| Project by EarlS | posted 06-29-2019 12:12 PM | 722 views | 0 times favorited | 7 comments |  |
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This swap presented a bit different challenge than previous ones. As we are currently between houses, my shop is packed up. That meant I would need to make something that I could reasonably complete with a few basic handle tools in the apartment “shop”.
I ordered a carving set and brass rivets from Jantz and some Bolivian Rosewood for the scales and East Indian Rosewood for the knife block. The scales were cut to size, epoxied to the tangs and riveted together. From there, I used a rasp and files to round over the handles. I did break down and buy a Ryobi sander to help with the sanding.
The knife block has maple spacers to make the pocket for the blade. More epoxy, rivets, and rasp work finished it out.
The handles and block were finished with food grade wax/oil I picked up at HD. HokieKen was my recipient. Fortunately, he took some pictures of the final product since the ones I’m sure I took vanished. (I’m sure I did??)
All in all, I have a new appreciation for how much work and skill it takes to make things with hand tools. One of theses days when the shop is operational I want to make a set of kitchen knives because they look so much nicer than the ones you can buy in the store.
-- Earl "I'm a pessamist - generally that increases the chance that things will turn out better than expected"
7 comments so far
oldrivers
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1877 posts in 2127 days
#1 posted 06-29-2019 12:17 PM
Good choice and great workmanship, congratulations on a job well done.
-- Soli Deo gloria!
Dave Polaschek
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#2 posted 06-29-2019 12:20 PM
Nice set, Earl! One of the things I’ve found working with hand tools is that order of operations makes a big difference. First is using a tool that can remove the bulk of the material quickly, like a saw or drawknife. Then something finer like a rasp, and then finally a spokeshave or finer rasp for the finishing work. And you always need to remember to have a way to hold the piece you’re working on. Workholding is a huge deal.
Well done, and glad you persevered!
-- Dave - Santa Fe
hairy
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#3 posted 06-29-2019 01:58 PM
Way to go, Earl !
My main hand tool is sandpaper.
-- Genghis Khan and his brother Don, couldn't keep on keeping on...
duckmilk
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#4 posted 06-29-2019 06:53 PM
Very nice job Earl! The choice of woods are fantastic.
Where did you get the knife and fork blanks?
-- "Duck and Bob would be out doin some farming with funny hats on." chrisstef
mikeacg
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1210 posts in 1618 days
#5 posted 06-29-2019 09:06 PM
You gave Kenny a sharp object? What were you thinking?
You managed to pull this swap off pretty well, despite your handicap!
I’m sure you will appreciate your new shop even more after this experience…
-- Mike, A Yooper with a drawl, http://www.artcentergraphics.com
jeffswildwood
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4186 posts in 2538 days
#6 posted 06-29-2019 09:32 PM
Sweet knife work Earl! Making knives is a lot of fun. Yours came out beautiful!
-- We all make mistakes, the trick is to fix it in a way that says "I meant to do that".
HokieKen
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11522 posts in 1699 days
#7 posted 06-30-2019 02:15 AM
Indeed they did Jeff! It’s a great carving set but the nice sheath really puts it in another class :-) I’m fortunate to be the owner of these bad boys :-))
-- Kenny, SW VA, Go Hokies!!!
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