Catching up, cleaning up, and a plan
Working on my last requested custom piece today, and if things go well, finishing it up!
And then I finally get to give my shop a good cleaning. There’s leather dust, wood dust, resin dust, steel rust, bits, bobs, shavings and more than a little brass dust to contend with. My current dust collection system involves a brush, a broom, a shop-vac and a dust pan. Not the most modern solution, but it’s all I can do while my tools and machines are trying decide on a permanent arrangement in my work space.
Having a clean shop really gets me amped up to start making new messes, and I’ve already got a mess of things planned out. But then again, and you can verify this with Moose, I’m prone to changing plans at the drop of a hat and I’m often quite clumsy with my headwear.
As things stand now, I’ll be jumping right on a Rapscallion in 0.11” 1095 that’s all ready for handle shaping. The scales are some I cast a few years back; deep rich bronze color with gold shimmer. The black G10 and brass liners really give it some class while the blade’s sharpened spine swoop (that’s what I’m calling it) tells you it’s built for the dark alleys. The leather is already cut out, but I have to wait for the knife to speak to me before I start stylizing the sheath.
I still have a quarter inch thick billet of 5160 spring steel left, and a new design for a non-symmetrical dagger drawn up. Moose made a wicked set of red resin scales for it. That will be an easy, fun knife to work on; nothing overly technical to contend with. I’m keen to see this idea solidified in steel. There’s also enough stainless steel in the shop for a good 4 or 5 knives begging to be worked with, and enough 1095 steel to choke a horse as horses are notoriously bad at swallowing steel.
Currently waiting on some American made 8670 (high carbon nickel steel) to come back in stock for some good old fashioned camp style knives. Also trying to source some good durable wood for handles to pair up with it.
Well, that’s enough jaw-jacking for one day. Time to get out in the shop.
- Dub
