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Tonight, I Finished My Second Custom Steak Knife Set. Is it the Last?
It's been a long week, but I am excited to say that I just finished up the 2nd Steak Knife set tonight about 10:15pm CT. Sure, I could go to bed, but not after I blog the milestone. But, first, let me apologize for not providing much in the area of notable, or supportive input the past couple of months. I just haven't had time to do any reading on LJ, only worrying about getting my own projects and blogs posted. I swore off of LJ until the steak knife commissions were complete, and so I have been trying to stick to that pledge.
I'm hoping this isn't my last steak knife set. I've surely enjoyed working on them, getting more efficient, and getting hurt less. Only two small finger cuts this time. I'm starting to look sort of like Les Nesman on the old WKRP In Cincinnati tv series from many years ago. He always had several bandaids on his hand during the episodes. After making 30 razor sharp knives, I see now how Les had it. Nothing serious though.
I'll get some better photos tomorrow and post them as a project when I get the time, but this gives me a chance to blog the effort, and post the rough photos.
I've been noticing through the statcounter.com statistics on my website, that the comment I posted several months back about inlay work has been getting quite a bit of reading, and enticing folks to see if there was more at my website. So much interest in fact, that I'm thinking that when I get time, I'll do a bigger, more thorough blog article on the subject of adding inlay. I'm no expert for sure, but I have learned a few things by trial and error, and can share some of the techniques. I tried a turquoise stone lettering style on this second knife box, so I included a photo of my progress, with the little anvil, hammer, turquoise chips, and the gluing process here.
The next step in this commission, is to design and build a decorative display stand for the first set of steak knives. The client has asked for a display stand, something like a Bible Stand, or Dictionary Stand, that matches the styling of the knife box, and allows the knives to tilt forward a little so the carved name shows. I'm excited about this part of the project, as it was competely unexpected, and so I will blog more about it later, as it progresses.
Also, I have a financial commitment for a couple of Maloof-Inspired Rocking Chairs, in walnut. The 8/4 wood arrived this past week, so that is an upcoming project that I'm excited about. Also, I am working through some design concepts for Baptismal Font (Holy Water Stand) for the St. Anthony Catholic church that I worked for earlier this year. Then, throw on top of that, some Christmas projects, and it is going to be a busy December. I feel blessed for sure.
Thanks for reading,
Mark
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Here's a rough shot of the box, without the glass, and after the Danish Oil has been wiped down. I followed the oil the next day with some Satin Lacquer, sprayed.
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Here's a shot with the box removed, and the knife holder shown, after the leather was installed. The handles are Deer Antler, with the same Stainless Steel Damascus blade (not shown) that I used on the first knife set.
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A close up of the Turquoise Chip inlay work on the lettering.
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Here is a shot of the Elephant Ivory inlay on the handle end, with the scrimshawn letter "B".
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Here's another shot of the handle, with Elephant Ivory oval inlayed, with scrimshaw engraving of the client's name monogram. Two of the knives had this sort of inlay work on the handle side, and the "B" on the end. Also, I inlayed an oval of turquoise on the handle (not shown) where I cut the brow tine off of the handle section.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here's the last photo for tonight, showing the turquoise stone chips, and the gluing process.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here you can see my project posting of the first steak knife set:
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/3716
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you are unfamilar with the term "Scrimshaw", you can go here, to read more:
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2473
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here are my blogs on the first knife set:
1) Progress Photo: http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2622
2) Confirmation of the Order: http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2501
3) Shipping of Samples: http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2470
It's been a long week, but I am excited to say that I just finished up the 2nd Steak Knife set tonight about 10:15pm CT. Sure, I could go to bed, but not after I blog the milestone. But, first, let me apologize for not providing much in the area of notable, or supportive input the past couple of months. I just haven't had time to do any reading on LJ, only worrying about getting my own projects and blogs posted. I swore off of LJ until the steak knife commissions were complete, and so I have been trying to stick to that pledge.
I'm hoping this isn't my last steak knife set. I've surely enjoyed working on them, getting more efficient, and getting hurt less. Only two small finger cuts this time. I'm starting to look sort of like Les Nesman on the old WKRP In Cincinnati tv series from many years ago. He always had several bandaids on his hand during the episodes. After making 30 razor sharp knives, I see now how Les had it. Nothing serious though.
I'll get some better photos tomorrow and post them as a project when I get the time, but this gives me a chance to blog the effort, and post the rough photos.
I've been noticing through the statcounter.com statistics on my website, that the comment I posted several months back about inlay work has been getting quite a bit of reading, and enticing folks to see if there was more at my website. So much interest in fact, that I'm thinking that when I get time, I'll do a bigger, more thorough blog article on the subject of adding inlay. I'm no expert for sure, but I have learned a few things by trial and error, and can share some of the techniques. I tried a turquoise stone lettering style on this second knife box, so I included a photo of my progress, with the little anvil, hammer, turquoise chips, and the gluing process here.
The next step in this commission, is to design and build a decorative display stand for the first set of steak knives. The client has asked for a display stand, something like a Bible Stand, or Dictionary Stand, that matches the styling of the knife box, and allows the knives to tilt forward a little so the carved name shows. I'm excited about this part of the project, as it was competely unexpected, and so I will blog more about it later, as it progresses.
Also, I have a financial commitment for a couple of Maloof-Inspired Rocking Chairs, in walnut. The 8/4 wood arrived this past week, so that is an upcoming project that I'm excited about. Also, I am working through some design concepts for Baptismal Font (Holy Water Stand) for the St. Anthony Catholic church that I worked for earlier this year. Then, throw on top of that, some Christmas projects, and it is going to be a busy December. I feel blessed for sure.
Thanks for reading,
Mark
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here's a rough shot of the box, without the glass, and after the Danish Oil has been wiped down. I followed the oil the next day with some Satin Lacquer, sprayed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here's a shot with the box removed, and the knife holder shown, after the leather was installed. The handles are Deer Antler, with the same Stainless Steel Damascus blade (not shown) that I used on the first knife set.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A close up of the Turquoise Chip inlay work on the lettering.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here is a shot of the Elephant Ivory inlay on the handle end, with the scrimshawn letter "B".

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here's another shot of the handle, with Elephant Ivory oval inlayed, with scrimshaw engraving of the client's name monogram. Two of the knives had this sort of inlay work on the handle side, and the "B" on the end. Also, I inlayed an oval of turquoise on the handle (not shown) where I cut the brow tine off of the handle section.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here's the last photo for tonight, showing the turquoise stone chips, and the gluing process.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here you can see my project posting of the first steak knife set:
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/3716
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you are unfamilar with the term "Scrimshaw", you can go here, to read more:
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2473
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here are my blogs on the first knife set:
1) Progress Photo: http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2622
2) Confirmation of the Order: http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2501
3) Shipping of Samples: http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2470