Snarkaholics Anonymous

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NJBillK said:
You use cold water leaching to make acorn meal suitable for baking. The cold water preserves the starchiness of the acorn meal, which makes it work well in breads and pancakes and muffins and such.

Hot water leaching removes the starch, but seems to bring out the nutty flavor more, which makes it better for using the acorns in savory foods, like acorn burgers, or, in sauces.
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That's fascinating, and it makes sense along with the other stuff I read about acorns today. I'm continually interested by how much chemistry is involved in what seems to be "simple" cooking techniques. Thanks for sharing :)

All I have to add on the topic is, I read from several sources that acorns keep best in their natural state, un-shelled and un-cracked. Which seems to make sense... so I haven't worked with any of ours yet, just gathering them as they fall until I get a good-size batch to mess with. In the meantime I'll be studying more. Why not, I get 'em free so there's really nothing to lose :)

I didn't get doodly-squat accomplished in the garden today, but my BoB and all three FAK's (car, shop/house, and BoB) are buttoned down tight, baby. That was pretty fun and interesting too. Miss Angie thinks I'm a bit of a goof for putting a whole afternoon into that while watching football, but I just told her, "Darlin', you'll be glad as hell if one of us gets hurt or we decide to go camping at a moment's notice" ;)
 
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Just picked up an old Western Bowie at a gun/knife show.
This one is pre-W49, so I think it was made between 66-77. (Or something like that...)
I've always wanted one and this one definitely has some character.






 
worldwood said:
Shortening? I blame them for expanding mine LOL
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Yeah, I'm not so much a collector. Things that I originally wanted got crossed off the list due to the way some of them actually felt in the hand. Others I can't justify because they are not as good as blades I already own :D Maybe I shouldn't say shortened more like 'refined' haha.
 
Appears the resin IS curing, though I'm gonna leave it clamped up till tomorrow. Maybe do a little cleaning tonight, so I have a place to actually work. I really do live an exciting life.....:rolleyes:

Tim, my want list is so long I ran out of paper. Now I just look at it wistfully, with the full realization that I will be, uh, underfunded for the rest of my days, and thank whatever god I believe in that I have a 0560 in my pocket. I do really love that thing, even more so since I turned what ZT calls a "slicer" grind into an actual slicer grind. They are great knives, but thick steel and a 40° edge is NOT very good at slicing.
 
My want list is getting smaller and my knife buying is slowing down. I did just get a Camillus saber 11 this week though.

I have also been bitten by the custom bug. My TM Hunt Yuma, James Terrio Bushcrafter, and my BHK Woodcrafter are some of my favorite knives I own. I still have that "need a new knife" itch though.

Jeremy
 
dresnor said:
My want list is getting smaller and my knife buying is slowing down. I did just get a Camillus saber 11 this week though.

I have also been bitten by the custom bug. My TM Hunt Yuma, James Terrio Bushcrafter, and my BHK Woodcrafter are some of my favorite knives I own. I still have that "need a new knife" itch though.

Jeremy
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Stop scratching.
 
But it feels so gooooood!

Is there a cream or something for the itch?

Seriously though, making my own knife has slowed the knife buying down. Having to buy tools and materials takes away from buying more knives.

Jeremy
 
Jonny1280 said:
Just picked up an old Western Bowie at a gun/knife show.
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There are a lot of factors involved in this crazy road I've taken, but reading Bill Bagwell's SOF article about modding a Western Bowie in the mid-80's is the singular moment of clarity that really kicked my ass into seriously studying this whole knifemaking thing. If a person reads just one short piece about steel selection, handle design, balance, blade geometry, etc... in my opinion that's the place to start.

That article has stuck in my brain ever since, and I blame Mr. Bagwell directly for my choice of careers :D I don't know if that article is available online, but it's re-printed in his book "Bowies, Big Knives and the best of Battle Blades" , which I strongly recommend for various reasons.

Oddly, after all these years I still have never owned a quality W49 or variant thereof... but I keep hearing rumors that Ka-Bar will be presenting one soon ...
 
the first tomahawk class was pretty good - the guy made a "slit-eye" style hawk with hammer poll and forge welded cutting edge. Tomorow morning he will make a "wrap and weld" style hawk.
the class on Turkish Damascus was very cool - and the guy made 2 5-bar billets which were raffled of to help raise funds for the Kansas Custom Knifemakers Association...
another guy was advertising his completely rebuilt 50 pound little giant for sale. Unfortunately, he wants more for it than SWMBO's car is worth....
metallurgy of heat treat and "fancy Damascus" classes were also fascinating.


bigghoss said:
I've had two savage 110's and I'd like to get another. Or really just a long action so I can get an aftermarket '06 barrel on it and laminated stock.
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you might keep an eye out for a Stevens 200 -- made by savage and basically the old style model 10 action without the accutrigger and a grey synthetic stock instead of black. GREAT base for modding a quality long range shooter.

Jerry D. said:
That.
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the other -- and good to hear you're both OK
 
Thanks, Vik. I think everybody was pretty lucky there. Hiking has been officially postponed until tomorrow.

Now.... You have to impart some of that knowledge gained from these hawk classes, especially the forge welded cutting edge, at the next gathering.... Or just drag the forge up to Todd's and I'll bring some growlers or a pony keg down from sun king :D
 
That sounds really interesting, Erik. Sounds like you are having a good time.

I have been considering buying/building a forge and immersing myself in bladesmithing, but think I may become completely obsessed with it. So for now I will just continue playing with hot metal in other forms.
 
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for a beginner forge, Atlas forges have a great reputation. If you want to build your own, their 30k burner kit is a good deal -- and you can use the one you buy as a template to make a second one for a larger forge.
 
Check craigslist too. I've seen some decent forge set ups and tools for good prices as people clear out space or get out of the hobby for whatever reason. There was one a few months back that I was incredibly tempted to pick up, but the money was a bit tight at the time and I'm in a 1bdr apartment.
 
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