Shit you built with your own two hands (picture thread)

**skifishbum** · 06-02-2013, 04:06 PM

fukna the ski jump, no ice and water and the orginal wood butchers ran a fuckin 2' rip of ply on the bottom, then they doped down the bottom shingle to make extra sure the icedam wouldn't drain/ flow out.
crooked? thats what happens when you don't read the directions on every packages
well that or i sour ded when i should of stuck w/ the og purple gansta

**Roxtar** · 06-07-2013, 01:47 PM

I started a few knives about a year ago. Got as far as the initial grinds and heat treating before life got in the way.
Finally got sick of looking at their poor half done selves and went on a building spree.

These are 3/16 thick O1 tool steel, hardened to 58RC:

This is a set of kitchen knives I cut out of .100" thick used industrial hacksaw blades (M2 steel). If they're built to cut through 1050 steel, they should work OK for chicken bones.

Just finished this one today. It's the bushcraft knife I've always wanted:

**hawkgt** · 06-07-2013, 02:35 PM

^^^ nice work roxtar, love the bushcraft style knife

Hugh Conway · 06-07-2013, 02:47 PM

damn roxtar, those are cool

**RootSkier** · 06-07-2013, 03:00 PM

Update on the ongoing sub-$1000 kitchen remodel: countertops are underway. I decided to go with reclaimed fir instead of concrete. Here, we have some ~12" wide truck decking. On the left before and on the right after planing. Hoping to get these done in the next few weeks, but we'll see.

**GiBo** · 06-07-2013, 03:42 PM

Sweet knives!

Lot's of talent around here with knives, clocks, woodwork etc... Nice!

**rideit** · 06-07-2013, 06:19 PM

Really nice knives, Roxstar!
Is that some kind of multi ply that you carve the handles out of?

**Foggy_Goggles** · 06-08-2013, 10:27 AM

10-4 on the talent around here. I'd do a whole lot more projects if I wasn't a contractor. Cobler's kid got no shoes type thing.

Root, you gonna biscuit 2 of those together for the counters? I just did some mineral oil/beeswax finish on some butcher blocks. I was surprised at the depth of color, easy of use and durability (so far of the finish). You doing an undermount sink? Don't be a pussy, do it!

**RootSkier** · 06-08-2013, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

You doing an undermount sink? Don't be a pussy, do it!

Yes, I will be biscuiting the pieces together (2 + a smaller rip). I am going to use Waterlox, probably four coats. I have considered an undermount sink, but I think that would blow my budget when I have a perfectly good top mount that I can just reuse. But it would be pretty sweet to do an undermount with a cool industrial-style faucet. It would also make fabrication a lot easier because I can't really cut and finish the sink hole until I pull the sink out of the current counter (it's entirely impossible to measure with the current configuration).

I hear ya on the cobbler's kids deal. Now that I don't build shit for a living I am WAY more stoked to work on my own projects.

**PlayItLeo** · 06-08-2013, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

I'd do a whole lot more projects if I wasn't a contractor. Cobler's kid got no shoes type thing.

This. Or when I do do projects it takes for-freaking-ever cause it's always a stop-start kind of thing.

**Roxtar** · 06-14-2013, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by rideit

Really nice knives, Roxstar!
Is that some kind of multi ply that you carve the handles out of?

Thanks, It's called micarta. It's basically layers of either paper or canvas (my personal preference) bonded together in resin. Some, like the last picture, have alternating colors. When you sand them to various depths the layering comes out similar to wood grain.
The blue and black one has been wet sanded and buffed with automobile buffing compound. The others will get the same treatment when I get them back from sharpening.

I just finished the sheath:

I'm thinking about dyeing it alternating black & blue stripes.

**Roxtar** · 06-14-2013, 01:49 PM

My brother in law is a marine who did two tours in Afghanistan. He was looking for something to present to the guys in his unit and asked how much I would charge to make each guy a knife. I told him I'd be proud to build a design I had in mind for free and went on bladeforum.com to ask for help. The response was overwhelming. I had people donating the A2 steel, the waterjet cutting, the heat treating, the sheathmaking and even the digital etching of their names.
Here was the result:

**toast2266** · 06-14-2013, 01:52 PM

^^^ well that's fucking cool.

**schuss** · 06-14-2013, 01:52 PM

That's awesome. I like the handles you put on them.

**RootSkier** · 06-14-2013, 03:33 PM

Roxtar -- awesome.

Hugh -- wow, there's a real, skilled person in there?

Look forward to seeing more.

**rideit** · 06-14-2013, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

meh, it's taking forever, but here's a part way. Not terribly happy with the lacquer, should have sprayed it. Oh well.

I am building a guitar right now as well, but it is waaaaay different....

**Buke** · 06-14-2013, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

meh, it's taking forever, but here's a part way. Not terribly happy with the lacquer, should have sprayed it. Oh well.

That looks great. I like the inlay. What kind of lacquer are you using? When you spray it do you use the stuff in a can or do you have a sprayer? I ask because I recently had a finishing debacle with polyurethane and some euro birch plywood. I need to broaden my finishing repertoire and lacquer seems to be the choice of professionals.

Side note:
When I was in high school I started an electric guitar project with the help of my grandfather. We built a body blank out of some cheap fir that he had laying around and we built a jig to cut the slot for the rod in the neck. About that time I got busy and lost interest and my grandfather didn't have any interest in carrying on without me. He's now 95 and sharp as a tack but not nearly as active in the shop as he used to be. I've been thinking recently that I should take some time off and go spend it with him finishing that guitar. Life's probably too busy for that but I'm sure that I'll regret it if I don't do it.

**hawkgt** · 06-14-2013, 03:48 PM

[QUOTE=Roxtar;4007654]My brother in law is a marine who did two tours in Afghanistan. He was looking for something to present to the guys in his unit and asked how much I would charge to make each guy a knife. I told him I'd be proud to build a design I had in mind for free and went on bladeforum.com to ask for help. The response was overwhelming. I had people donating the A2 steel, the waterjet cutting, the heat treating, the sheathmaking and even the digital etching of their names.
Here was the result:QUOTE]

Well done!!!! love the sheaths and blades...

**TomCrac** · 06-14-2013, 04:46 PM

Awesome Roxtar, well done! Thanks for sharing.

Buke ... You will never regret making time to get that guitar going again

**RedWolf** · 06-16-2013, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Buke

Side note:
When I was in high school I started an electric guitar project with the help of my grandfather. We built a body blank out of some cheap fir that he had laying around and we built a jig to cut the slot for the rod in the neck. About that time I got busy and lost interest and my grandfather didn't have any interest in carrying on without me. He's now 95 and sharp as a tack but not nearly as active in the shop as he used to be. I've been thinking recently that I should take some time off and go spend it with him finishing that guitar. Life's probably too busy for that but I'm sure that I'll regret it if I don't do it.

You absolutely should. I'm typing at the desk I built in a very similar situation, and I couldn't think of a better way to have spent my time. Lost my grandfather's when I was too young, but my wife's grandfather was like my third. He had a woodshop in his basement and I spent the first year or so of his fight with lung cancer working with him to build it. He passed about a month ago, and I know how much I would kick myself if I didn't finish it and had stayed home after work to relax instead of making time to work on it. Make the time, you won't regret it.