All About Pocket Knives

I just found these... I always had good luck w/Channellock

Nice tools, Top Dog!

Unk wrote: ↑Tue May 23, 2023 3:45 am Nice tools, Top Dog!

Unk, thanks! They keep piling up... maybe time to buy a bigger tool box ... or a bigger house! ...

Great stuff, GSPTOPDOG!

Latest stuff I've been working on:

A couple of handsaws - I bought the Great Neck Crosscut saw new sometime around 1990. It was in good shape overall, just dull. I think my Dad bought the Disston at a garage sale maybe 15 years ago and gave it to me. The Disston is a D8 crosscut saw and dates from 1896 to 1917. I had never sharpened a saw before. So I watched a Paul Sellers video, and he made it look easy. So both got a much needed sharpening. The Disston was rusty and lightly pitted, so the blade got sanded down and waxed, and the handle got a coat of BLO and wax, along with the brass Chicago screws polished. I ordered a screw to replace the one missing. I read where Disston used Applewood for the handles during this time frame. Ready for another 100 years of sawing.

I also added a third file handle - this one is made of Chittam (Chittum) wood (gum bumelia). I trimmed the branch a year or so ago, and let it dry in the shop. I was interested to see what it would look like - it is really hard wood. We have a few on our place. They get little berries on them, and the dove love them. Top to bottom is Ash, Mesquite, and Chittam wood.

Unk wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 5:03 pm A couple of handsaws - I bought the Great Neck Crosscut saw new sometime around 1990.
I also added a third file handle - this one is made of Chittam (Chittum) wood (gum bumelia). Top to bottom is Ash, Mesquite, and Chittam wood.

Outstanding jobs Unk!! How do you like working with the Mesquite? I have a bunch of it around here. Seems like it would be economical to work with...

Thanks Top dog. I really like the mesquite. My buddy owns a ranch that is covered up in mesquite. He had used his skid steer to take down a few to make us a shooting range, so I took my chainsaw and cut a few logs out of the downed trees. I made his wife the bowl shown, and I made him a mallet. The mesquite turns beautifully on the lathe. The only issue is the wood was infested with Mesquite borer beetles, so I had to work around those guys. It really has a beautiful twisted grain, IMO.

Wow! Beautiful work! That bowl is a amazing! Well I know about the Mesquite borer beetles... we have them here and they have been a nightmare for me I made a bunch of walking sticks piled them up in my garage to give away later as gifts... I came back to find a huge pile of sawdust (beetle dust?) on the floor around the sticks

Awesome work, Unk. And I love Mesquite smoked meats.

Thanks Redrider. Mesquite is the predominate hardwood used for smoking here in Texas. Dang, now I want some barbeque!

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sat May 27, 2023 5:43 am I came back to find a huge pile of sawdust (beetle dust?) on the floor around the sticks

Top Dog, here is a video I made while I was turning that mallet. It really limits the diameter when you have to keep turning to get through all the beetle tunnels. Plus it's pretty gross when you hit the beetles with your chisel.

Unk wrote: ↑Sat May 27, 2023 3:31 am Thanks Top dog. I really like the mesquite. My buddy owns a ranch that is covered up in mesquite. He had used his skid steer to take down a few to make us a shooting range, so I took my chainsaw and cut a few logs out of the downed trees. I made his wife the bowl shown, and I made him a mallet. The mesquite turns beautifully on the lathe. The only issue is the wood was infested with Mesquite borer beetles, so I had to work around those guys. It really has a beautiful twisted grain, IMO.

You do really good work my friend. You have a skill that few can achieve.

Thanks Cudgee!

Unk wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 2:11 am Thanks Redrider. Mesquite is the predominate hardwood used for smoking here in Texas. Dang, now I want some barbeque!

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sat May 27, 2023 5:43 am I came back to find a huge pile of sawdust (beetle dust?) on the floor around the sticks

Top Dog, here is a video I made while I was turning that mallet. It really limits the diameter when you have to keep turning to get through all the beetle tunnels. Plus it's pretty gross when you hit the beetles with your chisel.

"Plus it's pretty gross when you hit the beetles with your chisel." ....NOOOOOOO!!!!!!... . ....Sorry Unk, I am normally not a snitch...but I have contacted the local Texas chapter of P.E.T.A. ( Austin chapter) to report your inhumane "murder" of those poor creatures...

Hey, I grew up in the 60s and 70s. I like a little bit of fur trim.

Unk wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 3:36 am Hey, I grew up in the 60s and 70s. I like a little bit of fur trim.

.... .... I think that might just be a reportable offense as well.... ... I am sure SOMEBODY is offended these days...

And speaking of "Trim"... A little "Trim" on the Craftsman...

Nice old Craftsman ax. I have my grinder set up the same way - grinding wheel on one side, wire wheel on the other. The wire wheel gets used A LOT. I guess that's the result of me buying too many old rusty tools.

I posted this old Voos knife made in Solingen back in March when I bought it at an estate sale. I got it cheap as the plastic handle was broken. I cleaned it up and made a replacement handle out of an Elk antler. I still need to clean up the stag, and put some mineral oil or something on it. Any suggestions on how to clean stag and what to hydrate it with?

I think Ross would be proud (whoever Ross is. )

Unk wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 1:36 am Nice old Craftsman ax. I have my grinder set up the same way - grinding wheel on one side, wire wheel on the other. The wire wheel gets used A LOT. I guess that's the result of me buying too many old rusty tools.

My wire wheel is down to a nub....

My favorite wire wheel is tired from cleaning rust off old tools that get stored away in damp sheds until they get rusty again. But I’m saving the planet - by recycling new rust off old hand tools instead of buying more power tools to compete in the electron marketplace with electric cars.

My carbon footprints are kinda dull orange in front of that grinder.

Parker

catspa wrote: ↑Sat Jun 03, 2023 5:50 am My favorite wire wheel is tired from cleaning rust off old tools that get stored away in damp sheds until they get rusty again. But I’m saving the planet - by recycling new rust off old hand tools instead of buying more power tools to compete in the electron marketplace with electric cars.

My carbon footprints are kinda dull orange in front of that grinder.

Parker

Unk wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 9:02 pm

I think Ross would be proud (whoever Ross is. )

... That turned out to be a great looking handle! Nice job! Some people have said that mineral oil will hydrate it. Maybe you could try a small piece and test it out to see how it works.

I think I know who the owned that knife in the past... and you might just have found a super valuable "Rare Vintage Collectible" worth HUGE money $$$....

Bob Ross! That who owned it! There are no mistakes, just happy accidents!

I did put some mineral oil on it this past weekend. It did seem to hydrate the stag and also darkened the bark just a bit, which I like.

Early style of Channellock Pliers by Champion DeArment. Eventually changed their company name to Channellock after the success of their pliers: