Given some knife making tools last night! - questions

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Yo Mama

Yo Mama

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Over Christmas, we go to the Wife's Grandmother's home. In the workshop still resides a nice setup from her husband, as well as her Father who owned the home originally. The tools range from 30 plus years up.

I was told by her that I could take what I wanted to use for making knives, I jumped into the shed!

Ran into a few things that I just see as really special, especially the family connection.

Coping saw is USA made, sander as well.

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Then I see this blue box on a shelf buried deep. I had to get to it climbing over tons of stuff. Got it out and found this!:

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If you know anything about the torch I'm especially interested to know if I can still use it, as I plan on pairing with a weed burning torch for my forge.

Thanks!
 
Yes of course you can still use it.

However, if you are going to try forging with it, you better buy a 20 pound propane tank & adaptor.
Those little 14 oz bottles won't even get you started.

I also really doubt a weed burner head will get steel hot enough for forging.
The hottest part of the flame is the blue point inside the outer blue flame using the pencil tip.

The weed burner is just a fire with no focused heat.

IMO: The propane torches main use in knife making is low-temp silver soldering guards on, etc.
They just don't put out enough heat fast enough for tempering or drawing a blade evenly.

rc
 
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Thanks RC! I wasn't specific, for my use I'm just heat treating 1084. I'm not doing anything else right now with it. I just wanted to put together a few fire bricks cheap to get a few done, and the steel should be good after nonmagnetic. I'll then temper in a toaster oven at 400 degrees for 3-4 hours.
 
You're better off using MAPP gas as it's hotter than propane. I used the bottles from Lowe's or Home Depot for heat treating in a homemade brick oven. I used to have a pic of it but I can't find it now!
 
What do you plan on using the coping saw to do?
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I don't have a band saw, so I want to rough cut the wood slabs I'm looking to use for handles. Right now I have a piece of cherry wood to use, I figure it will help save my belts on the sander a bit by doing this?
 
You're better off using MAPP gas as it's hotter than propane. I used the bottles from Lowe's or Home Depot for heat treating in a homemade brick oven. I used to have a pic of it but I can't find it now!
Click to expand...

I'd love to see the pic, maybe when you find it.

Thanks for the advice on gas type.
 
Man I looked and looked and can't find that pic! It was just some fire bricks wired together with a torch sticking in the side of it. Make it as deep as you think your longest knife will be.
 
I figure it will help save my belts on the sander a bit by doing this?
Click to expand...

Yep

If you're cutting wood, it will teach patience and you'll develop finesse and be the better for it.
 
Hey thanks for the picture man that's exactly what I had in mind
 
Yes........ coping cherry wood isn't too bad, but some of the exotic species will teach you patience, and maybe humility, and perhaps add depth and dimension to your vocabulary. Go slow, use sharp blades, make the kids leave the room.
 
If you plan to use a coping saw or a sander on wood, it is always a good idea to google "The Wood Database" for toxicity first. Made two board cut slingshots from a hardwood I did not look up, 16 months short of breath for my stupidity.

blindhari
 
I was out making 1911 grips tonight out of wood and wore a mask while grinding it. Some of it is toxic but none of it is good for you.
 
The tropical hardwoods are the worst.

I got double pneumonia from Laotian Rosewood once before I knew the dust was poison.

rc
 
I have a friend who builds custom furniture. He told me about some of the exotic. Woods and what the can do. Be careful and use a mask and gloves when required.
 
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