As Long As You're Here....

...pop on over to the new blog and see the new stuff coming out of the shop!

Check Out The New Stuff

I've got some new stuff up at the new location: here .

(like...seriously)

Come and see the birth of a new design! The Slim Tacti-Hunter! Along with some other blades that are all in process.

Moved!

I've changed my location here on the interwebs. All new content will be here . Please join me at Baldwin Maker!!!!

Nothing To Report

The next week or so will be quiet here at the works. In the meantime, I am going to work on moving my blog to a (slightly) new location. It will remain on blogspot...but get a new name. I don't plan on deleting any existing content, just moving new content to a different address. Keep yer eyes peeled and, hopefully at least someone follows me to my new internet home!!!

Took It Easy Today

I made it an easy day today. I only sort of putzed around and made stuff up as I went. It's nice when every now and then you have no pressing matters to worry about.

I got scales onto this hunter early this morning. I've had this blade and another waiting for handles forever! Unfortunately, this is as far as this knife is going to get for the next week or so.

I Party Hard On Friday

Not really.
I just plug away in the shop like usual.

Hmmmmm....my newest micarta had a delamination problem on the top couple of layers. I will have to investigate. The rest of it is solid. I don't know if it was a resin failure (if maybe I didn't put enough on) or if the paper itself resisted the resin.

A New Handle, And Then Some

I wasn't sure how much I'd get done tonight. I hemmed and hawed over a handle for a paring knife and finally went for it.

This paring knife is getting a knit micarta handle. The first time I tried making a handle from this piece it didn't go well. I don't know if it was the epoxy, or just me getting used to using a yarn based handle. Anyway, tonight I found that a little bit of finesse should make it work. We'll see the finished product tomorrow.

Now We're Talking!

I had a good evening in the shop. Even after going to the gym! Usually my gym nights make for slow shop nights. I felt good, however, and got some cool stuff done.

Craft paper micarta, ready to go. Look close...alternating layers of white and black. The base layer is actually three layers of black. That will give a bolder line on the inside of the handle once this gets put onto a knife. A little under 3/16" thick, and 5-3/8" square.

Not Everything Goes As We Plan

The point is to figure out how to fix it.

Last night's mission was to get these two handles ready.

I Did a Bad Job With Pictures

I don't know why, but I thought I took more pictures than I actually did today. Ah, well...I can still get the point across.

I got the burlap/blue linen Paring knife done today.

Today's Progress

The rest of my day...

Primary task was to get the permanent table top for the lathe done.

Didn't Want to Post Last Night

I wanted to sleep on it. My grinding jig for the Small Outdoor knife worked well, just as the Large one. I was just uncertain about the angle. So, I figured a good night's sleep would help in deciding if I wanted to keep it, or recut it.

One thing to make using the jigs easier is to scribe a centerline down the edge of the blade. It's sort of hard to see here.

Flat Grinding Jigs Are Done!

I did some turning this evening, but it's boring and not worth showing off. The important task tonight was to get my flat grinding jigs into working condition.

First order of business was to bust out my new tap holder!!! My current small tap holder is a piece of junk, so I replaced it with a Starrett. I love Starrett tools, I wish I could afford more of them. Most of the ones I have are vintage, but this one is brandy new.

Time Consuming

Tonight's task were slow movers! It doesn't look like much, but it took a while to get there. Combined with a trip to the gym and we have limited shop time. But first...

...destructive dimple die testing! I decided to destroy the work piece to see what my dimple die could endure. Mine is better than the purchased one! Not a scratch, nor a ding. I need to call the manufacturer and get my money back! Also, I learned a bit from this process and now know exactly what I need to make the die do what I want. I'm going to make another one with a different angle.

Grinding Fixtures Started

My main task this evening was to get rolling on a pair of fixtures to do flat grinds on my Outdoor knives.

First things first, unwrapped the dimple die and cleaned it up. It will get a test drive tomorrow.

Just Keep Making...

Trying to stay busy...

Getting dimple dies ready for heat treat...

First Lathe Parts

I will have to do a more in depth look at my new lathe...just not today. I wanted to get the replacement dimple die going first. I believe that some time in the next week or so, I'll go through the whole machine and cover it hear. Let's look at this die..

 

First step was to make the male portion of the die. Here, I am turning the OD down from 1.250 to 1.125. This was not actually necessary in the grand scheme of things. I was doing it to get a feel for the machine. From here, I need to turn one end down to .375" then add a tapered shoulder. I had oily hands...so I missed most of the pictures. Like I said, we'll get more in depth later this week. This was a matter of getting the part made.

I Can Finally Make Round Stuff!

st.That's right! Round stuff! Turning is now on my list of at-home activities. No more taking round stuff to work to do during my break!
My 7" x 16" lathe arrived from thelittlemachineshop.com today. I'm pretty excited. As machines go, it is small...but there are smaller ones. I haven't had the time or inclination to finish my Southbend (which will happen eventually) so I figured a new 7" lathe would be a good addition to my shop.

One quick thing before we get to the turny machine thingy...

I pulled this out of the micarta press this morning. It just needs a trim. I think it will make a way cooler knife handle than dress shirt!!

It Must Be Thursday

"It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays." -Arthur Dent

Probably one of my favorite quotes from Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

Anyway, here's what I've been up to...

Current status of the new micarta press. I've got some work to do here! I should have it in operation this weekend.

After a While, You Run Out of Witty Titles

I'm sure as hell not going to waste one on a short post like this either!!!

A heart. Cut out of redheart. I had an artsy idea...we'll see where it goes.

Taking It Easy

I'm taking a few days to lay low. These old bones ain't what they once were! After a painful ankle day, it's time to listen to my body and not push too hard. Let's see what's been happening:

I swung out by my dad's place yesterday. He had a few boxes of stuff from the old days down stairs, I brought everything home and went through it all. Much of it got thrown in the shit can. I cast this little anvil during my freshman year of high school.

Steampunk...ish

I finished my latest pair of Outdoor knives. One large, one small. A little head nod, a homage, if you will, to all things steampunk.

If you mention steampunk, three things come to my mind: copper, steel, and mahogany. All three are here! Mahogany scales, copper liners, copper nuts, A2 blade. I had to make the copper Loveless nuts because you can't purchase them anywhere. A little extra work, but well worth it.

Last Night's Knives...Today!

Basically, I'm at the point that I wanted to be last night. My pair of copper/mahogany Outdoor knives are sitting on the bench right now...curing. Let's see how I got there...

I usually rough saw the handles a bit...the rest will be done post glue-up. I traced the blade onto the copper liners so I could...

Baby, It's Cold Inside

I got home from work, ready to rock'n'roll! Only to find the inside temperature of my house at 46 degrees! I'm seriously going to take a cutting torch to my furnace one of these days. It's four freaking years old!! It has broken down four times!!! I'm not a happy camper. This also meant some lost shop time. Here's what I actually accomplished.

Grinding dust and sanding dust are part of my life. The problem is that I have a beard. Dust masks and respirators don't work so good with beards. I'll be damned if I'm going to shave!! Enter the Resp-O-Rator. Giving this thing a test drive. It takes some getting used to, but I like having HEPA filters!

More of a Prep Night

No finished product tonight. Just doing prep work for the existing projects on my plate. Nights like this are good, I feel relaxed when I'm just plodding along sometimes. I made more of the copper Loveless fasteners, but I don't think we need pictures of those, since we all saw them yesterday. On to the new stuff!

I'm a morning person. I'm up and at 'em about 2 hours before I need to leave for work. Time for coffee and all that. I think I need to make productive use of that time. I started a piece of black canvas micarta this morning.

We're Already Three Days Into The New Year...

I hope you haven't wasted it! I'm trying hard as hell not to! Although I did a crappy job of taking pictures tonight...

I finished the little folder...and totally forgot to take in-process pics! Argh! Next time around.

What A Day!

I was pretty productive today. More shop cleaning, more knifemaking, more food. It was the last day of my holiday vacation, so I made the most of it.

Moving on with the little folder. I decided to carry on with the blade and make some carbon fiber scales. Here I am marking out for a filler piece for the butt end of the handle.

First Post of the New Year!

It was a busy day or two since my last update.

The meal with which I say goodbye to the year: Chateau Briand roast, parsley potatoes, and a baguette. This is my favorite meal that I eat all year, and New Year's Eve is the only night I make it.