The Adventures of Pearl !!! Host list post's #22 and #23

Vaporstang said:
I got a haircut after work and snapped this is outside the shop. Typical scenery in my area: beautiful blue skies, well kept farms, fertile soil, and ugly Illinois potholes.
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We lived in central IL for a year for an internship my wife had after grad school. I remember the potholes being particularly impressive around this time of year. :confused: :D
 
On my drive to work I cross over the Illinois River and then travel along it. In between the highway is a set of railroad tracks. There is also a place where tugs/barges dock. I was not able to get any barge pictures. It is kind of congested at places because the wall of the valley doesn't leave much room. There was one spot I was always curious about and pulled over to take some pictures. I was a little disappointed because I could not get the bridge I crossed in the pictures.

Then on my way home I drove to the top of the river valley to get some pictures of the flood plain. Those pictures don't do the view I was seeing justice.

Along the shores of the Illinois River (and my car):


Flood Plain (again the pictures don't do justice to what I was seeing):
 
I think that is some beautiful scenery Vapor :thumbsup: especially that silver stang peeping around those saplings. :D
I hope Pearl is behaving herself you two have some fun.
 
Well, after a long and sort of weird day (I won't get into that right now), I came home tonight and found a brick-shaped box from Illinois in my mailbox.

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Now, to the best of my recollection, I haven't ever purchased a knife from Vaporstang Vaporstang , but if he packages every knife he mails like he packaged this one up, I don't think I'd concern myself with any shipping insurance! My NCM Bull Nose made quick work of the piece of tape that I thought would allow me to open the box. I was wrong. So I tried another piece of tape. And another. After cutting tape on what seemed like every edge of the box, I finally managed to get the box open, and excitedly removed... a brick-shaped mass of odd-looking packing paper.

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I started unwrapping, and found that underneath the odd-looking paper, the mass was wrapped in another layer of normal paper. As I removed the layer of normal paper, I saw what I thought was Pearl's traveling case. WRONG!! Well, not wrong, exactly, but Pearl's case was not yet accessible, as it was wrapped in yet another layer of plastic wrap.

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So I unwrapped the plastic wrap, unzipped Pearl's traveling case, and there she was in all her scrimshawed glory -- Pearl!!

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Nope. Wait. That's just more wrapping. Fancy corrosion-inhibiting wrapping, but wrapping nonetheless.

Alright, surely... surely... that was the last of the wrapping, right? I mean, this Russian nesting doll situation can't go on forever, can it?? :confused:

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Thank goodness! Welcome to Minnesota, Pearl! And thanks to Vaporstang Vaporstang for packing up so securely to ensure she arrived safe and sound! :thumbsup:

Now, as some of you may know, I only recently moved to Minnesota myself, so I'm far from an expert tour guide, but I'm hoping that Pearl and I can do a little exploring together and hopefully find some interesting things to see. Wish us luck!
 
Vaporstang said:
Ok, the packaging was definitely overkill. LOL Glad to see Pearl has landed.
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Better safe than sorry! ;)

Nothing too exciting going on today. Pearl has been hanging around with the same Bull Nose that helped get her out of her package last night.

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I hope the old girl doesn't mind bit more winter weather. It's only sleeting at the moment, but that's supposed to turn to snow later on today, and we're expected to get anywhere from 8" to 18" by Sunday. :confused:

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r8shell said:
This is only the second time I've scratted on plastic, and I'm hoping the ink stays put. If it fades, don't stress about it. I can always touch it up, or we can just accept the natural aging process. (a little wax from time to time wouldn't hurt)
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r8shell r8shell , it does look like Pearl's ink has faded a bit. I have a few fountain pen inks around the house (I don't have any black, but I've got a very dark brown). Let me know if you want me to try and give her a little touch up.
 
btb01 said:
r8shell r8shell , it does look like Pearl's ink has faded a bit. I have a few fountain pen inks around the house (I don't have any black, but I've got a very dark brown). Let me know if you want me to try and give her a little touch up.
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I've been noticing that, and trying to think what would be the best thing to do. You can apply ink to the lines, and immediately buff it off the surface, letting it dry in the design. Since the knife has been used, there are probably lots of very fine scratches on the covers that may pick up the ink, too. At worst, it will look blotchy.
Maybe try touching up a small area, and see how it looks.

Whatever happens is part of the aging process, and helps me learn about scratting Delrin.
 
Maybe I should have been more careful when I was oiling it. Although, there was some "gunk" in-between the spring and liners when I did flush it out.
 
Vaporstang said:
Maybe I should have been more careful when I was oiling it. Although, there was some "gunk" in-between the spring and liners when I did flush it out.
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With ivory or bone, the ink is absorbed into the grain like a dye. On plastic, it's just sitting in the scrats, so I think it would eventually wear off just by being handled. I used India ink, but maybe there are other inks or dyes that bond to the plastic better. Oh well, I said it was an experiment and Pearl is still The Porch Knife even with her make up washed off. :)
 
I tested a little fountain pen ink on her (Noodler's Walnut), applied with a Q-tip and wiped off with a paper towel. There was a slight improvement, and no issue on the surface of the knife. I may try it one more time to see if I can get a little more ink in the cuts.

r8shell r8shell I meant to say when I received Pearl yesterday that I'm very impressed with your scratting, the porch scene on the pile side of the knife is fantastic! Excellent job! :thumbsup:
 
btb01 said:
I tested a little fountain pen ink on her (Noodler's Walnut), applied with a Q-tip and wiped off with a paper towel. There was a slight improvement, and no issue on the surface of the knife. I may try it one more time to see if I can get a little more ink in the cuts.

r8shell r8shell I meant to say when I received Pearl yesterday that I'm very impressed with your scratting, the porch scene on the pile side of the knife is fantastic! Excellent job! :thumbsup:
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Thank you! It was fun to do. :)

I look forward to seeing pictures of Pearl's visit with you.
 
What a great thread... I'm excited to see Pearl in person! I've spent a small fortune (for me) on this knife hobby over the years and it is threads like this and the great knife nuts I've got to meet over the years that makes it all worth it!
 
willythekid said:
What a great thread... I'm excited to see Pearl in person! I've spent a small fortune (for me) on this knife hobby over the years and it is threads like this and the great knife nuts I've got to meet over the years that makes it all worth it!
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It looks like she'll be heading your way next. If this weather doesn't improve in the next week or two, I might have to buy Pearl a little knife-sized winter coat to send along with her. :confused: :D
 
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