Weekend "skills" Pic heavy..

[JohnC]

My son decided that we should try and learn/practice skills each weekend, so we're trying to keep to it overthe next few weeks....

So on Saturday, we had a go at the next bit of the knife he had been making.

Heating up the blade to non-magnetic

Oil bath for blade, I missed the burst of flame as it went in...

After the oil, next its to get cleaned and into the oven...

I was also wanting to have a go at making a knife from a bit of spring, I'd seen a bit of a demo at the Comrie Croft Skills weekend...

More hammering...

Its wound up being about 3mm thick, and is getting ground out more with files and a wheel, but I'm happy so far with it...

Meanwhile Jack had a shot at cone firelighters taken from a thread that he saw on here of Waylands..

We also had time for lunch and some tea, he's planning next weekend now...

 

[Nonsuch]

He's a good lad and it's very rewarding (trying) to show them skills - I did the bowdrill and spoon carving with Chris the other weekend.

I love the way he is in charge of the agenda...!

NS

 

[addo]

Great job. The blades are looking good.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Great stuff, I'm really looking forward togetting upto this kind of stuff with my two.

 

[Man of Tanith]

thats awesome mate
always nice to share the knowledge with the young un's
its also really nice that he sets the plans

 

[MartinK9]

Great pics, thanks for sharing.

 

[Tengu]

I wish I had relatives so responsive

 

[Everything Mac]

looking very good mate!

was that the skills weekend I was smithing at? If so I am very glad you had a go from what you saw!

looks like a cracking little knife on both accounts!

All the best

Andy

 

[Shewie]

Great post John

I'm interested in hearing some more about the forge if you care to divulge your secrets

 

[JohnC]

Thanks for the replies, it was a good day, its possibly making fire and laying a fire that we'll try this weekend, then we can get a kettle on again...
Andy, it was watching you guys that made me want to have a go, I think i need to work on the arm muscles after 5 mins belting away with the hammer...

The forge is an old gas bottle and some scaffolding pole welded together, with a bit of metal in the base with hole drilled in. I sink it onto the earth a bit and theres an old hair dryer on the end. I have used a foot pump, but this is much easier, I do plan to try making a bellows set, similar to one I say in a Dave Budd picture...

 

[Everything Mac]

great stuff john! - if there is another skill share later in the year come and grab me and you can have a bash with my stuff.
I love teaching people smithing! it's not as hard as it looks!

My teacher would say - "you lift the hammer and don't you worry 'cos gravity'll do the rest!"

looks like you have a really good set up!

All the best
Andy

 

[TinkyPete]

nice one, great to see furthering education to all beats sitting in front of a playstation or xbox.

 

[JohnC]

This weekend we had a go at charcloth and charcoal making. Jack also had a go at some tripod tying and more firelighting and making the tea this time.

We'd cut up and old teatowel (cotton) and also put a handful of willow twigs into a syrup tin, this went into the fire..

We burned off the gas as this gave a better idea of when it was lessening...
Once the smoke started coming out the small hole a the top, Jack made up some mud/clay.

Once the outgassing stopped, the mud got slapped on and it was off the heat till cold

The cloth and sticks were fine, Jack had a go with the charcoal for some drawing... and I had a go at seeing if the cloth took a spark

I also started cutting out a fileknife using an old file that we'd had in the brazier to soften down.. more a longer term project..

 

[Whittler Kev]

Nice work. Keep us posted to the next day out

 

[JohnC]

Jack was getting going with the handle of his knife this weekend, taping the blade...

Getting the mircarta scales together. We were using gorilla glue, never tried it before, seems ok so far...

He's planning to cut/rasp/sand away at it over the next week, homework permitting...

I got the next bit of my knife done, adding a handle to an old firesteel, and making an awl to add to the sheath.

 

[JohnC]

This weekend, Jack got his knife finished and had a go using it, he's planning to have a go at the sheath next time.

I also had a go at refurbing an old saw I'd bought, with some tips from Peter_t (thank you again)... Looking out for files to use...

We went up to see Mary (Toddy) at Holyrood Park, and had a great time at the event there. I *almost* got a fire going from my ember using her bowset,

but in the end Joe got a fire going... Great fun and some nice weather for the weekend as well.

 

[TeeDee]

Thats great stuff ! Thanks forposting those phot's

 

[JohnC]

I'd got a striker from Silverhill Forge, and was keen to try it out.. as was Jack, so he had most of the shots with it, later on Joe lit the afternoon fire for tea, but this was Jack earlier..

Also did a bit more on a file knife....

So far its been going pretty well, Joe hopes to camp out later on "when it gets colder"....

 

[The Big Lebowski]

I really enjoy this thread.... Thanks for sharing it!

TBL.

 

[bigstoney]

Inspiring. me and the stepson are off on a quest........

Thankyou for posting.