Replies

1. 
   JAurand | Jun 18, 2007 06:39pm | #1

   Derek,

   Very nice! I find the greatest satisfaction in using tools of my own construction, and I've never made a tool as nice looking as any of these. You must love using them!

   Keep up the good work.

   J

2. 
   Samson | Jun 18, 2007 07:04pm | #2

   Simply beautiful knives. 

   I must say, my joints improved significantly when i finally started using good quality knives, as opposed to pencils or knives not designed specifically for precision marking.

    

   Thanks for sharing the pics!

3. 
   EdHarrison | Jun 18, 2007 07:35pm | #3

   Nice, Derek. The scratch awl in jarrah looks more like an Agatha Christie murder weapon than something as mundane as a tool. A variation on the idea for others out there - chip carving knife made out of a HSS sawzall blade (I am working on one of those now, and got the idea for the material for the blade from one of Derek's other posts).

4. 
   Pippins | Jun 19, 2007 03:12pm | #4

   Derek, what process do you use for shaping the HSS? I would like to try my hand at making a marking knife but do not know where to start.

   Steve  

1. 
   derekcohen | Jun 19, 2007 03:49pm | #6

   Derek, what process do you use for shaping the HSS? I would like to try my hand at making a marking knife but do not know where to start.

   Steve

   I wrote a tutorial on making these knives here.

   For shaping the bevels, here is a pictorial I have just completed:

   The main items are ...

   ... a prepared jigsaw blank (surface ground, polished and bevel outlines ground) ...

   View Image

   ... a belt sander (with my grinding jig), 240 grit belt ...

   View Image

   ... and a template for setting the bevel angles ...

   View Image

   This jig sets the projection for a 30 degree bevel edge on a 50 degree side angle, thus ...

   View Image

   This is now set up for the belt sander ...

   View Image

   And the final result looks like this ...

   View Image

   Now the blades are cut out (to a length of 40mm), and the bevels are given a final quick freehand hone on a extra fine diamond stone.

   Refer back to the tutorial (above).

   Give it a go!

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

    

1. 
   Pippins | Jun 19, 2007 03:53pm | #8

   Derek, thanks for posting.

   Best regards, Steve

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 19, 2007 04:34pm | #10

   ...a question.  Would our disposable planer blades provide an appropriate blank for the knife blades??forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   derekcohen | Jun 19, 2007 04:57pm | #11

   FG

   I don't know if these blades are workable. Are they impulse hardened? Perhaps someone can say.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   DCarr10760 | Jun 19, 2007 06:33pm | #13

   I think modern planer knives are high speed steel, not sure what difference that would make.  Presumably you could grind them without so much danger of drawing out the temper, compared with O1 or A2, and skip the hardening.

   Of course, I'm no metalurgist, so others will come along and talk about T-Crits, flux blobs, Martensite formation and associated alchemy to give you the real poop.

   If you got the knives on hand, I'd give them a spin.  Worse that could happen is that you would discover one more way not to make a marking knife blade.

   David C

   Edited 6/19/2007 11:34 am ET by DCarr10760

5. 
   kummell | Jun 19, 2007 03:18pm | #5

   Derek, those are fantastic.  I really like the harlequin design - is that just 2 different types of wood glued together before you shape 'em or is there some other magic involved?

   great work - thanks for sharing!

   matt

1. 
   derekcohen | Jun 19, 2007 03:52pm | #7

   I really like the harlequin design - is that just 2 different types of wood glued together before you shape 'em or is there some other magic involved?

   great work - thanks for sharing!

   Matt

   They involve built up layers of different woods glued together. I am still experimenting with colours and effects. It does make it all more interesting. Tools do not have to be boring.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   joinerswork | Jun 19, 2007 05:33pm | #12

   derek,

    I think braces and drills are boring.  Or they should be, anyway.

   Hah!

   Ray

    

6. 
   forestgirl | Jun 19, 2007 04:31pm | #9

   Derek, thanks so much for posting your new creations, and the info about making them.  Had to clean up the keyboard a bit -- drooling, ya know -- but I continue to be intrigued with your belt-sander jig for sharpening.  As soon as I finish this project, will have to drag the combo-sander out of the corner and give it a try.

   Beautiful knives and awl!!

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)