. I love double sided carpet tape, use it all the time in my razor scale making.
 
Depends on what I'm doing.
Aside from all the basic stuff (grinders, mill, etc.) ...

some less-usual but highly prized tools in my shop include the Doringer cold saw and Heller ironworker. These are just great for different reasons.

A great compliment to the Foredoms is my Diprofil profile grinder. Awesome tool. If you can swing it, it'll change how you do certain things. :thumbup:
 
lamps and more lights.
Oh yeah and the curtains I have for the shop window. Yes they do look homely, nice and maybe out of place, but I close them when the sun shines directly on my worktop.
In an ideal world I´d have a north facing window (now west)
 
I'm too new to say much about working metal but when it comes to both shaping and finishing wood my absolute go-to tool is my card scraper (and burnisher, can't use it without). It leaves a fantastic finish, much better than sanding, doesn't choke on screwy grain. Most of all, I find it a much more intuitive way to free-shape wood when I've already removed the bulk with something else. Properly set with a good edge it can remove a lot more wood than you might think. It did take me a while to get rolling the edge right. Don't believe the videos saying you can just sharpen with w file and leave it. Do believe the ones that say "use about the pressure you'd use when buttering toast" to turn the edge with the burnisher. It's just a rectangle of thin spring steel, like you'd cut from a panel saw plate, but it works so well. for such a simple thing.

Oh... And cutting to fit instead of cutting to measurement
... marking knives/scribes instead of pencils.

I figured I'd add these since they're each things I've already used in my short knife making experience.
 
This thread needs more sneaky ideas....................

I miss it.
 
My pyrometer and my bandaids are my secret weapons. Other things that made a world of difference are good abrasives, good files (especially the needle files), ceramic platten, good drill bits, and recently my mill is saving my wrists (I have already had one set of surgeries for carpal tunnel syndrome) when slotting guards. Nick Wheeler and Bruce Bump WIPS are excellent, and Paul Long DVDs were my most recent acquisition and worth triple what I paid for them. Access to Bladeforums got me away from instructibles and youtube so I actually make knives that work now.

Most importantly is my wife who understands I NEED to do things like this and never gives me a hassle regarding my shop.
 
Not really a secret because I have posted a couple hundred pics of them in use, but still.... (and not necessarily in this order):



Redline Rhynowet sand paper

9" variable speed, reversing disc sanders

Surface grinder

"Shoe-shine" strips made from Rhynowet and Gorilla tape

Pertinacity... aka- stubborn/bull-headed/persistent--- It can prevail over a lack of innate talent!!!!!
 
Two things,

- My wife, she manages my website. :o

- Rick Marchand. When some 'splainin' needs to be done, he's my man.

-Peter
 
Photoshop....... Ha!


I'd have to say that my "secret weapon" is the ability to "roll with the punches". That is to say, have an initial goal but allow the piece to "evolve" and tell YOU what it wants to become. Mistakes can be great nucleation points for creativity. There can be times when holding on to a specific ideal in your mind, sabotages the entire project.

"When life hands you lemons, have a beer... and put a slice of lemon in it!" - R. Marchand
 
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