No, this isn't about new year's resolutions. I'm just wondering what knife related projects everyone is working on for the new year. Will you be trying something new? Building or trying out a new piece of equipment? Give us a preview. For me, I've been working on another slippy on and off for a while. I'd hoped to get it done before Christmas, but real work has been too demanding lately. (I really have to get around to winning that lottery so I can spend more time in the shop.) In the new year, I'll continue with the folders, perhaps switching to some lock backs or liner locks for a while. And at some point, I'll get my new forge and burner built.
Working for a living sucks, it gets in the way of all the fun stuff. I have another big ulgy knife on the go. I could post a few WIP shots if anyone is interested.
Definitely post them. You could consider doing it as a tutorial. I've been hoping someone would a forging work in progress for others to follow along with.
Don't sell yourself short. I'd much rather have a tutorial or build-along by someone who's still learning than an expert who makes no mistakes. Besides, if good was the criteria, I'd never have done any.
I've got some 52100 bearings in assorted sizes that I'm trying to turn from balls to flat stock. Got a 1.5" pretty much forged out but the 2" and 2.5" are being rather stubborn. I may need a bigger hammer...and an apprentice. Or a press. Or a power hammer. Or all three.
I started working on a handle for a scandi blade I bought years ago. It's going to be my 'winter' knife i.e. no exposed metal on the handle (except the tang at the very bottom). But the project has languished since we really haven't had much winter so far. I'll post a pic if the glue lines turn out okay. I also got a Grohmann kit for Christmas, but that hardly counts.
I don't envy you that job. Unless you've welded some rod to them, even holding on to those things would be a challenge.
Yes, post some pics. I've always liked scandis. As for the Grohmann, we've got a section for factory mades now. Feel free to post your opinions on it, for anyone who might be considering one themselves.
[/IMG] I am just trying to learn how to post pictures on this site. This is a piece of damascus I worked on during the holidays. I 4 wayed this again and took half of it then accordian folded it out into a knife billet. I took the other half of the billet and cut it into 1-1/2" pices and rotated 90 deg and forge welded again and then cut slices off with my bandsaw for knife billets. There is a lot less waste this way and also less work. I think it produces a better pattern with less distortion. Jim
Really nice pattern. That would look good on it's own as bolsters on a folder. Glad you got the pictures to work.
I like the fact that Jim is showing us what he'll be doing at the end of the month! If I had one of those fancy futurecameras I'd know ahead of time when I was going to cock up another billet of damascus!