Bushcraft and outdoors. I have been on RU-vid for years following all those I am subscribed to but decided to create this channel and occasionally post some of the stuff I get up to.
A couple of questions as I am new to carving, 1) @ 5:54 what is that grey block you are using on the stained handle? 2) I watched a video you linked to in the description for making a Celtic knot pattern and he draws squares first to reference where to place the holes. It looks like you skipped that step and just drew the holes freehand? 3) I'm considering doing this for my everyday carry, does the engravings cut into the hand or feel uncomfortable with use?
Hi. The block is just a sanding block that can be bought at general Hardwear stores or online in different grades of course. They are sometimes called sanding sponges, search at Amazon. I skipped the squares as I practiced the drawing quite a bit first and the handle feels good in your hand and offers more grip than the smooth original. Give it a go and I hope you enjoy making one. Cheers.
@@huntersmoon9724 Thanks for the info. I am considering not going with a wood stain but rather doing some accent work with a woodburning tool and then staining with Linseed oil. Although I;m not sure if the carbon from burning might affect the wood's absorption of the linseed oil. Also considering finishing it off with a patina on the blade but for an everyday carry I'm not sure how well a patina would hold up with use.
I ABSOLUTELY!! love the knife, it is a thing of beauty, I shall treasure it always, thank you doesn't come close, I'm so stoked to have a bush crafting knife that was hand made just for me. It's something very special, THANK YOU!
Nice wood to work beach, very forgiving.. Worked with it for many years. In furniture construction it's used with English oak for cost purposes.. as well as edging for sheet material work
Damn. That's very nice! Been thinking of doing some Opinel mods, just looking for ideas. My problem is, I draw lousy. I can carve once I have the pattern, but drawing it out is the part I suck at, lol.
My pattern was crap to start off with but it straightens out as you draw the cross lines in. Follow the link in the description to David Nichols explanation of how to draw it. He is a great teacher. Glad you liked it and thanks.
@@huntersmoon9724 Thank you so much. I obviously didn't look. His channel is awesome, and has just flooded my mind with ideas. Now I want to try a chip carving of a celtic cross, lol. I'm just starting in wood carving. I've done a dozen or so various wooden spoons, some semi fancy yet simple design love spoons. Time to step up the game to the next lcvel. I love the celtic designs.
@@huntersmoon9724 btw..another Opinel idea I may try..the carbone model so I can do a patterned patina. Look at an opinel handle from the side..see a fish? The swell on the end is the tail..draw scales starting at the collar, at the tail, lines radiating out to make it look more like a tail..maybe even a v notch to make it look even more like a tail..then on the blade, take mustard and thin it with lemon juice..use a toothpick dipped in it to draw a fish head on the bottom 1/4 of the blade, then round bubbles in front of it..let it sit for 20-30 mins, then rinse..there's your fish with bubbles in the water. For the handle scales, I may wood burn them in instead of carving, but either way it should look cool, and quite unique. If you burn them, they will already be dark when you stain them. So many ideas :"swimming" in my head, lol. Now the problem is deciding which one to try first!
Brilliant, I know how hard those handles are, I slightly modified my ancient Opinel handle to make it fit the worn blade better, I may have a go at this on my walking stick. I was going to carve a 'Greenman' but I like this a lot.
rhialobran thanks for stopping by mate. I was going to do my walking stick too after that but I think it is made of iron wood so I have ordered a Mora carving knife. If you haven’t seen him, check out stinnett sticks. The guy is a genius true artist in carving walking sticks.
It looks like decarburisation to me. Steel these days is mostly good. I have seen this on blades that have been heat treated in charcoal furnaces. I use Brownells and find it excellent provided the blade is thoroughly degreased. Sandy
If there is ONE opinion I value... it is yours. You are my inspiration to try this hobby. I think I may not have degreased it fully then. I used carb cleaner. Am switching to acetone. I am more honoured than you may think that you stopped by. Thanks.
Thanks Robin. Funnily enough I used my belt grinder to flat grind the surface as an experiment and it took out the inclusions. I was just going to use them as templates but they are now really good blades. I'm learning all the time.
rhialobran thanks for the comment. I will post a video review of it soon and then you will see the flaws. I'm trying to make a better one now... it's addictive.
