What's happening in the David Mary Custom shop?

[David Mary]

Thank you for the kind words!

 

[James River]

Thanks!

There’s this one almost done now too. A little bit off in the other direction on the simplicity vs complexity spectrum but not too far.

View attachment 2297983

That handle combo

 

[Danny Linguini]

Thanks!

There’s this one almost done now too. A little bit off in the other direction on the simplicity vs complexity spectrum but not too far.

View attachment 2297983

Even the ‘simple’ stuff looks distinctive. But this is super cool.

 

[David Mary]

Thanks everyone, you make me feel special.


Home stretch. One done, one to go. That’s makers mark number 20 on that last 15N20 stencil by the way.

 

[David Mary]

Used to be I could not even get a makers mark this clean with a fresh stencil, let alone one that had already done 20 of them. Same equipment and everything. Well maybe not everything. Experience helps.

 

[Cwilliams563]

Used to be I could not even get a makers mark this clean with a fresh stencil, let alone one that had already done 20 of them. Same equipment and everything. Well maybe not everything. Experience helps.

View attachment 2298095

Dang! She Purty!

 

[DocJekl]

Here’s one coming close to completion. Wanted to do something nice and simple. 15N20 drop point, 4” blade 7 3/4” overall with Indian ebony.

View attachment 2297948

Kinda reminds me of a larger version of my customized handle Badger Scout.

 

[BlindMouse2of3]

Both of those turned out great.

 

[David Mary]

You were up awfully early BlindMouse2of3 ! And thanks for the kind words.

 

[BlindMouse2of3]

You were up awfully early BlindMouse2of3 ! And thanks for the kind words.

Slept in until 4 this morning. Took my time getting ready and at work making noise at 6. Today was about as relaxed as they come these days.

 

[David Mary]

Friday night fighter.






5” blade, 3” sharpened swedge, .09” 15N20.

 

[David Mary]

“If it feels good, do it”. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I don’t stand behind that statement as an unqualified piece of blanket advice. But in some contexts it can be a good thing.

Spoiler

 

[David Mary]

These will have to wait to get finished. Hopefully I can get them done tomorrow.

 

[David Mary]

I think I can I think I can

 

[Bobthebrewer]

You can do it!

 

[David Mary]

Thanks Bob!

 

[David Mary]

I had an eyelet split on me tonight for the first time in as long as I can remember. I thought I’d share the fix I have come up with for when it happens as I know 000Robert and some others have had this issue from time to time as well.

I have tried a few things with varying success though I once thought it was pretty much either ruin the sheath trying to remove the split eyelet or just leave it in since it is at least still functional.

But now, I start by crushing the eyelet non-show side so it will fit back through the hole. I have to use my leather man as my pliers just won’t do it.




Then I use the drill press to pop it through. Don’t turn it on, just use the downward force of a 1/4” bit to push it through. The wood is there to prevent the metal shelf from scuffing the sheath.



Material around the hole may look a little messed up…



But that gets covered back up again anyway.

 

[David Mary]

How funny. I was literally just thinking, as I bang together the last sheath, “I wish I’d thought to take a before pic”. Well as fate would have it….

Here’s what the split eyelets can look like. I’m not mad, but I might have gotten a little extra aggressive with the hammer on that last one. For no particular reason...

 

[BlindMouse2of3]

They can be frustrating. Some people say oil the dies, some people heat the eyelets. I had very few split after switching to an arbor press. I use to just Dremel them out and replace. Your method looks just as good.

 

[David Mary]

Bob was right.