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

[Not DJSapp]

Well done. I know how hard it is dealing with boards that big in a garage shop with undersized tools. In my youth, before I had a jointer/planer I flattened boards with hand planes. In my dotage I've started using a power hand planer to knock down the high spots before putting the wood through the machines. Saves some of the wrestling.

Yeah, that Rigid lunchbox planer was actually doing a damn fine job with it, so long as I wasn't asking for more the 1/32 for a full width cut. Could push 3/64 for the first few passes if it wasn't taking the full width, but the motor was working for it. No way I could ask that much of a cut if it was a hardwood.

And don't forget to open a window!

The grey box in the top of pic 1 is the shop air filter running at full tilt, and the white canvas sack under the band saw is the 4" dust collector bag which was full after every other board. Was also running a N95 because dust boogers suck. All that keeps the garage pretty damn clean.

[climberevan]

Since it's snowing hard, I decided to spend the day with a TIG torch in my hand. This will be a super light and simple moto trailer.

[heckacali]

Not bad. Tig is tough.
3 out of 4 appendages having to coordinate. It's why I'm not a drummer.

[old goat]

Not bad. Tig is tough.
3 out of 4 appendages having to coordinate. It's why I'm not a drummer.

Well helicopters and pedal steel are four appendages.

[The Reverend Floater]

Since it's snowing hard, I decided to spend the day with a TIG torch in my hand. This will be a super light and simple moto trailer.

Looks damned good to me.

I broke out the old arc welder this weekend and fabbed up a firewood rack from material in my shop. Let's just say my stick skills have deteriorated a bit. Shoulda stuck to the MIG.

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[The Reverend Floater]

I'm still at the knife making thing, basically producing around one aborted blank a week but making incremental improvements each go. I haven't reached a finished product because I haven't created one that I was happy enough to do the handle work...yet.

I'm finding it really enjoyable and the difficulty of learning something new entirely via YouTube and forums is refreshing.

Heat treating in the forge:



A blank with my note for next time.



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[old goat]

Having learned new woodworking techniques from books and magazines and from videos and forums, I have to say in general the former are more reliable. Anyone can quickly make a video or post in a forum but the fact that someone cares enough to publish something and that someone else read it and thought it deserved to be published implies a certain degree of dedication and expertise. Not that there aren't plenty of exceptions. Disclaimer--i had a woodworking tip published in Fine Woodworking (two full sentences) and I have never made a video. As for forums . . .

Knife making looks like a lot of fun.

[The Reverend Floater]

Having spent considerable time practicing different components, I decided to try to put them all together using Damascus steel. Not perfect, but so far, good enough on this kitchen knife to proceed.

Laying the design out



Profile cut and ground



Cool to see the pattern emerge from the steel during different stages. It appears and disappears depending on what I'm doing to the steel.



Bevel is in. Gave it a light sand after heating it to 1475* and dipping it in quenching oil



The pattern starting to pop, but still a bit subdued during tempering.



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[The Reverend Floater]

Well, she's almost finished. Still need to sharpen it up, though it's already pretty darned sharp.

I definitely fucked up in a few places but overall, I'm happy with the progress.

My daughter and I did a little science experiment, using Feric Chloride to make the pattern pop. The chemical volcano was a nice bonus.




Starting the handle





Then after a lot of grinding and hand sanding, the final product.



The pattern really pops.





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[MakersTeleMark]

Why did you choose to keep so much mass on the top portion of the blade?

[John_B]

Rev what did you have to pay for the blank. That looks super cool!!

[The Reverend Floater]

Why did you choose to keep so much mass on the top portion of the blade?

Instead of a tall bevel? I don't know...probably because I haven't figured out what I like yet.

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[The Reverend Floater]

Rev what did you have to pay for the blank. That looks super cool!!

Bought a billet of HHH Damascus for ~$150 online during a Black Friday sale. Been sitting on it for a while.

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[Trackhead]

Snowmobile plow to keep the access open to our local touring terrain. Drifts get so huge then harden up and it becomes inaccessible. I go up there every week and knock them down before skiing. Works great. $48 scrap metal from the local metal supply.


https://youtube.com/shorts/nJyYQN8jH...VDbccCoHhXfuTN

[The Reverend Floater]

Snowmobile plow to keep the access open to our local touring terrain. Drifts get so huge then harden up and it becomes inaccessible. I go up there every week and knock them down before skiing. Works great. $48 scrap metal from the local metal supply.


https://youtube.com/shorts/nJyYQN8jH...VDbccCoHhXfuTN

That's badass!

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[zion zig zag]

Snowmobile plow to keep the access open to our local touring terrain. Drifts get so huge then harden up and it becomes inaccessible. I go up there every week and knock them down before skiing. Works great. $48 scrap metal from the local metal supply.


https://youtube.com/shorts/nJyYQN8jH...VDbccCoHhXfuTN

Love it.

[Not DJSapp]

Logs to bedframe continued:

Stuff is taking shape. Found a screaming deal on a used festool domino xl. Bought it and it for sure is a buy once cry once thing. Time savings is fricking massive on joints and making panels. Dickwaving thread, yeah yeah I know.

Anyways, live edges for the top bookshelf are mitered, lower shelf is ready for assembly. Bed rails are sized and getting stretched to width. All those clamps are actually in tension .

Floating panel footboard completed this weekend. Probably close to dry fitting this thing out.


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[The Reverend Floater]

Dope, DJ. Your shit is seriously inspiring.

I started some Japanese steak knives with hammered finish. So far, so good. Also building a camp cooking/utility knife that I'm simply building as I go.

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[Not DJSapp]

Dope, DJ. Your shit is seriously inspiring.

Appreciate it Rev. That damascus knife looks badass. Not too many take on forging as a garage hobby. What are you using for handles? Looks like you had a carbon fiber for the damascus knife, and some kind of walnut burl for the camp knife?

I got a full scrap bin that I could make some interesting little things out of as tiny side projects. How big is a knife handle blank? 5"x2"x3/4"?

[dunfree]

What are you handling? I’ve put handles on western kitchen knives, Japanese kitchen knives, woodworking knives, violin knives. With care 3/4” thick could work as a blank for any but the Japanese, depending on preference

well done on the logs to lumber with a home shop that stuffs a pita.

[old goat]

A little knickknack I made recently to hold a tray we bought in Granada. Turned and the spiral laid out on the lathe, than carved with gouges, rasps, files and scrapers. Joints dovetailed--router for the sockets, dovetail plane for the pins. It beats the carved bear the tray was sitting on before. It's 18 in tall.

[The Reverend Floater]

Appreciate it Rev. That damascus knife looks badass. Not too many take on forging as a garage hobby. What are you using for handles? Looks like you had a carbon fiber for the damascus knife, and some kind of walnut burl for the camp knife?

I got a full scrap bin that I could make some interesting little things out of as tiny side projects. How big is a knife handle blank? 5"x2"x3/4"?

I'm trying everything. Using ironwood on the camp knife and that's Micarta on the Damascus. The Japanese steak knives will get a wood/tungsten combo, if all goes accordingly.

Yeah, scales generally come in 5" x 1.75" x 0.5" each (2 per knife). If you have exotic or just cool wood, I'd happily pay shipping! I have a bandsaw so I can work with just about anything.

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[dan_pdx]

A little knickknack I made recently to hold a tray we bought in Granada. Turned and the spiral laid out on the lathe, than carved with gouges, rasps, files and scrapers. Joints dovetailed--router for the sockets, dovetail plane for the pins. It beats the carved bear the tray was sitting on before. It's 18 in tall.

Wow, nicely done

[Not DJSapp]

I'm trying everything. Using ironwood on the camp knife and that's Micarta on the Damascus. The Japanese steak knives will get a wood/tungsten combo, if all goes accordingly.

Yeah, scales generally come in 5" x 1.75" x 0.5" each (2 per knife). If you have exotic or just cool wood, I'd happily pay shipping! I have a bandsaw so I can work with just about anything.

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Nothing really exotic in the scrap box, but it gives me an excuse to play with scraps and experiment with ideas and techniques before scaling up in size.

Pretty sure I have walnut, cherry, maple, purple heart and paduk in there in some amounts.

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[mtnjam]

I'm trying everything. Using ironwood on the camp knife and that's Micarta on the Damascus. The Japanese steak knives will get a wood/tungsten combo, if all goes accordingly.

Yeah, scales generally come in 5" x 1.75" x 0.5" each (2 per knife). If you have exotic or just cool wood, I'd happily pay shipping! I have a bandsaw so I can work with just about anything.

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Are you using the shop in Carey for some of your work? Nice looking knife.