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Thread: My KNIFE FETISH
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26th Nov 2014, 10:34 AM #1Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
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- gold coast
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My KNIFE FETISH
A few years ago I had the fantacy to make a 'star knife'. One made from a nickel/iron meteorite.
This was the start of a steep learning curve of sourcing materials )meteorite, suitable blade steel, interesting wood for handles etc)
I had no idea at the time where to find a meteorite but I trolled several lapidary shows and eventually an old geologist who had some samples from Henbury in the Northern Territory. We developed a friendship.
I found a blacksmith who was willing to hire me his forge (under supervision) and by then I had read a few books on 'pattern welding' steel (damascus) Fortunately my first attempt worked out and I created a billet of pattern welded steel with the meteorite in it. It was about 40mm wide 4 mm thick and about 400mm long. Enough for three knives.
More head scratching and reading about blade and handle designs.
I pulled out my trusty hacksaw and fitted a new blade and with the help of a couple of linishers from ALDI I created some shapes.
More research to revise heat treatments, since no charts exist for laminates steel. With the help of a soft refractory brick and a LP gas torch I did the hardening and when my wife was out I tempered in her oven, fanning out the smell of burning oil.
More linishing for handles as well as discovering little abrasive pads the pen makers use to create a lovely shine on steel and wood.
I needed some ferric chloride to etch the steel to highlight the contrast and some wikipedia search told me it was used for water treatment. A call to the local water treatment plant and a chat with the chief chemist and we exchanged some ferric chloride for a bottle of bubbly.
SO each knife has taken almost a year to finish--it has never been a race.
I have some more meteorite and have sketches for a gas forge and a drop hammer to explore once some of the 'work around the house' is complete.
hope you can make out the pics--I'm crap at pics
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26th Nov 2014, 10:53 AM #2
Your first knives? Extremely nice work.
Cheers,
Rob
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26th Nov 2014, 11:32 AM #3
Congratulations Brian, beautiful work, and a tribute to your patience and skill, are there any pictures of the work in progress, like the forging process?
For future reference ( and for others ) Ferric Chloride is used for etching printed circuit boards, and you can buy it from Farnell, and other electronic suppliers http://au.element14.com/cif/ar37-b/f...tle/dp/2345434
at $8.61 per liter it's cheaper than bubbly... (not as much fun maybe?)
Ray
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26th Nov 2014, 03:55 PM #4Senior Member
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- May 2010
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- rural s.a.
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Hi Brian,
I'm not a knife man but the 2nd. pic. just blows me away. CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!
ian
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26th Nov 2014, 04:20 PM #5.
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- Perth WA
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Beautiful work Brian.
Bob.
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26th Nov 2014, 08:15 PM #6Senior Member
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- Jan 2004
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- Bellingen
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Mate....first attempt!? Pretty awesome go at it if you ask me! I wold like to see where you go from here...
you missed your calling if this is your first time around!!
I never sold off my first knife (I doubt anyone would have bought it anyway). Looks pretty average but damn I nailed the heat treatment and it takes and holds a wicked edge. I still use it from time to time.
Very well done mate!
Any sheath ideas coming up soon?
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26th Nov 2014, 08:27 PM #7Pink 10EE owner
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- Aug 2008
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- near Rockhampton
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Very impressive..
Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.
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26th Nov 2014, 09:16 PM #8
I really like the pattern weld in the second photo. Impressive work.
…..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands
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26th Nov 2014, 10:06 PM #9
Well done mate!
The fit and finish of some nice timber on brass and steel draws me in irresistibly,especially so on a folder.
Mine are a collection about 80 or so folders , bought over the years and I like timber handled folders the most.
I like your idea of doing them over a year, working at your pace ,not someone else s'.
Grahame
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26th Nov 2014, 10:38 PM #10
Hi Brain,
I remember you talking about the meteor knife same time back. I'm really glad you got a good billet and turned it into such nice blades!
I know the WWF doesn't like talk of other forums, but do you mind if i link this from the ABF?? I'm sure the members there would love to see this.
As for the forge etc the ABF is also a good place to look, as well as the Australian blacksmith, Bladesmith and Knifemakers network facebook group (if you are that way inclined, i am only new to the whole FB thing!)
Another thing to google may be a macdonald rolling mill as an option to the drop hammer.
Cheers,
Ewan1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.
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26th Nov 2014, 11:43 PM #11
Gotta agree with you Brian, your photos are crap, but your knives look awesome. Love the idea that they include material from the stars. I know little about knife making but as a consumer it looks to me like you have made some pretty decent knives here.
Would love to see them again with better photos. There is a thread in the pen making forum on photographing pens which would probably help with future photos of your knives.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers, Ian"The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot.. it can't be done.
If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run.
And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better"
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27th Nov 2014, 07:39 AM #12
I agree with the other comments ! Impressive work.
Best Regards:
Baron J.
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27th Nov 2014, 09:56 AM #13Senior Member
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I agree with the others! Worthy of some better photos!
I want a closer look!!
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27th Nov 2014, 11:44 PM #14Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
- Location
- gold coast
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Thank you everyone for your kind words.
Ihave been otherwise occupied for a few days and have nly just checked the responses so my apologies for my tardiness.
It's late here so I will work through any replies over the next few days. I'm a little stunned with the accolades. Thank you all again
regards
Brian
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28th Nov 2014, 07:37 AM #15Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
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- Melbourne
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- 4,779
Hi Brian.
Congratulations on the knives. Your ingenuity and perseverance is amazing. A knife made from a meteorite, who would have thought of that!? Thats cool!
Thanks!
SimonGirl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.