Replies

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 13, 2009 07:38pm | #1

   derek,

   My first thought was a nice box with the letter opener French fitted into the inside bottom, lined with velvet?

   <G>

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   derekcohen | Apr 13, 2009 07:42pm | #2

   Thanks Bob

   I would never have thought of that .... <G>

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   zolton | Apr 13, 2009 08:08pm | #3

   Derek,

    That looks like a beautifully made knife - and it's even cooler because it has an interesting story to go along with it.

   Let me tell you of a trick to make shiny objects photograph a little "livelier." The blade of this knife is surely polished, but it reads as dark  - almost black - in your image...

   That's because it is reflecting the dark cloth you placed it on.

   To make the blade read as it should (lighter, polished, white) you can place a white object in front of the knife so the blade reflects that object into the camera's lens. The white object can be a white piece of paper or card stock. I used to use 1/4 inch thick white foamcore board back when I had a photo studio. You can prop it up in place using a paint can or something similarly heavy and squat.

   Make sure the card you place in front of the blade is pristine. Otherwise you'll see whatever defect is on the card in the blade's polished surface. Obviously, keep the card just out of the image.

   As you look through the camera's lens (it helps greatly if you have it mounted stationary on a tripod), move the card in and out, back and forth, until its reflection fills the entire blade

   Another way to shoot small objects, used to create white highlights in rounded, shiny objects like jewelry, is to place them under a large, inverted, white plastic bowl. You'd cut a hole in the bowl for the camera's lens, and light from strobes or fixed lighting could shine through the partially-opaque bowl. Makes for soft lighting and "filled" highlights on all the surfaces that should read as shiny. Photography supply stores have high-priced "photo tents" designed for this exact purpose.

   Anyway, thanks for showing off your latest..

   Zolton Cohen

    

    If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

1. 
   derekcohen | Apr 13, 2009 08:41pm | #5

   Hi Zolton

   We're not related, are we?

   Thanks for those tips. I will try them out.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   zolton | Apr 14, 2009 12:20am | #6

   Derek,

   I think we determined some time ago that we, in fact, are not related. If we were, it would seem that you have received all the talent..

   ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

2. 
   lostcreek | Apr 13, 2009 08:14pm | #4

   Derek,
   My thought would be to line the box with leather, or even hide from the elusive "nauga", since it's for your brother. And for the box, I've made several from River Red Gum , native to Oz. Beautiful wood.
   lostcreek

2. 
   dkellernc | Apr 14, 2009 01:21am | #7

   Derek - Nice work, and I'm sure your brother will appreciate it.

   I do have a few stylistic critiques, but don't take this the wrong way - something that doesn't seem quite right to my eye will likely go unnoticed to the rest of the population (just the same as no one that's not a woodworker ever notices those exquisite half-blind dovetails that all of us obsess about!).

   So...  The letter opener strikes me as having a "kitchen knife" aspect about it.  I tried to figure out why that struck me that way, and I think that's because of the doubled brass rivets in the middle of the handle - this design feature is present in a lot of inexpensive US made kitchen knives from the 1960's and 1970's.  If you wanted to change that, I might suggest recessing them with a forstner bit and gluing in a couple of pieces of abalone shell with some epoxy.

   Also, I would suggest reducing the blade's width a bit if you decide to make another one, and I would add a rounded detail to the handle where it meets the blade - the blunt, squared-off end contributes to the "kitchen knife" impression.

   All that said, it's a very nice piece of metal working.  If you really wanted to go over the top and have a friend that can do it, you might choose to have the shaft of the blade engraved - a lot of the Victorian examples of this form from Tiffany's and others used this area for some really spectacular art.

   Finally, if you're going to make a french-fitted box for this, you might consider adding an antique ink bottle and pen, which can often be found for just a few dollars at an antique shop.

   Nice work!

1. 
   9619 | Apr 14, 2009 07:19pm | #9

   David,
   So you would have thinned the blade and replaced the visible rivets with abalone. That would work. Design is like taking a Rorsharch Test. It tells us much about ourselves.I would also have made some small changes if I were making it. I would have made the blade thicker and serrated the blade to make it a good steak knife. In any case, Derek's brother will love it. To me, a gift is a personal thing which transcends design. A handmade gift means that "you care enough to send a part of yourself."Keep up the good work Derek.
   Keep posting, David. I learn a lot from your insights.
   As Lee told me the other day, you have very good taste. Have you thought about starting up a school of fine woodworking with old tools? Have you thought about joining an established school, and establishing an ongoing course there. I believe that opening up your knowledges and skills to others would benefit both them and you. Why not contact Marc Adams? You establish the course. I'll be the first to sign up to take it.
   MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot. 

1. 
   dkellernc | Apr 14, 2009 09:27pm | #13

   "As Lee told me the other day, you have very good taste. Have you thought about starting up a school of fine woodworking with old tools? Have you thought about joining an established school, and establishing an ongoing course there. I believe that opening up your knowledges and skills to others would benefit both them and you. Why not contact Marc Adams? You establish the course. I'll be the first to sign up to take it."

   That's nice of you to say, Mel, but I'm afraid personal circumstances does not allow me to do any more teaching than the occasional group of 3 local guys that come over to my shop occasionally to learn basic hand-tool stuff like 4-squaring boards, cutting dovetails, etc...  Besides, there's already a person in the local area with far more skill than I will ever have with hand tools - Roy Underhill (he's opened a new school in Pittsboro, NC). 

   His show would suggest that he's got a few carpentry skills, enough to build simple furniture, but that's very misleading.  After reading his books cover to cover (I highly recommend them to anyone interested in woodwork, hand tools or otherwise), I'm pretty sure the guy could build an entire 18th cnetury town with an ax, some helpers, and little else.  He'd probably be as famous as Paul Bunyan if he'd been born 2 centuries earlier.

2. 
   derekcohen | Apr 14, 2009 07:53pm | #10

   Hi David

   I agree with your critique. It is interesting to return to a piece after the glow of achievement has dimmed, and see it afresh. 

   This is the first knife I have made outside many marking knifes and a few chip carvers. I had no idea what went into a letter knife, so I did a search. Those examples of custom knife makers all had sharp ends. If I keep this one I will round the end. 

   I am also going to make a new handle, something round and a soft counterbalance for the hard material of the blade. More figure. I also thought of having the blade engraved.

   It is interesting that this Stanley plane blade, which is so thin compared to aftermarket plane blades, can look thick here. Actually it is thinner in the flesh.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

    

1. 
   RalphBarker | Apr 14, 2009 08:29pm | #11

   Looks nice, notwithstanding the potential for non-essential design embellishments.I'd keep the point sharp, though, so it could double as a throwing dagger in the event of a burglar or techno-terrorist dropping by. ;-)

2. 
   dkellernc | Apr 14, 2009 09:20pm | #12

   "I am also going to make a new handle, something round and a soft counterbalance for the hard material of the blade. More figure. I also thought of having the blade engraved.

   It is interesting that this Stanley plane blade, which is so thin compared to aftermarket plane blades, can look thick here. Actually it is thinner in the flesh."

   Derek - If you're going to make a new handle, I've a suggestion.  Most letter openers, whether ornate or purely functional, have a metal hilt next to the handle.  That might be a challenge to fabricate, and perhaps more trouble than it's worth.  However, since this isn't a tool that will ever be subjected to much force, I might suggest forming the handle and hilt out of one piece of nice wood.  Because of the weak grain, a hilt with a blade guard extension (like one would see in metal) would be weak and not so good for a true knife.  But for a letter opener, it would be easy to make, and add quite a number of form possibilties.

   One other thought for embellishment that would be easy to do and add quite a lot would be to checker the grip.

   Regarding the blade - I didn't describe my observation corrrectly.  What I meant was to make the blade less wide, not thinner, though of course from a functional aspect the thinner the better for a letter opener. 

3. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 16, 2009 12:24pm | #16

   It is interesting to return to a piece after the glow of achievement has dimmed, and see it afresh.

   Good point..

   I do that but I have never seemed to be a good critic of my own work. Yes, I know bad from good and I bet I'll go to Hell anyway! Maybe just at one of the higher levels with us 'sort of OK folks' .. Not really BAD but just plain stupid or did not listen to others opinions...

3. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 14, 2009 10:46am | #8

   What do you think?

   Regards from Perth

   Lovely work as usual. Just a comment and NO hate here.

   Where are his initials on the handle? Brass or Gold inlay!

4. 
   BruceS | Apr 16, 2009 04:37am | #14

   My first impression !  Royal Marine commando knife, and I lo9ve it.   I think if you make another, go for African Blackwood or Ebony for the handle. 

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   derekcohen | Apr 16, 2009 05:26am | #15

   Hi Bruce

   I think you're right. I am going to make another one, a little more confident now in my ability to do so. It will be different.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

5. 
   roc | Apr 16, 2009 01:04pm | #17

   From using letter openers I find the thinner the better. I have a thicker knife I bought just for a letter opener. In practice I find myself using my thin Swiss arm knife because it opens letters better without bursting the edge of the envelope as I try to cut it.

   I am not saying the opener you made is too thick. It is probably just great. Just that my knife which is thicker than your plane blade is not great.

   If you are thinking you would like to try "ingraving" I would like to suggest acid etching; addressed in great detail in this book. Worth buying the book even if you never make another knife. The acid etched art in the book is spectacular ! ! ! Good enough for a coffee table book.

   http://www.amazon.com/Step-Step-Knifemaking-You-Can/dp/0615116590/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=booksqid=1239875502&sr=8-1

   Step-by-Step Knifemaking by David Boye ISBN 0-87857-180-9
   or ISBN 0-87857-181-7 pbk

   Also shows a bunch of metal hilts next to the handle and how to make them.

   I would suggest making the box so it is very easy to pick up the letter opener. Maybe make the box so the lid is separate and can be left off. Or provide a little on the desk holder that keeps the tip from contacting the user but allows the opener to be picked up easily and replaced.

   Nice work Derek !

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/16/2009 6:07 am by roc

1. 
   derekcohen | Apr 16, 2009 02:27pm | #18

   Thanks Will and Roc

   I managed a little time in the workshop this afternoon (last patient of the day cancelled!!!  .... and the advantage of having rooms above the workshop ... heh heh!!), and made a new knife. It is not quite done, but I am so pleased with it. I'll show it on the weekend once I have made the presentation box.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 16, 2009 02:32pm | #19

   last patient of the day cancelled!!!  LOL.. Did you hurt them last time?

   Edited 4/16/2009 7:33 am by WillGeorge

1. 
   derekcohen | Apr 16, 2009 02:57pm | #20

   Yeah. I opened the mail in front of them with youknowwhat! :)

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   shakychisel | Apr 18, 2009 08:27am | #21

   Nice looking knife...As someone said, a bit business like for a letter opener,tho!

   That said, It's a lovely idea for a gift,particularly for a family member in a no-gift situation! :-)

   Robin

2. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 19, 2009 04:06am | #22

   Hay! Where is the Pic of the new knife? Been waiting to see it.

   I for one love your work. A true Master in my way of thinking...

3. 
   derekcohen | Apr 19, 2009 04:46am | #23

   Hi Will. Patience. It is Sunday morning here. I spent half of Saturday renovating my old office in the city (so that I can rent it out, now that I am working from home). Saturday afternoon I made and completed the knife (I like it - very different! ..... tease ....heh..) , then began on the box. Glue has to dry. The box will look simple, but it is a challenge (which is where the fun lies, isn't that so?). I will have it up at the end of today (our time).

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

4. 
   roc | Apr 19, 2009 11:26pm | #24

   >am working from homeMy friend who works out of his pro machinist shop in his back yard calls this " working in your bunny slippers ".I AM jealous !He is the one by the way who had the flames off his horizontal bandsaw to the ceiling if you read that one. Nice clean shop. Looks like an operating room.Cool knife ! Cool box! Does it need a holder ?
   Maybe just a shallow Y shaped something half way down the blade just for the heck of it. I am picturing brass/bronze in my head. Oops and now my head just said a shallow dip where the handle end sits in the wood just to keep it from rolling and to add a bit of detail to the flat area of the box.. Wide not fitted so it is easier to hit when putting the knife down. Who knows if I can trust him but that is what my head just said.rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )Edited 4/19/2009 5:29 pm by roc

   Edited 4/19/2009 5:30 pm by roc