Wheeler's Steel * Stuck in the metal with you

Thank you both for this epic thread. Lorien, congrats to you, what a knife!
 
Thanks for the WIP. I learned a ton.

When I start making knives again I will be better because of this thread. I have a few books and videos by some masters of their craft that don't show what this thread did. I have always admired Nick's fit and finish. Now I know what it takes to achieve it.

Thanks again,

Mark Merz
 
Outstanding WIP Nick and Lorien! The best I've ever seen and also informative even to us older makers that thought they knew everything. Thanks for teaching an old dog some new tricks Nick.
 
Thanks Nick and Loren, this is my first post in this thread but I have been reading and re-reading everything here since the beginning.
Nick I appreciate the in shop look, amazing, just like the finished product.
Definitely learned a lot from this thread!!!!!!!
 
I'll ditto what everyone said about the amazing education that Nick and Lorien has given us. It's remarkable how Nick thinks of every little detail and how to go about doing things.

One thing that I want to comment and praise on is Nick's clear but succinct captions. Often when explaining a complex set of operations, a writer will either miss explaining steps or overly explain them, or a combination of both. Nick's economy of words combined with his photos is just the right amount to keep things moving fast and interesting yet be informative.
 
Geez guys! :eek: "Thank you" doesn't seem like enough from me for all the kind words, but.....

Thank you, it is truly appreciated. :) I think it would even be enough to make my head swell a little, but fortunately for my hats I have screwed up enough other things in the shop already since wrapping this one up last night to keep me nice and deflated. :foot: LMAO

My friend John White sure is good with his words. He manages to come up with a compliment for me screwing up his very clear and precise directions. :o :foot: :)

I agree with a lot of the posts in that as bad as finding the flaw in the first handle sucked... it seems to have worked out well with this new block. There actually WAS a void in nearly the same spot :eek: but it turned out to be a very shallow one that ground away quickly. :)


Thanks again for following along folks, it's been a lot of extra work but it was a lot of fun at the same time. I'm really glad some people got something out of it, and really hope Lorien will be happy with this big 'ol whopper when he gets it. :)
 
You are a class act, Nick.

And, some people getting something out of it is a rather ridiculous understatement, but that goes along with your classiness. Thanks.
 
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Nick, thanks again for sharing the process with us!

I just have two questions:

1) How do you determine the size of the handle? Do you just go according to your own hand or do you get a tracing of the customer's hand?

2) Why the pin? It seems like a lot of extra work and quite risky too. Does it have some special significance and/or purpose (other than decorative).

Many thanks and congrats on getting her done! :thumbup:
 
Nick, I'm curious; did you take pictures of the sharpening of the knife? If so, I'd love to see that part too, (and while you're at it, you wanna pick me up a pack of smokes?:p)
 
Lorien- Post #95--- I think you were there? ;) Same thing, just have to do it again.

Size of the handle- I have some basic parameters I work within, but the handle size is mostly determined by the size and type of the knife. It really is one of those things where "If it looks right, it will probably be right" with knife handles (IMHO).

I made this one a slight bit smaller than I would have normally because the pattern Lorien originally sent me has a pretty small handle.

The pin is 90% mechanical fastener, 10% decoration. After bonding the handle with Acraglas (we saw what happens getting a handle off with just that) AND THE PIN... you would absolutely have to destroy this handle to get it to come off. :)
 
Professor Nick, i learned more from this thread than all of my knife making learning experiences combined, thanks for the schooling!!! Ifeel like i should send you some tuition or something lol. This is an awesome wip and the knife looks amazing.

thanks for taking the time!
-josh
 
:ohehe...um, well, I thought I was paying attention:rolleyes:
I think this thread overloaded my circuits:)
 
Incredible thread! A great pleasure to watch this unfold. The handle surely is among the most beautiful i've ever seen. Just a terrific end to the suspense. Thanks guys! Hats off.
David
 
Nick,
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I have learned loads watching you fit up and finish that handle. I am years away from forging damascus, but hidden tangs and fine finishing, yeah...that's something to work towards! I can't thank you enough for some of the tips!
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:D



All the best,
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Chris

PS. If my email to you didn't get though, please burn that dang check ;)
 
Great thread Nick and Lorien! Just seeing all those jigs is worth the price of admission, and the knife is gorgeous too. ;)

Thanks for all the effort. I know how much goes into WIP threads...
 
Absolutely amazing work, both on the knife and the WIP thread!

As a new maker just getting started I have to say this thread has been both inspiring and very, very informative. I know I will be coming back to this thread for a year or more to come as I start trying to develop my own processes for knife making.
Thanks again to both Nick and Lorien for making this happen!

BTW, I thought your videos on sanding the handle were great. They gave me some tips I would not have thought of, and were very "watchable". I would be interested is buying a how-to DVD if you ever make one.
 
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