Damascus and Turquoise

[BrokenolMarine]

Tomorrow I hope to get back to work on the range crossing in the morning, as well as back at the knife.

[BrokenolMarine]

I got back out in the shop and started working on the knife again. Yup, I know it is hard to believe, I have been away from it for a good while. It's been killing me too, but doc's orders. That right leg started bothering me, and the pain was bad. I was afraid there was a problem in the Eifel Tower inside the leg. Didn't want that. Yes, those are titanium zip ties around the femur. That is a surgery I don't want to repeat.

compressed.jpg

For a couple days I couldn't put weight on it. The weather had turned really cold and it was raining for 48 hours. So, it could just be severe arthritis. I got in contact with my old friend, the doc. He was my surgeon for thirty years, now retired, and he said to stay off the leg and contact ortho. I did. I explained the issue and they got me an appointment. At the END of February. The pain has dropped a lot, but not back to the everyday levels. But, I can work in the shop mostly sitting in the wheelchair and I keep the sessions short.

I paired the bolsters, and rolled the front edges, then glued the one side on and let it cure a day... then using the carbide bit, drilled thru using the holes in the blank as a guide. The heat from drilling made the glue release. I had heard of this happening, but never had it happen to me. I cleaned it up, reglued it and let it cure. I glued the opposite side on, used the holes on the opposite side as a guide and drilled the new... heat made both sides release. I hate nickel silver. I cleaned up both sides, got them reglued, and then slowly, slowly, slowly, got them drilled and the pinned with dog paw mosaic pins. I will remember they are VERY heat sensitive when I'm shaping the knife later. Likely had shape both ends of the knife. (sigh)

Moved to the middle and started on the cocobolo, matching the two front halves and getting them done, then gluing up the carbon fiber spacers and turquoise and then shaping them. Today I put on the first turquoise and rear panel. We are making progress, and here is where we are so far.

27 so far.jpg

Once the epoxy cures I'll drill the hole thru the panel and then glue up the opposing side. Once that's done and the hole drilled, I'll countersink the four holes and put in the corby bolts to secure them before moving on. The nickel silver end caps come next, and I'll remember the end caps need to be marked and shaped BEFORE installation, due to the epoxy being heat sensitive. Once the end caps are in place and pinned, we can start shaping and then polishing the knife.

[RetiredSeabee]

Good to see you are back to the project. All I can say about the leg bone is Ouch!

[BrokenolMarine]

Good to see you are back to the project. All I can say about the leg bone is Ouch!

Got back out again this afternoon and put the matching inlays on the other side. I'll try and get the corby bolts and the end caps done tomorrow morning, then I can start shaping once the epoxy sets. I love that part.

[Hatchdog]

Dang BOM that picture of your leg is down right scary. I like the knife much better. Sorry you’re having trouble with the glue releasing but it’s been interesting reading about the issue and how you overcome it. Good stuff!

[BrokenolMarine]

Out in the shop a couple times today, and got the end caps started. Have to glue them in position and then drill them. Same heat issues, but I'm working thru that. I have cut the paw print pins already and once I have finished the drilling, I'll get them pinned and glued. Then I can start the final shaping and polishing. We will be well on our way to a finished knife and I can start thinking about a sheath design.


Here is a hint of what she'll look like, though I hadn't drilled the holes for the pins in the end cap yet.

28 getting there.jpg

[BrokenolMarine]

The curves on the belly of the knife WILL line up when I start shaping, I haven't begun that part yet. Just in case some were wondering...

[BrokenolMarine]

Got out in the shop and got the end caps done, pinned and glued. I started shaping the knife and it's looking good. There is some final shaping still to be done on the bolsters and end caps, but mostly we are looking at a couple days worth of polishing. I'll take the wood to about 800 grit, and the metal to 2000 or so.... should look pretty good when I'm done. I am happy so far.

29 taking shape.jpg

This has been a long process, but the frustration and learning process are all part of the challenge. Still more to go. I'm thinking a pancake sheath.
stay tuned.

[Hatchdog]

Beautiful, can’t wait to see the finished product.

[BrokenolMarine]

yeah, me neither...

[BrokenolMarine]

I had an issue with a piece of equipment I purchased recently and had to return it to a supplier, so while I was there I picked up a set of knife maker's diamond embedded files for shaping metal. Out in the shop today I used those for final shaping of the nickel silver bolsters and end caps on the knife. They were looking good but there were a couple areas where they didn't mate exactly with the knife blank and it bothered me. After about an hour of handwork with the new files they did. Of course this left some fine scratches again, and I went back at it with the dawn, warm water, and 400 grit. Another half hour or 45 minutes and it showed some promise.

Then, I decided a couple treatments of Medium Walnut Watco Oil on the wood would be a good protective start at this point, as I will be working my way up thru the grits polishing the nickel. I am happy so far and that watco made the grain pop!

31 stained.jpg

We are getting there, and I am pleased with the progress. While at the knife supply Miss T picked out a damascus kitchen knife blank and special wood scales... the next KNIFE project.

[BrokenolMarine]

I worked on the turquoise a bit more over the last couple days, polishing with 400 and 600. Still more to do. I'll post more pics after I get to 1,000 grit and get the knife waxed. But, here is a look at the knife blank and scales I picked up for Miss T earlier in the week.

01 knife blank and scales.jpg

This is a very nice Japanese Made damascus kitchen working knife, and ironwood scales. I spent a bit of time over the last couple days with them and got as far as the first coat of tung oil, wet in this picture. I'll wet sand it with a very fine Emory cloth when it's dried for 24 hours, then apply a second coat, repeat the process and apply a third coat.

04 new.jpg

This is the First kitchen knife I made for Miss T a number of years ago, and it's still one of her favorites. I refinished the scales a couple years ago. While I was working on the new one, I figured I'd touch up this one. The scales on this knife are curly cherry, and I just sanded them with 120/400 grit and hit them with the tung oil as well.

05 old kitchen knife.jpg

[BrokenolMarine]

The old gal is showing her age, and the next time out, I'll cut away these scales and add new ones. For now, these will do. Next time, maybe something really fancy. The knife still holds an edge you wouldn't believe. As I said, it's Miss T's favorite, and really, my go to for most utility jobs in the kitchen, veggies and small meat work.

[BrokenolMarine]

A look at BOTH before the tung oil.. not so shiny so the grain looks better.

06 both.jpg

[BrokenolMarine]

Polished to 600, re-etched the spine and belly of the blade blank, and then waxed ....

It's Done.

32 it's done.jpg

It's not perfect, but turned out better than I had hoped. I learned a lot. The next inlay project should come out better, benefitting from the lessons here. I have more silver, I have copper, and I have Turquoise. We'll see.

[RetiredSeabee]

She’s a beauty and I love those pins.

[BrokenolMarine]

She’s a beauty and I love those pins.

Thanks...

They are called Mosaic pins and I got them from Jantz Knife Supply in Davis Oklahoma. They do a booming bidness and they have a website and a catalog and are the nicest folks. I am lucky enough to live close enough to drive the hour to go there and person, stroll around the showroom and ask questions. The lady who works the front counter is not afraid to say, "You don't need that, THIS will do fine."

www.knifemaking.com

[dave77]

That turned out very nice. Will you be making a sheath for it?

[BrokenolMarine]

That turned out very nice. Will you be making a sheath for it?

Yup, the idea for the sheath is a pancake style. I've got to decide on the carving. Oak Leaves and acorns? Native Design of some sort? Nice basketweave? Once I get that set, I'll lay it out and give it some work and BOOM... sheath... I'll post it. While planning, I'll clean the shop up and get ready to switch over. The leather work benches need attention, stuff got moved to them while I put three knives together and worked on things for Miss T.

I'll spend the day today piddling in the shop clearing the benches and getting set up, sweeping and vacuuming, and of course sitting in the recliner with Mr. King. Just finished 11-22-63 for the third time through. Have started the Mr. Mercedes trilogy again... Don't have to like the writer's politics to like his writing...

[Hatchdog]

That knife is beautiful. Really like all the different colors and different textures. Well done!