Wheeler's Steel * Stuck in the metal with you

[brandon]

This is the best WIP thread I've ever read. Kudos to both you guys, I really appreciate all the effort that went into this.

 

[RogerP]

But I have a drawer full of billets and damascus blades.

I hope you don't have my gorgeous integral shoved into some damp, dusty drawer!



Roger

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I hope you don't have my gorgeous integral shoved into some damp, dusty drawer!



Roger

Now THAT'S funny!

 

[Bruce Bump]

I hope you don't have my gorgeous integral shoved into some damp, dusty drawer!



Roger

Nick doesnt allow dust anywhere in his shop.

 

[st8yd]

Nick doesnt allow dust anywhere in his shop.

Maybe that's where he keeps the dust, in the drawer with Roger's knife

 

[Lorien]

keeps it from getting damp.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Nah, he uses the dust to power his robot self.
After seeing in details how he does things, I am 100% sure he is some kind of automaton.

 

[sparrow75]

Great WIP guys!
Nick, when will you put your makers mark on the blade?

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I am 100% sure he is some kind of automaton.

TOLD YA!!!!!

...and he had the gall to accuse me of being a robot. Nick, does that make us both the same kind of robot?

Lorien, at some point you and I gotta talk - this thread is phenomenal! Too much work involved with this for it to be sequestered to a single corner of the interwebz...

 

[Lorien]

Matthew, I can be reached at 250 642 3123 from 9-6 Mon-Sat, feel free to call.

This is your morning coffee call. 9am... (notice I was RIGHT on time yesterday. That was a fluke).

 

[NickWheeler]

Before you guys get too excited about a booklet or something like that... I just don't know that that would fly. There are a whole lot of guys that are better at all of this than I am. Those are the guys who should be making a book.

 

[Lorien]

^I call bullshit! (there is always someone better. 99% of success is 'wanting to', the other 1% is luck).

By the way, there are so many pics today, I think some of you might actually overdose and go into a coma. So be careful.

 

[John White]

Nick, Lorien,

I'll just repeat, and add my voice to all who say that Nick's WIP is the most detailed and clear of all we've see. There's a fixture for every step, it seems, and every maker finds something to spark a "hey, I could do that" moment.

Being absolutely serious, bladesmithing lacks an extensive, clear, and authoritative library of "how it's done." You guys could, given enough time and effort, add something important to the few texts in the field. Go to it!

John

 

[clemsonreeder]

Whether Nick/Lorien makes an official book or not, I will definitely be making my own personal copy out of this thread. Nick and Bruce Bump have the best WIP's hands down. I think I'm going to start a compilation album of the best WIP threads I've come across. Great job Nick, you motivate me to be more organized for sure!

 

[tedinatl]

^^^ +1. As a newbie I've learnt so much from this thread that it would be a complete shame if this didn't at least get stickied, let alone put into some sort of digital or even printed book.

 

[C_Claycomb]

For the past dozen pages I have been thinking that this should be turned into a book. Ideally, one chapter of a book, not just a booklet. Lots of nice color pictures! I didn't like to jump in and say so though, but now that it has been mentioned... Nick, write a book! Please! The information you have put into this thread is, I think, at least comparable to that in the chapters of Blade's Guide to Making Knives. The photos are certainly clear enough.

You don't need to be the best in order to write a book, just good enough that others can learn from you and it's pretty clear that other people think you are more than good enough. And based on this thread its not just neophyte hobbyist like myself saying it!

I have seen books on knife making which were far less clear in their explanations than this thread, illustrated with knives which were much less well made and finished. Don't let your humility stand in the way

Thanks for all the effort, learning loads of stuff

Thanks!

Chris

 

[Lorien]

I want to make some reference lines for etching my name in the blade, but I want the reference lines to be parallel with the guard.... so first things first, I put the guard back on;

Anything that's flat and parallel will work for this. The exact height isn't important, I just want a line to make it easier to position my stencil;

Here's the whole set-up for etching my name into the blade;

The electrolyte and all purpose cleaner that's used with the etcher;

Here's the stencil I'll use on this blade. I have three, but use this one the most;

It really helps me to use back-lighting so that I can position the stencil properly. Since the stencil is dark green, and the blade is dark, it's very hard for me to see where I'm putting it if I just lay it down on the bench;

Here's a close-up.... this is more like the way I see it when positioning the stencil;

Once I get it where I think it's right, I like to look at it upside down. I have no idea what the science is behind this... but if you look at it right side up, you tend to read it just as much as you try to center it. When it's upside down, you just see it as an object rather than a word, so it's easy to see if it's right. For me anyway! LOL;

I actually bought the video for the etcher (15 years ago) and you're supposed to douse the etching hand-pad with electrolyte, then dob it on a paper towel so that it's not soaking wet;

Making contact with the stencil. The machine is set on DC current, and it's actually removing metal through the stencil now;

 

[Lorien]

Etching close up;

All that gunk on the cotton batting is material pulled from the blade. The inside of the batting will be BLACK;

Right after etching my mark... it's really not pretty at this point! It needs some extra work to make it look right;

So, back to the sanding fixture we go... with a little more 2500 grit paper;

Here it is after sanding. It's better, but it's still not very clear;

I get it CLEAN again with hot water and dish-soap, then take it back to the etching tank. I only leave it in there for about one minute this time though;

Spraying the blade down with Windex to neutralize the acid;

Guess where we get to go?!?! That's right... more hand finishing This time I'm using 3M polishing paper. The pink stuff is supposed to be 4,000 grit;

Now my mark is clear and much easier to read;

There are many different things you could do to finish out damascus at this point. You could even leave it alone if you wanted to, but I want to get some more "pop" out of this blade, by highlighting as much contrast and shimmer as I can. This is a method I've used for a long time and have had very reliable results with. It's also easy to touch up later if need be. The blade will be CLEANED again, and then I'll go over it with Birchwood Casey Super Blue;

 

[Lorien]

time for a break, gotta make me some coffee. Plus, I think it's time for a page change. Who wants to finish this one up? Got a joke or story, go ahead and let er fly:thumbup:.
See you again in about 15 minutes.

 

[st8yd]

Got a joke or story, go ahead and let er fly:thumbup:.
See you again in about 15 minutes.

Its off center