Sky for some of us has been unfavourable for astro, so you want to keep busy, active and doing stuff. One thing this StayAtHome is offering many of us is the chance to do some of those projects, astro or not, that have been on the backburner for a LONG time.
You are welcome to add your project to this thread! It will be a welcome change from some of the dire threads of late too.
~x-X-x~
Me, I've been wanting to make a knife for some time now. I'm sick of the ones I have at home that just refuse to hold an edge, or the ones that do hold an edge I can't take with me camping or to clean up animals taken at the family farm.
I was not about to forge one out of wrought steel - too time consuming and requires a skill set I don't have. But there is an easy to acquire quality of high carbon steel that is perfect for this - old steel files! This was not my first file-steel knife - I lost the first one I made, and it was very crude compared to this one, but the experience I gained from it was invaluble.
Yes, I know that files can be brittle. This is especially the case for new ones, and I have also broken one. So I found some old Australian made Whiltshire files that I rescued from the recycling tip. And to shape it, I used an angle grinder, being careful not to let the blade get too hot so not to lose the temper (hardness) of the file, constantly cutting a small amount and then spraying it with water. I deliberately left some of the original file cutting texture on the blade and tang. The steel is protected from rusting with good ol' canola oil.
The scales (timber used for the handle) was from good ol' Aussie red gum that Wavytone gave me - thanks mate! The scales were epoxied on as the unannealed steel is just too hard to drill through to use rivets. Then the scales were shaped and varnished.
The final edge was given after the varnish had cured for a few days. And Goddamn it is sharp!!! I can shave my arm using any part of the length of the blade.
Thanks for looking and adding your project to this thread.
Alex.
Last edited by mental4astro; 07-04-2020 at 04:51 PM.
Reason: Typo
Nice, thanks for the inspiration. On my last fishing trip at Venus bay SA a knife that i had treasured for 35 years went overboard and now lies somewhere on the bottom, tried to replace it but no longer made.
I'm going to give this a go.
Oh,i haven't come up with a project because my good wife has taken control of that department.
Alex
I think you first heat the file and let it cool slowly to soften the steel, then make your knife blade.
You then reharded it by heating it red hot and plunging into water, polish when cool so you see the shine of the steel.
Place blade in a gentle flame so as to produce the colours along the edge, when straw brown plunge into oil.this is called tempering and the colour determines if it will be a knife a spring or a file..that is my recollection but Google the hardening and tempering of steel for a run down. This is the way I have done it since I learned in high school..a leaf spring is your best source of good steel particularly very old leaf springs although coil springs are very good but a little more work shaping.
Alex
What about building a spectrograph???
A couple of lenses, a reflection grating and pencil sharpener blades for the slit.
Check out the webpage for more info.
Nice project Alex.
My "Project of the Day" was Hedge trimming......
My neighbours on one side are doctors who are working long hours due to Covid, on the other side the couple are in their 80's and getting frail so I spent the day trimming their pittosporum and photinia hedges which had got away from them.....
I am considering making a smaller version of Excalibur, maybe a 6"F4
If you don't already, you should watch the series, Forged in Fire an American reality TV show based around knife making. It's on Foxtel and possibly YouTube. Better yet, sign up as a contestant.
I made (rehandled) a lovely old hunting knife many years ago in American Walnut. (I wish I knew where it was.)
If you don't already, you should watch the series, Forged in Fire an American reality TV show based around knife making. It's on Foxtel and possibly YouTube. Better yet, sign up as a contestant.
Was going to suggest this show as well - I've only seen the first season so far and it's been interesting.
My main project has been looking for a new job - however I probably should find something else to do as a project (day time - astro for night, weather permitting). Problem is I don't have a lot of kit to do much - normally would go to my father's place to do the projects there, which of course is right out now.
Why not bake your wifey some cupcakes? You're welcome (you'll understand after you bake them)...
I totally respect the knife making, but you could also potentially do some volunteering (using online platforms). Most schools will be from home across Australia, young kids especially those with a disadvantage would need extra support, like tutoring or mentoring. An example: https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/ge.../itrack-mentor
Cup cakes won't do - wifey doesn't have a sweet tooth.
However, how does baking 12 pizzas, two pies, a baked ricotta, two loaves of bread, 4 bread rolls and a bunch of bread sticks sound? That's what I did on Sunday
Oh, and Bronte Woman lives just down the road...
Thanks for the comments and the addition of your projects! Please keep the projects coming
However, how does baking 12 pizzas, two pies, a baked ricotta, two loaves of bread, 4 bread rolls and a bunch of bread sticks sound? That's what I did on Sunday
Rather than going out to visit local forests and parks to be in nature, I've taken to exploring our back garden where I found a Paper Wasp nest.
They didn't seem to mind me sneaking up on them with my macro lens.
I reckon they are 7-10mm in length.
Cheers
Dennis
Great photos Dennis! I'm glad your wasps are so accommodating. The paper wasps at my place are absolutely ferocious, particularly after I accidentally run a hedge trimmer through their living room. They sting like the dickens.
The scales were epoxied on as the unannealed steel is just too hard to drill through to use rivets. Then the scales were shaped and varnished.
- however I probably should find something else to do as a project (day time - astro for night, weather permitting). Problem is I don't have a lot of kit to do much - normally would go to my father's place to do the projects there, which of course is right out now.
