Knife Making

#11 05-16-2003, 09:26 AM

Thanks Rick, excellent information. I am going to have to try my hand at it I guess! Curiosity! Always have to try something out and see if I can do it! Oh well, makes life interesting.

Captain_Bandaid · #12 05-17-2003, 05:45 PM

Beware! Making carving knives is addictive! Today I forged a small scorp. This was not as easy as it looks. Forging and forming the blade is fairly straight forward but sharpening it is a real booger! :P

Kenny_S · #13 05-18-2003, 02:41 PM

Rick, they are prettiful(as my Darling GDaughter would say)!
Thanks for the info and pictures. You may have answered this but what is the wood on the blondish knife?

Thanks again for sharing.

#14 05-19-2003, 03:00 AM

From the top, the first handle is maple, the second is monkey wood, the third is maple burl.

In the second picture, the left is spalted holly, and on the right is juniper.

In the the last 3 pictures the handle is quilted maple.

#15 05-19-2003, 03:13 AM

For anyone looking for knife handle wood, Ebay has a good selection. I just bought (36) 1' x 1' x 4' pieces of African Blackwood for $21.00 + $10.00 shipping. That's about the cost of one good knife. I have already made one handle from it, and it turned out very nice.

Blackwood is a very dense black wood with gold/brown streaks running through it. If linseed oil is applied to it, it will turn pure black. It finishes as smooth as a piano key and appears to have visible depth to the wood.

It could present a problem with being too smooth for a good grip. I have considered turning a set of carving tool handles ftom blackwood. That will give me an excuse to buy more wood!

Captain_Bandaid · #16 05-19-2003, 07:17 PM

??? Rick, any idea about the toxicity of African Blackwood? Recall my difficulties with Bolivian Rosewood. Even if one person has no problem with a particular wood, someone else can have allergies and have serious problems with exotic wood. That being said, I'm gonna go check out the wood on E-bay! 8)

#17 05-20-2003, 04:13 AM

Cap't.
I couldn't find any warnings on blackwood, but it is in the rosewood family. I worked it wearing a good dust mask and dust collection system with no problems.

It is used for making woodwind instruments including bagpipes and clarinets.

Kenny_S · #18 05-20-2003, 03:53 PM

I have notice more and more articles on toxicity of wood and people being more aware of wooking with exotic woods. I notice how I have reacted to different types of wood when working with them. I think the more we let eachother know the safer we will be. I for one thank you all for inforing the rest of us.
I don't like wear face masks or respirators or dust mask but realizing how much safer I am for doing so.

Thanks again,

Kenny S

Captain_Bandaid · #19 05-20-2003, 07:37 PM

Rick, could explain why clarinets make me a bit queasy!
Kenny, dust masks are a minimum protection. Keep ALL exposed skin covered up, shower immediately after you do the work, including washing the hair if you do not wear a cap. I kid you not! I broke out in an itchy, burning rash all over my face, chest and arms after working with Bolivian Rosewood. Obviously, I am allergic to it and you might not be. However, I didn't know I was allergic until the rash showed up. Not fun! :'(

Captain_Bandaid · #20 05-24-2003, 07:50 PM

Finished my second small drawknife today. Like the first one, it was forged from a single turn of a RR spring. I hardened it to about Rc 50. It has a 3-1/2' blade and is about 10' between the bottom of the handles. I made this one with wide handles to which I pinned and epoxied walnut slab scales. All that remains is to sharpen it. I can only hope it works as well as the first one. If it works well, I will take a picture of it and put it on picture trail. If it doesn't work, well....uh......... :